Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark
Denmark: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was 4.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark is 4.2%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 28.4% on the previous year and up 235.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark peaked at 5.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -7.2%, in 1982.
That places Denmark 12th out of 156 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 3.0% | — |
| 1973 | 3.7% | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -69.3% |
| 1975 | -1.4% | -226.0% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | -114.5% |
| 1977 | -0.6% | -377.3% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | -114.6% |
| 1979 | -0.5% | -675.6% |
| 1980 | -2.1% | +332.3% |
| 1981 | -5.2% | +143.8% |
| 1982 | -7.2% | +38.4% |
| 1983 | -6.0% | -16.7% |
| 1984 | -3.3% | -44.5% |
| 1985 | -0.4% | -88.9% |
| 1986 | 4.3% | -1270.9% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | -10.3% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | -38.9% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | -53.1% |
| 1990 | -0.4% | -137.7% |
| 1991 | -1.2% | +195.5% |
| 1992 | -1.3% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | -1.9% | +47.0% |
| 1994 | -2.2% | +14.8% |
| 1995 | -3.7% | +69.0% |
| 1996 | -2.1% | -44.5% |
| 1997 | -0.9% | -54.6% |
| 1998 | -0.1% | -88.3% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -891.7% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +111.7% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -30.9% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -58.9% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +32.1% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +206.1% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | +167.4% |
| 2006 | 5.5% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 5.5% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -30.9% |
| 2009 | -2.1% | -155.0% |
| 2010 | -2.4% | +15.6% |
| 2011 | -1.9% | -22.7% |
| 2012 | -3.3% | +72.7% |
| 2013 | -1.2% | -63.7% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | -206.0% |
| 2015 | -1.1% | -191.3% |
| 2016 | -0.1% | -93.8% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -2161.9% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -45.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | +409.0% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -98.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +4609.2% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 3.3% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +28.4% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 4.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is -1.8%. (57 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 4.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1.5%. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +4609.2% | 0.1% | 3.8% |
| 2017 | +2161.9% | -0.1% | 1.5% |
| 1986 | +1270.9% | -0.4% | 4.3% |
| 1999 | +891.7% | -0.1% | 0.9% |
| 1979 | -675.6% | 0.1% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | -1.4% | 3.7% | 8 |
| 1980s | -1.3% | -7.2% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.3% | -3.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | -2.1% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.2% | -3.3% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 0.1% | 4.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More public sector data for Denmark
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Denmark was 4.2% in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.2% in 1982.
- How does Denmark rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- Denmark ranks 12th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 235.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.