Denmark: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Denmark's net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) rose 31.71 billion on 2023 (from 91.1 billion to 122.81 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +3.63 billion and a typical year strayed about 41.11 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 96.34 billion in 2021 and the biggest yearly fall was 105.93 billion in 2009. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 14.63 billion a year. A straight line explains 72% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Denmark had the 6th highest value of the 90 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Denmark in the 2024 ranking

• Mongolia — 3rd of 90: 1.46 trillion
• Norway — 4th of 90: 729.5 billion
• Argentina — 5th of 90: 449.43 billion
• Kyrgyz Republic — 7th of 90: 50.62 billion
• Macao SAR, China — 8th of 90: 27.87 billion
• Singapore — 9th of 90: 26.36 billion

What this measures

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 in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.

Limitations: For most countries central government finance data have been consolidated into one account, but for others only budgetary central government accounts are available. Countries reporting budgetary data are noted in the country metadata. Because budgetary accounts may not include all central government units (such as social security funds), they usually provide an incomplete picture. In federal states the central government accounts provide an incomplete view of total public finance. Data on government revenue and expense are collected by the IMF through questionnaires to member countries and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

All 53 values

Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) in nearby economies

• Albania — -26.12 billion (2024)
• Armenia — -369.71 billion (2024)
• Austria — -17.68 billion (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 4.96 billion (2024)
• Belarus — 3.24 billion (2024)
• Belgium — -16.5 billion (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — -804.04 million (2024)
• Bulgaria — -2.76 billion (2024)
• Croatia — -1.14 billion (2023)
• Cyprus — 1.45 billion (2024)

More public sector data for Denmark

• Military expenditure (current USD) — 14.95 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 98.9 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 3.25% (2025)
• Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 278 million (2025)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (current LCU) — 48.73 billion (2024)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (% of GDP) — 1.67% (2024)
• Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) — 4.2% (2024)
• Social contributions (current LCU) — 19.52 billion (2024)
• Social contributions (% of revenue) — 1.74% (2024)
• Revenue, excluding grants (current LCU)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Denmark's net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU)?

122.81 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1972?

It is up 2,465% from 4.79 billion in 1972 (6.44% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 122.81 billion in 2024 and the lowest -61.67 billion in 2012.

How does Denmark rank?

6th highest of 90 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) unusual for Denmark?

In 2024, Denmark's net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) rose 31.71 billion on 2023 (from 91.1 billion to 122.81 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +3.63 billion and a typical year strayed about 41.11 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator GC.NLD.TOTL.CN, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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