Denmark: Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Denmark's subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) rose 4.8% on 2023 (from 123.98 billion to 129.9 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 15% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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 1,244.4% in 1990 and the biggest yearly fall was 62.1% in 1995. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 6% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

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 50th highest value of the 89 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

• Saudi Arabia — 47th of 89: 139.62 billion
• Malaysia — 48th of 89: 135.38 billion
• Belgium — 49th of 89: 133.51 billion
• Switzerland — 51st of 89: 104.03 billion
• Mauritius — 52nd of 89: 84.89 billion
• New Zealand — 53rd of 89: 72.88 billion

What this measures

Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. 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 40 values

Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) in nearby economies

• Albania — 370.22 billion (2024)
• Armenia — 1.14 trillion (2024)
• Austria — 175.11 billion (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 13.45 billion (2024)
• Belarus — 46.69 billion (2024)
• Belgium — 133.51 billion (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 9.84 billion (2024)
• Bulgaria — 17.9 billion (2024)
• Croatia — 17.93 billion (2023)
• Cyprus — 5.97 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 (-) (current LCU) — 122.81 billion (2024)
• Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) — 4.2% (2024)
• Social contributions (current LCU) — 19.52 billion (2024)
• Social contributions (% of revenue)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is Denmark's subsidies and other transfers (current LCU)?

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

How has it changed since 1985?

It is up 1,430% from 8.49 billion in 1985 (7.24% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 262.62 billion in 1994 and the lowest 8.49 billion in 1985.

How does Denmark rank?

50th highest of 89 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) unusual for Denmark?

In 2024, Denmark's subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) rose 4.8% on 2023 (from 123.98 billion to 129.9 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.6% and a typical year strayed about 15% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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.XPN.TRFT.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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