A new study from Danmark i Bevægelse at the University of Southern Denmark finds large differences between Danish municipalities in how many children take part in club life. Allerød is highest at 82 percent, while Brøndby is lowest at 58 percent.
DR reported the findings on August 19, 2026. The study covers children aged 3 to 14 and whether they are active in an association, such as a sports club or a scout group. Nationwide, 73 percent of children in that age group are active in a club.
Jens Høyer-Kruse, sports researcher and project leader at Danmark i Bevægelse, told DR that the gaps between municipalities are very large. According to him, the pattern is not surprising given the different populations in each municipality. He said socioeconomic conditions play a considerable role.
Høyer-Kruse said parents’ education level, income, ethnicity, family situation and housing conditions all matter for whether children join a club. Families under pressure on money or time typically have less capacity to send children to handball or swimming. He described a strong social inheritance in sports participation, where more active parents tend to have more active children.
He added that participation also depends on a strong civil society and the right facilities in the municipality. Beyond Allerød and Brøndby, BT reported that the lowest group includes Glostrup, Høje-Taastrup, Lolland, Ishøj, Odsherred and Næstved, all at 65 percent or below. BT also noted that Rebild, Varde and Ringkøbing-Skjern are among the municipalities with just over 80 percent.
Football and gymnastics lead nationwide
The most common club activities nationwide are football, gymnastics, swimming, handball and scouting or FDF, according to DR. Regional differences are significant. Football is widespread across the country and is especially strong in Ringkøbing-Skjern, Rebild, Lemvig and Jammerbugt, where 36 to 39 percent of all 3 to 14 year olds play in a club.
Gymnastics is most popular in Jutland. In Varde, Ringkøbing-Skjern and Lemvig, between 39 and 41 percent of children attend gymnastics. On Mors, 25 percent of children play handball at least once a month, while 12 to 13 percent of children in Lemvig, Thisted and Struer attend scouting or FDF.
Participation is highest among the youngest school-age children. DR reported that just over 81 percent of 9 to 11 year olds nationwide are active in a club at least once a month. Høyer-Kruse said that both sports participation and club participation are relatively high in Denmark compared with other countries.
The figures come from the Denmark in Motion research project at the University of Southern Denmark. According to the project’s own website, it maps movement patterns across 98 municipal reports. The project’s publication page states that reports and notes on municipal work to increase physical activity are being produced in 2026, including local results for children and young people.
