Fewer children are being born in Denmark, and this is starting to reshape the country’s public school system. The average class size in Danish elementary schools is shrinking, with small rural schools feeling the greatest pressure.
Class sizes falling across the country
In Denmark, the average public school class had 20.8 students last year. That is almost one fewer than in 2016, when the number stood at 21.6. The decline reflects a broader trend: fewer births and a changing population structure across municipalities.
The smallest average class size in the country is found in Læsø Municipality, while the largest is in Solrød. This wide gap shows just how unevenly students are distributed across Denmark’s 98 municipalities.
Because of these differences, education has become one of the biggest issues in this year’s municipal and regional elections. Local politicians are forced to balance limited budgets with demographic shifts that leave some schools half-empty and others still growing.
Small schools under financial pressure
In smaller towns and rural areas, falling student numbers are creating serious financial headaches. Fewer children mean fewer resources, and that leads many local governments to close schools that are no longer economically sustainable.
According to education researcher Andreas Rasch, students learn just as much in small schools as they do in large ones. The difference, he explained in a feature on DR News, is financial rather than educational. Small schools simply cost more per student to run.
Even with those costs, many local communities fight to keep their schools open. The local school often acts as a community anchor, helping small towns attract and retain families. Without it, they fear an even faster decline in population and local engagement.
A community challenge
For many Danish villages, the schoolyard is much more than a place for children to learn. It is where families meet, sports events are held, and new residents find their place in the community. That is why the closure of even one small school can feel like a heavy blow.
In one case covered by DR, children and parents in a Danish village expressed their attachment to the local school, even though it faced possible closure. You can read more about that story on DR’s education coverage.
Demographics shaping education policy
The trend of smaller classes and school closures reveals how demographic shifts affect not only families but also public spending and local identity. Urban areas, where the population is still growing, face the opposite issue: pressure on facilities and the need for new schools or expansions.
Meanwhile, rural municipalities face empty classrooms and the tough decision of whether to merge schools or close them altogether.
The debate is not just about numbers. It touches on access to education, equality between regions, and what kind of Denmark people want to build—one centered around larger cities or one that still gives families the chance to thrive in smaller communities.
Sources and References
DR News: See the map – How many students are in a public school class in your municipality
DR: Municipal and Regional Elections
DR: School researcher says children learn just as much at small schools as at large ones
DR: Emma loves her small village school, but now it risks closing
