Silkeborg: population and statistics
Silkeborg has a population of 102,753 (2026) across 850.9 km², or 121 people per km². It ranks 8 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +13.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 102,753 residents
- 850.9 km²
- 121 people/km²
- 27 m
Silkeborg in numbers
Population of Silkeborg over time
Silkeborg had 90,719 residents in 2016 and 102,753 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 95,488 |
| 2022 | 97,358 |
| 2023 | 99,400 |
| 2024 | 100,747 |
| 2025 | 101,574 |
| 2026 | 102,753 |
All indicators for Silkeborg
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.9% | 20.7% | 23.6% | ranked 69 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 21.6% | 19.4% | 19.2% | ranked 13 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 42.1 years | 42.1 | 44.3 | ranked 75 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 46,363 | 654,492 | 2,872,738 | ranked 10 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 24.6% | 26.5% | 28.9% | ranked 65 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 28.7% | 23.4% | 16.8% | ranked 3 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 71.1% | 63.7% | 73.2% | ranked 54 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 27.1% | 33.6% | 23.6% | ranked 42 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 53.9% | 50.9% | 57.6% | ranked 63 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.80 ‰ | 4.08 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 40 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 52.6% | 68.8% | 48.7% | ranked 43 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 18.8% | 6.7% | 13.4% | ranked 40 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 3.7% | 5.2% | 6.2% | ranked 68 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 16.0% | 10.5% | 13.6% | ranked 33 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 1.5% | 3.1% | 4.9% | ranked 91 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 7.1% | 5.3% | 6.2% | ranked 40 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 7,157 | 95,186 | 414,663 | ranked 9 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 71.0 ‰ | 69.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 43 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 289,539 DKK | 275,313 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 28 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 80.3% | 77.7% | 78.0% | ranked 19 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 2.4% | 2.7% | 2.5% | ranked 57 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.8 ‰ | 33.3 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 58 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 774.3 ‰ | 508.0 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 4 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 26.2% | 17.9% | 15.6% | ranked 8 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Silkeborg | Region Midtjylland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 38.3% | 36.4% | 31.6% | ranked 24 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Region Midtjylland, Silkeborg ranks No. 2 by population.
Dwellings built in 2000 or later: 28.7% in Silkeborg, compared with an average of 23.4% in Region Midtjylland and 18.3% nationally.
Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants: 774.3 ‰ in Silkeborg, compared with an average of 508.0 ‰ in Region Midtjylland and 483.3 ‰ nationally.
Largest business sector: Finance and insurance, with 24.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 944 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Region Midtjylland for “Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- Number 1 in Region Midtjylland for “Electric cars (share of passenger cars)”.
- “Dwellings built in 2000 or later”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Residential buildings with electric heating”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 119,174 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Ikast-Brande, 25.1 km away.
Business sectors: Silkeborg
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Finance and insurance24.1% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade11.5% ×1.2
- Real estate11.0% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical9.0% ×0.9
- Construction8.1% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.0% ×1.2
- Health and social work5.7% ×1.0
- Other service activities3.9% ×0.8
Where is Silkeborg?
Sunshine and temperatures: Silkeborg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Silkeborg?
Silkeborg has 102,753 residents (2026), ranking 8 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Silkeborg?
Silkeborg covers 850.9 km², with a density of 121 people per km².
Is the population of Silkeborg growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Silkeborg went from 90,719 to 102,753, a change of +13.3%.
Where is Silkeborg?
Silkeborg is in Region Midtjylland. Latitude 56.178, longitude 9.551.
Dwellings built in 2000 or later: what is the figure for Silkeborg?
In Silkeborg, “Dwellings built in 2000 or later” stands at 28.7% (2026), ranking 3 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Silkeborg?
In Silkeborg, “Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 774.3 ‰ (2026), ranking 4 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 533.2 ‰.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Silkeborg?
In Silkeborg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 944 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Silkeborg?
The nearest to Silkeborg are Ikast-Brande (25 km), Skanderborg (27 km), Viborg (32 km), Favrskov (35 km), Herning (36 km).