Slagelse: population and statistics
Slagelse has a population of 80,959 (2026) across 568.5 km², or 142 people per km². It ranks 16 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 80,959 residents
- 568.5 km²
- 142 people/km²
- 46 m
Slagelse in numbers
Population of Slagelse over time
Slagelse had 78,140 residents in 2016 and 80,959 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 79,122 |
| 2022 | 79,691 |
| 2023 | 79,728 |
| 2024 | 79,923 |
| 2025 | 80,481 |
| 2026 | 80,959 |
All indicators for Slagelse
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 | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.5% | 24.4% | 23.6% | ranked 51 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 17.6% | 18.4% | 19.2% | ranked 76 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 44.4 years | 45.0 | 44.3 | ranked 49 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 40,154 | 406,422 | 2,872,738 | ranked 16 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 33.1% | 29.9% | 28.9% | ranked 35 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 14.4% | 17.6% | 16.8% | ranked 63 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 58.2% | 70.0% | 73.2% | ranked 75 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 39.1% | 26.5% | 23.6% | ranked 24 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 46.2% | 56.0% | 57.6% | ranked 82 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 1.99 ‰ | 3.46 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 65 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 29.3% | 28.9% | 48.7% | ranked 74 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 27.6% | 26.2% | 13.4% | ranked 29 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 7.4% | 8.1% | 6.2% | ranked 42 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 17.6% | 19.5% | 13.6% | ranked 24 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 8.3% | 9.5% | 4.9% | ranked 24 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 8.7% | 7.1% | 6.2% | ranked 25 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 4,607 | 55,187 | 414,663 | ranked 22 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 57.6 ‰ | 64.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 87 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 257,137 DKK | 277,603 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 70 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 75.1% | 77.4% | 78.0% | ranked 82 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% | ranked 18 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 47.5 ‰ | 65.9 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 34 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 492.6 ‰ | 508.9 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 71 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 13.6% | 15.2% | 15.6% | ranked 74 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Slagelse | Region Zealand | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 27.7% | 30.5% | 31.6% | ranked 69 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 17 municipalities in Region Zealand, Slagelse ranks No. 3 by population.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 57.6 ‰ in Slagelse, compared with an average of 64.7 ‰ in Region Zealand and 69.5 ‰ nationally.
Largest business sector: Finance and insurance, with 18.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 1,047 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Region Zealand for “Dwellings in blocks of flats”.
- Number 1 in Region Zealand for “Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force)”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 79,622 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Sorø, 13.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Odense (213,168 residents), 61 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,188 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Business sectors: Slagelse
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Finance and insurance18.1% ×0.9
- Construction11.7% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade10.2% ×1.1
- Real estate8.8% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical8.2% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.7% ×1.1
- Other service activities6.1% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services5.9% ×1.2
Where is Slagelse?
Sunshine and temperatures: Slagelse
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Slagelse?
Slagelse has 80,959 residents (2026), ranking 16 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Slagelse?
Slagelse covers 568.5 km², with a density of 142 people per km².
Is the population of Slagelse growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Slagelse went from 78,140 to 80,959, a change of +3.6%.
Where is Slagelse?
Slagelse is in Region Zealand. Latitude 55.402, longitude 11.354.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Slagelse?
In Slagelse, “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 57.6 ‰ (2024), ranking 87 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 69.0 ‰.
Number of occupied dwellings: what is the figure for Slagelse?
In Slagelse, “Number of occupied dwellings” stands at 40,154 (2026), ranking 16 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 20,537.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Slagelse?
In Slagelse, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 1,047 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Slagelse?
The nearest to Slagelse are Sorø (14 km), Næstved (26 km), Ringsted (28 km), Kalundborg (35 km), Holbæk (40 km).