Odense: population and statistics
Odense has a population of 213,168 (2026) across 305.6 km², or 698 people per km². It ranks 4 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 213,168 residents
- 305.6 km²
- 698 people/km²
- 16 m
Odense in numbers
Population of Odense over time
Odense had 198,972 residents in 2016 and 213,168 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 205,509 |
| 2022 | 205,978 |
| 2023 | 207,762 |
| 2024 | 209,078 |
| 2025 | 210,803 |
| 2026 | 213,168 |
All indicators for Odense
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 | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.1% | 23.3% | 23.6% | ranked 87 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 17.9% | 18.8% | 19.2% | ranked 70 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 40.3 years | 44.0 | 44.3 | ranked 93 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 106,951 | 602,013 | 2,872,738 | ranked 4 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 30.1% | 31.3% | 28.9% | ranked 45 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 18.0% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 37 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 51.2% | 69.9% | 73.2% | ranked 80 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 43.9% | 27.7% | 23.6% | ranked 19 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 38.0% | 51.4% | 57.6% | ranked 88 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 4.91 ‰ | 3.60 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 26 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 96.0% | 62.1% | 48.7% | ranked 3 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 0.3% | 11.3% | 13.4% | ranked 82 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 0.6% | 5.3% | 6.2% | ranked 96 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 1.6% | 11.2% | 13.6% | ranked 95 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 0.2% | 4.0% | 4.9% | ranked 98 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 1.0% | 5.6% | 6.2% | ranked 73 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 11,678 | 80,137 | 414,663 | ranked 4 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 55.9 ‰ | 64.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 91 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 257,928 DKK | 269,119 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 69 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 73.2% | 76.6% | 78.0% | ranked 96 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.5% | ranked 5 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1.4 ‰ | 29.2 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 94 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 411.6 ‰ | 518.0 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 86 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 16.3% | 15.3% | 15.6% | ranked 39 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Odense | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 42.2% | 32.7% | 31.6% | ranked 16 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 22 municipalities in Southern Denmark, Odense ranks No. 1 by population.
Residential buildings with electric heating: 0.2% in Odense, compared with an average of 4.0% in Southern Denmark and 4.5% nationally.
Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants: 1.4 ‰ in Odense, compared with an average of 29.2 ‰ in Southern Denmark and 37.4 ‰ nationally.
Largest business sector: Finance and insurance, with 23.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 1,015 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Southern Denmark for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Southern Denmark for “Population density”.
- “Residential buildings with electric heating”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Employment rate (aged 16–64)”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 42,801 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.0 times the national average.
Business sectors: Odense
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Finance and insurance23.7% ×1.1
- Real estate11.6% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade10.1% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.5% ×0.9
- Health and social work7.5% ×1.4
- Construction6.7% ×0.8
- Other service activities5.6% ×1.2
- Information and communication5.0% ×1.0
Where is Odense?
Sunshine and temperatures: Odense
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Odense?
Odense has 213,168 residents (2026), ranking 4 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Odense?
Odense covers 305.6 km², with a density of 698 people per km².
Is the population of Odense growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Odense went from 198,972 to 213,168, a change of +7.1%.
Where is Odense?
Odense is in Southern Denmark. Latitude 55.396, longitude 10.389.
Residential buildings with electric heating: what is the figure for Odense?
In Odense, “Residential buildings with electric heating” stands at 0.2% (2026), ranking 98 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 4.9%.
Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Odense?
In Odense, “Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 1.4 ‰ (2026), ranking 94 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 25.1 ‰.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Odense?
In Odense, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 1,015 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Odense?
The nearest to Odense are Nordfyn (18 km), Kerteminde (19 km), Faaborg-Midtfyn (19 km), Nyborg (23 km), Assens (34 km).