Sønderborg: population and statistics
Sønderborg has a population of 74,123 (2026) across 496.5 km², or 149 people per km². It ranks 19 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −0.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 74,123 residents
- 496.5 km²
- 149 people/km²
- 11 m
Sønderborg in numbers
Population of Sønderborg over time
Sønderborg had 74,737 residents in 2016 and 74,123 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 73,831 |
| 2022 | 73,711 |
| 2023 | 74,380 |
| 2024 | 74,233 |
| 2025 | 74,096 |
| 2026 | 74,123 |
All indicators for Sønderborg
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 | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 26.1% | 23.3% | 23.6% | ranked 32 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 17.7% | 18.8% | 19.2% | ranked 73 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 45.9 years | 44.0 | 44.3 | ranked 32 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 36,733 | 602,013 | 2,872,738 | ranked 17 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 28.2% | 31.3% | 28.9% | ranked 52 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 13.3% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 69 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 71.0% | 69.9% | 73.2% | ranked 55 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 25.5% | 27.7% | 23.6% | ranked 44 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 50.5% | 51.4% | 57.6% | ranked 74 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 1.00 ‰ | 3.60 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 91 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 56.2% | 62.1% | 48.7% | ranked 36 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 15.0% | 11.3% | 13.4% | ranked 48 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 5.3% | 5.3% | 6.2% | ranked 55 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 9.8% | 11.2% | 13.6% | ranked 79 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 7.0% | 4.0% | 4.9% | ranked 31 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 5.0% | 5.6% | 6.2% | ranked 55 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 3,727 | 80,137 | 414,663 | ranked 33 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 50.2 ‰ | 64.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 97 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 255,717 DKK | 269,119 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 74 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 74.2% | 76.6% | 78.0% | ranked 88 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.5% | ranked 30 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 37.9 ‰ | 29.2 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 40 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 530.0 ‰ | 518.0 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 51 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 13.8% | 15.3% | 15.6% | ranked 71 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Sønderborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 31.6% | 32.7% | 31.6% | ranked 50 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 22 municipalities in Southern Denmark, Sønderborg ranks No. 5 by population.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 50.2 ‰ in Sønderborg, compared with an average of 64.7 ‰ in Southern Denmark and 69.5 ‰ nationally.
Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants: 1.00 ‰ in Sønderborg, compared with an average of 3.60 ‰ in Southern Denmark and 3.77 ‰ nationally.
Largest business sector: Finance and insurance, with 20.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,000 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Employment rate (aged 16–64)”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 69,538 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Aabenraa, 26.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Odense (213,168 residents), 66 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,000 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Business sectors: Sønderborg
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Finance and insurance20.0% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade9.9% ×1.0
- Real estate9.8% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.6% ×1.5
- Professional, scientific and technical7.6% ×0.7
- Construction7.4% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.2% ×1.1
- Manufacturing5.7% ×1.5
Where is Sønderborg?
Sunshine and temperatures: Sønderborg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sønderborg?
Sønderborg has 74,123 residents (2026), ranking 19 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Sønderborg?
Sønderborg covers 496.5 km², with a density of 149 people per km².
Is the population of Sønderborg growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Sønderborg went from 74,737 to 74,123, a change of −0.8%.
Where is Sønderborg?
Sønderborg is in Southern Denmark. Latitude 54.917, longitude 9.783.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sønderborg?
In Sønderborg, “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 50.2 ‰ (2024), ranking 97 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 69.0 ‰.
Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sønderborg?
In Sønderborg, “Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 1.00 ‰ (2025), ranking 91 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 3.13 ‰.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sønderborg?
In Sønderborg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,000 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sønderborg?
The nearest to Sønderborg are Aabenraa (27 km), Ærø (35 km), Assens (40 km), Haderslev (41 km), Faaborg-Midtfyn (53 km).