Svendborg: population and statistics
Svendborg has a population of 60,027 (2026) across 415.4 km², or 144 people per km². It ranks 26 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 60,027 residents
- 415.4 km²
- 144 people/km²
- 73 m
Svendborg in numbers
Population of Svendborg over time
Svendborg had 58,228 residents in 2016 and 60,027 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,588 |
| 2022 | 59,193 |
| 2023 | 59,735 |
| 2024 | 59,727 |
| 2025 | 60,001 |
| 2026 | 60,027 |
All indicators for Svendborg
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 | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 26.2% | 23.3% | 23.6% | ranked 31 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 19.3% | 18.8% | 19.2% | ranked 45 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 45.2 years | 44.0 | 44.3 | ranked 43 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 29,175 | 602,013 | 2,872,738 | ranked 25 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 36.5% | 31.3% | 28.9% | ranked 23 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 13.1% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 71 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 72.0% | 69.9% | 73.2% | ranked 53 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 24.2% | 27.7% | 23.6% | ranked 47 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 53.4% | 51.4% | 57.6% | ranked 65 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 1.53 ‰ | 3.60 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 81 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 25.4% | 62.1% | 48.7% | ranked 79 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 32.0% | 11.3% | 13.4% | ranked 25 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 6.3% | 5.3% | 6.2% | ranked 47 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 23.5% | 11.2% | 13.6% | ranked 9 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.9% | ranked 50 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 7.6% | 5.6% | 6.2% | ranked 37 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 3,956 | 80,137 | 414,663 | ranked 28 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 66.2 ‰ | 64.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 60 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 263,984 DKK | 269,119 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 63 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 73.8% | 76.6% | 78.0% | ranked 91 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.5% | ranked 26 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.0 ‰ | 29.2 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 57 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 492.8 ‰ | 518.0 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 70 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 13.5% | 15.3% | 15.6% | ranked 77 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Svendborg | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 35.4% | 32.7% | 31.6% | ranked 35 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 22 municipalities in Southern Denmark, Svendborg ranks No. 6 by population.
Employment rate (aged 16–64): 73.8% in Svendborg, compared with an average of 76.6% in Southern Denmark and 77.5% nationally.
Residential buildings with heat pump: 23.5% in Svendborg, compared with an average of 11.2% in Southern Denmark and 11.0% nationally.
Largest business sector: Finance and insurance, with 20.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 1,058 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Southern Denmark for “Elevation”.
- Number 1 in Southern Denmark for “Residential buildings with natural gas boiler”.
- “Employment rate (aged 16–64)”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Residential buildings with heat pump”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 58,179 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Langeland, 18.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Odense (213,168 residents), 36 km away.
Business sectors: Svendborg
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Finance and insurance20.7% ×1.0
- Real estate9.5% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.5% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade9.3% ×1.0
- Construction8.0% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.5% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.3% ×1.1
- Other service activities5.2% ×1.1
Where is Svendborg?
Sunshine and temperatures: Svendborg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Svendborg?
Svendborg has 60,027 residents (2026), ranking 26 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Svendborg?
Svendborg covers 415.4 km², with a density of 144 people per km².
Is the population of Svendborg growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Svendborg went from 58,228 to 60,027, a change of +3.1%.
Where is Svendborg?
Svendborg is in Southern Denmark. Latitude 55.100, longitude 10.600.
Employment rate (aged 16–64): what is the figure for Svendborg?
In Svendborg, “Employment rate (aged 16–64)” stands at 73.8% (2024), ranking 91 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 78.0%.
Residential buildings with heat pump: what is the figure for Svendborg?
In Svendborg, “Residential buildings with heat pump” stands at 23.5% (2026), ranking 9 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 13.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Svendborg?
In Svendborg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 1,058 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Svendborg?
The nearest to Svendborg are Langeland (19 km), Faaborg-Midtfyn (19 km), Nyborg (23 km), Ærø (29 km), Odense (36 km).