Tønder: population and statistics
Tønder has a population of 36,174 (2026) across 1,283.9 km², or 28.2 people per km². It ranks 68 of 98 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −4.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 36,174 residents
- 1,283.9 km²
- 28 people/km²
- −1 m
Tønder in numbers
Population of Tønder over time
Tønder had 37,904 residents in 2016 and 36,174 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,050 |
| 2022 | 36,849 |
| 2023 | 36,878 |
| 2024 | 36,651 |
| 2025 | 36,399 |
| 2026 | 36,174 |
All indicators for Tønder
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 | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share aged 65 and over (2026) | 28.3% | 23.3% | 23.6% | ranked 18 of 98 | |
| Share under 18 (2026) | 18.1% | 18.8% | 19.2% | ranked 66 of 98 | |
| Average age (2026) | 46.7 years | 44.0 | 44.3 | ranked 21 of 98 |
Housing
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of occupied dwellings (2026) | 17,663 | 602,013 | 2,872,738 | ranked 67 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built before 1950 (2026) | 37.3% | 31.3% | 28.9% | ranked 20 of 98 | |
| Dwellings built in 2000 or later (2026) | 7.2% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 93 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in houses (detached and terraced houses) (2026) | 83.1% | 69.9% | 73.2% | ranked 21 of 98 | |
| Dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 14.4% | 27.7% | 23.6% | ranked 76 of 98 | |
| Dwellings occupied by the owner (2026) | 59.3% | 51.4% | 57.6% | ranked 41 of 98 | |
| Newly built dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.66 ‰ | 3.60 ‰ | 3.13 ‰ | ranked 54 of 98 |
Energy
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with district heating (2026) | 40.7% | 62.1% | 48.7% | ranked 59 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with natural gas boiler (2026) | 11.2% | 11.3% | 13.4% | ranked 55 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with oil-fired boiler or oil stove (2026) | 10.4% | 5.3% | 6.2% | ranked 14 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with heat pump (2026) | 15.7% | 11.2% | 13.6% | ranked 35 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with electric heating (2026) | 13.0% | 4.0% | 4.9% | ranked 9 of 98 | |
| Residential buildings with solid fuel (wood, coal) (2026) | 8.5% | 5.6% | 6.2% | ranked 28 of 98 |
Economy
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of enterprises (2024) | 2,706 | 80,137 | 414,663 | ranked 58 of 98 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 73.8 ‰ | 64.7 ‰ | 69.0 ‰ | ranked 26 of 98 | |
| Average disposable income per person (2024) | 249,158 DKK | 269,119 DKK | 272,448 DKK | ranked 88 of 98 |
Employment
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 16–64) (2024) | 75.5% | 76.6% | 78.0% | ranked 78 of 98 | |
| Unemployment (full-time unemployed as a percentage of the labour force) (2025) | 2.0% | 2.8% | 2.5% | ranked 83 of 98 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer houses per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 60.7 ‰ | 29.2 ‰ | 25.1 ‰ | ranked 31 of 98 |
Transport
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 563.6 ‰ | 518.0 ‰ | 533.2 ‰ | ranked 24 of 98 | |
| Electric cars (share of passenger cars) (2026) | 11.8% | 15.3% | 15.6% | ranked 89 of 98 |
Education
| Indicator | Tønder | Southern Denmark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a higher education (aged 15–69) (2025) | 22.8% | 32.7% | 31.6% | ranked 93 of 98 |
Key points
Among the 22 municipalities in Southern Denmark, Tønder ranks No. 15 by population.
Dwellings built in 2000 or later: 7.2% in Tønder, compared with an average of 16.4% in Southern Denmark and 18.3% nationally.
Share with a higher education (aged 15–69): 22.8% in Tønder, compared with an average of 32.7% in Southern Denmark and 38.1% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 23.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 1,002 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Dwellings built in 2000 or later”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Share with a higher education (aged 15–69)”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Residential buildings with electric heating”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 179,818 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Aabenraa (58,405 residents), 35 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,008 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Business sectors: Tønder
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing23.9% ×4.1
- Finance and insurance13.2% ×0.6
- Wholesale and retail trade11.0% ×1.2
- Real estate9.6% ×1.0
- Construction8.4% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services4.6% ×1.3
- Manufacturing4.4% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services4.2% ×0.8
Where is Tønder?
Sunshine and temperatures: Tønder
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Tønder?
Tønder has 36,174 residents (2026), ranking 68 of 98 municipalities.
How big is Tønder?
Tønder covers 1,283.9 km², with a density of 28 people per km².
Is the population of Tønder growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Tønder went from 37,904 to 36,174, a change of −4.6%.
Where is Tønder?
Tønder is in Southern Denmark. Latitude 54.933, longitude 8.900.
Dwellings built in 2000 or later: what is the figure for Tønder?
In Tønder, “Dwellings built in 2000 or later” stands at 7.2% (2026), ranking 93 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
Share with a higher education (aged 15–69): what is the figure for Tønder?
In Tønder, “Share with a higher education (aged 15–69)” stands at 22.8% (2025), ranking 93 of 98 municipalities; the national median is 31.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Tønder?
In Tønder, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 1,002 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Tønder?
The nearest to Tønder are Aabenraa (35 km), Haderslev (52 km), Sønderborg (56 km), Fanø (62 km), Vejen (63 km).