Increasing Number of Children Living in Poverty in Copenhagen

The number of children living in poverty in Copenhagen continues to rise despite a decrease in unemployment, and Denmark experiencing an upturn with a surplus in state finances.

A new report on child poverty in Copenhagen, which has just been released, reveals this trend.

According to the report, the proportion of poor children in Copenhagen increased from 4.3 percent in 2022 to 4.6 percent in 2023. The report also shows that one in six of the poor children has been living in poverty for more than three years. It is concerning, as research indicates that even just one year in poverty can have life-altering consequences for a child.

“What we are starting to see now is systematic poverty at its worst. We are witnessing more and more poor families in Copenhagen, even though there have never been more people employed, and the country’s economy is strong and robust. At the same time, there are still more and more children and young people who are struggling and not thriving,” says Social Mayor Karina Vestergård Madsen (EL), continuing:

“Yesterday, the Well-being Commission finally issued its long-awaited recommendations, which emphasize the importance of early and timely interventions in working with children and young people. This includes early detection and more accessible educational and social treatment options. These are good advice and recommendations, but if there is no funding accompanying them, they will remain just words on paper. If the government wants to implement the Well-being Commission’s recommendations, it must also reflect in the government’s upcoming financial agreement with KL. Municipalities already do a lot to assist poor families, but it remains symptomatic treatment. Decisions that can truly ensure all citizens a reasonable livelihood and opportunities need to be made in Christiansborg.”

In the Finance Administration, which compiled the report in collaboration with the Social Administration, Mayor Lars Weiss (S) is committed to continuing to prioritize initiatives that support poor families:

“No child in Copenhagen should grow up in poverty. We are simply too wealthy a society for that. Therefore, we must continue to have a strong focus on early interventions across the administrations in the Municipality of Copenhagen by thinking holistically about families, so that, for example, adults receive support and guidance for employment, while we can help children engage in communities after school hours.”

The report indicates that the districts of Brønshøj-Husum, Nørrebro, and Bispebjerg exhibit the highest proportion of poor children. Around 8 percent of children in Brønshøj-Husum are poor, whereas it only applies to 2.8 percent of children growing up in Østerbro. The average for the entirety of Copenhagen is 4.6 percent.