Denmark

Denmark banner

Denmark (DK)

Denmark flag
ECRML
Signed
1992
Ratified
2000
In Force
2001
FCNM
Signed
1995
Ratified
1997
In Force
1998
Country Description
Denmark is one of six countries in this database that does not legally have an official language, only a ‘de facto’ one: Danish. In 1970, Statistics Denmark switched from a traditional census system to a fully register-based statistical system, and since then, has not recorded which languages are spoken in Denmark, nor by how many people. As a sole exception, German has been recognized as a minority language in South Jutland since the Bonn-Copenhagen Declarations in 1955, and now also under the ECRML. While some language laws have been proposed in the Danish Parliament, they have largely lacked political support so far. There is also no official national data on the number of deaf people in Denmark; the number of deaf Sign Language users is estimated to be around 4 000. Kalaallisut is the official language of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, spoken by approximately 57 000 people. Tunumiisiut and Avenersuaq/Inuktun (language varieties related to Kalaallisut), and Faroese (a North Germanic language spoken on Denmark’s other autonomous territory, the Faroe Islands) are among the local languages not established by the chosen sources so far.
Pan-National Official Language(s)
This category only includes languages that are official throughout the whole country (with the exception of Belgium) - languages that are e.g. regionally 'co-official' are not listed here but can be identified in the categories below wherever a relevant legal document is listed. A future update could include lists of co-official languages, as well. To increase their visibility, recognised Sign Languages are always listed as official languages even if they are not yet technically official. The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Italian').
Language Endonym Geographic Area Source Legal Recognition Legal Document Source National Number Bases for Calculation Estimation Date Source Endangerment Level
Danish Sign Language (DTS)
Sign Language
Dansk tegnsprog Whole country 2014 Proclamation of the Act on the Danish Language Board / Bekendtgørelse af lov om Dansk Sprognævn Approx. 20 000 (not a census) Know the Language 2025 5 (Developing)
None ('De facto' official language: Danish)
Germanic
Dansk Whole country / / / Approx. 6 000 000 (not a census) Language spoken 2026 (Website accessed) 1 (National)
ECRML-Recognised Languages
This includes languages recognised under the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML). The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Czech').
Language Endonym Geographic Area Source Legal Recognition Legal Document Source National Number Bases for Calculation Estimation Date Source Endangerment Level ECRML level
German
Germanic
Deutsch South Jutland / Northern Schleswig? 1955 Bonn-Copenhagen Declarations (Notification concerning the general rights of the German minority) 15 000 (given, not a census) The German Minority 2023 5* (Dispersed) Part II & Part III
Non-ECRML Languages – Source Overview
Languages marked with appear in that source. Languages listed in multiple sources may have differing data – see the detail tables below.
Language Ethnologue ELP
English
French
Greenlandic / Kalaallisut
Swedish
Traveller Danish
Non-ECRML Languages (Ethnologue)
Languages listed with an 'established status' in Ethnologue. The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken from Ethnologue, reflecting its current state and gaps of knowledge.
Language Endonym Geographic Area Source Legal Recognition Legal Document Source National Number Bases for Calculation Estimation Date Source Endangerment Level
English
Germanic
English Widespread / / / 5 035 000 Users 2023 4 (Educational)
French
Romance
Français Scattered / / / 429 800 Users 2023 4 (Educational)
Greenlandic / Kalaallisut
Eskaleut
Kalaallisut Scattered / / / 57 000 (based on ethnicity) Users 2021 5* (Dispersed)
Swedish
Germanic
Svenska Scattered / / / 771 400 Users 2023 5* (Dispersed)
Traveller Danish
Germanic
Danish / / / / No known L1 speakers / / 10 (Extinct)
Non-ECRML Languages (Endangered Languages Project)
Languages listed in the Endangered Languages Project (ELP). The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken from ELP, reflecting its current state and gaps of knowledge.
Language Endonym Geographic Area Source Legal Recognition Legal Document Source National Number Bases for Calculation Estimation Date Source Endangerment Level
Greenlandic / Kalaallisut
Eskaleut
Kalaallisut / / / / 47 800 (international) Speakers 2026 (Website accessed) Vulnerable
Recognised Minorities
FCNM Status Religious Groups Ethnic / National Groups Linguistic Groups Comments Source for Groups and Comments (Name) Source for Groups and Comments (Link) National Reservations & Declarations Source for Reservations & Declarations
In force (1998) / Germans* German *Reservation that limits to the German minority in South Jutland Magazzini, T. (2024). When ethnicity is “national”: mapping ethnic minorities in Europe’s framework convention for the protection of national minorities. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 47(9), 1812–1833. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2024.2328338 "Declaration contained in a Note Verbale dated 22 September 1997, handed to the Secretary General at the time of deposit of the instrument of ratification, on 22 September 1997 - Or. Engl. In connection with the deposit of the instrument of ratification by Denmark of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, it is hereby declared that the Framework Convention shall apply to the German minority in South Jutland of the Kingdom of Denmark."

Comments

Add a comment

Note: Comments are moderated. Only approved comments will appear on the page.