Pensions in Denmark

Denmark's pension system has three parts. The statutory pensions are the tax-funded state pension (folkepension) and ATP Livslang Pension. The labour market pensions are paid in through your job, and the individual pensions are savings you arrange yourself with a bank or pension company. The state pension is based on years of residence, not on contributions. It is paid by Udbetaling Danmark.

State pension (folkepension)

• Pension age depends on your birth date (2026 table): 67 if born 1 July 1955 – 31 December 1962, 68 if born 1963–1966, 69 if born 1967–1970 and 70 if born 1971 or later. The age can be raised further in line with life expectancy.
• Conditions: as a rule you must be a Danish citizen, live permanently in Denmark and have lived here for at least 3 years between age 15 and pension age. Non-citizens qualify if they have lived in Denmark for at least 10 years in that period, including 5 years just before the pension starts. EU/EEA, Swiss and UK citizens qualify under special rules, and so do refugees.
• Amount: a full pension needs permanent residence in Denmark for at least 9/10 of the time from age 15 to pension age. With fewer years you get a proportional (fractional) pension.
• Rates for 2026, per month before tax: basic amount DKK 7,544 for everyone, plus a pension supplement of DKK 8,729 if you are single or DKK 4,467 if you are married or cohabiting (totals DKK 16,273 and DKK 12,011). The supplement is reduced if you have other income such as private pensions or capital income. Wages do not reduce it.
• The pension is not paid automatically. Apply online up to 6 months before you reach pension age.

ATP and labour market pensions

• ATP Livslang Pension is a lifelong pension for almost all employees, paid from state pension age. A full-time employee (at least 117 hours a month) pays DKK 99 and the employer DKK 198 a month (rates in force in 2026).
• Labour market pensions (arbejdsmarkedspension) are part of most employment contracts and collective agreements. Your employer pays a share of your salary into a pension fund.

Agreements with other countries

Periods in other EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and the UK are taken into account under the EU coordination rules. The Nordic Convention on Social Security covers the Nordic countries. Denmark also has social security agreements with some other countries, including Australia, Canada and Quebec, Chile, China, India, Israel, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Turkey and the United States. When you apply for the Danish pension, Udbetaling Danmark also handles your claim for a pension from an EU/EEA or agreement country.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• If you arrive as an adult, you will probably not reach 9/10 of the residence period, so expect a fractional state pension and save in other ways.
• Years in which you earned a social pension in another country do not count as residence in Denmark.
• Pension from a country without an agreement is not covered by Udbetaling Danmark. Contact that country's embassy.
• Apply in time. To get the pension from the first possible date, apply by the end of the month in which you reach pension age.

Official guidance: lifeindenmark.dk: state pension, borger.dk: before you retire, borger.dk: social security agreements, ATP