Development Co‑operation Profiles: Denmark
Table of contents
Denmark’s development co-operation focuses on partnerships to address poverty and inequality in the context of geopolitical change, with an increasing emphasis on economic development, migration and the green transition. Most of Denmark’s official development assistance (ODA) is provided as bilateral co‑operation, primarily to fragile partner countries in Africa. Denmark’s total ODA (USD 3.4 billion, preliminary data) increased in 2025, representing 0.72% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on Denmark’s development assistance allocations. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
Denmark’s 2025 strategy, A Changing World: Partnerships in Development, underlines the importance of close development partnerships and effective results in the context of geopolitical upheaval. It prioritises job creation; economic growth; trade and investment; education and health; defence of democracy and human rights; a just, sustainable and green transition; and prevention and response to conflicts, forced displacement and irregular migration. The Government’s Priorities for Development Cooperation 2025: Expenditure Framework for Danish Development Cooperation 2025-2028 focuses on increased support to Ukraine; a greater emphasis on Africa; the green transition; humanitarian and nexus approaches; and irregular migration. In August 2024, Denmark launched a strategy for strengthened engagement with African countries.
Denmark’s co-operation with multilateral organisations is guided by dedicated strategies for each organisation developed to ensure that funding to the organisation is aligned with Denmark’s development co-operation priorities. Denmark’s Global Climate Action Strategy aims to increase global climate ambition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen the focus on climate adaptation and sustainable development. At the international level, Denmark advocates for gender equality and women’s rights, as well as the defence of democracy and countering torture.
The 2024 mid-term review found that Denmark had made progress against almost all of the eight recommendations from the 2021 OECD-DAC Peer Review. It recognised Denmark’s strong leadership in maintaining a stable and high share of ODA/GNI and its evolving engagement in the African continent as signalled also by the Africa Strategy. The next peer review is planned for 2027.
Discover insights from Denmark’s 2021 Peer Review and 2024 mid-term review and learn from Denmark’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices.
Denmark provided USD 3.4 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2025 (USD 3.3 billion in constant terms), representing 0.72% of GNI.1 This was an increase of 3% in real terms in volume, due to an increase in bilateral ODA, and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2024. Denmark has provided at least 0.7% of its GNI as ODA for more than 40 years. This is a signal of leadership to other Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members and partner countries alike. Denmark is in line with its domestic, international and EU commitments to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Total ODA on a grant-equivalent basis has the same value as net ODA under the cash-flow methodology used in the past, as Denmark provides only grants.
In 2025, Denmark ranked 15th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members in terms of ODA volume and 4th when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. In 2024, Denmark ranked third for the share of gross bilateral ODA channelled (earmarked) for civil society organisations (CSOs).
Denmark is committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Notes: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Denmark provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2024. Gross bilateral ODA was 67.9% of total ODA disbursements. Of this, 39.7% was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2024, Denmark provided USD 1.8 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 11% in real terms from 2023. Of this, USD 1 billion was core multilateral ODA (32.1% of total ODA), while USD 839.7 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 17.2% of Denmark’s non-core contributions, and 82.8% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The United Nations (UN) system received 45.6% of Denmark’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 559.9 million (66.6%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 840.1 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Denmark’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the United Nations Development Programme (USD 129 million), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (USD 113.7 million) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (USD 99.4 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the DAC members’ use of the multilateral system dashboard.
In 2024, Denmark’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 2.1 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 1.8% in real terms from 2023.
In 2024, country programmable aid amounted to USD 585.8 million, or 27.7% of Denmark’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 46.5%.
Denmark’s in-donor refugee costs amounted to USD 179.7 million (8.5% of gross bilateral ODA) in 2024, while humanitarian aid was USD 499.2 million, or 21% of gross bilateral ODA.
In 2024, Denmark channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through multilateral organisations, NGOs and public sector. Technical co-operation made up 3.4% of gross ODA in 2024.
In 2024, CSOs received USD 581.3 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 6.1% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 1.5% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 26% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the provider (earmarked funding). From 2023 to 2024, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 26.9% to 27.5%.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid and by exploring the ODA to civil society organisations dashboard.
In 2024, Denmark’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on countries in Africa. USD 504.5 million was allocated to countries in Africa and USD 283.1 million to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 77.6% was for Ukraine), accounting respectively for 23.8% and 13.4% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 220.6 million was allocated to Middle East. Countries in Africa were also the main regional recipient of Denmark’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations. These allocations are in line with Denmark’s geographical focus and policy priorities.
In 2024, 31.3% of gross bilateral ODA went to Denmark’s top 10 recipients. Its top 10 recipients, with the exception of Ukraine being the top recipient, are in Africa and the Middle East. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 56.4%, of which 15% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2024, Denmark allocated 0.15% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Denmark allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (19.6%) to least developed countries in 2024, noting that 56.4% was unallocated by income group. Additionally, Denmark allocated 12.8% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2024, equal to USD 269.9 million.
The distribution of Denmark’s ODA in net terms in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”2 was USD 0.7 in LDCs, USD 1.3 in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) and USD 1.7 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2025, Denmark provided USD 193.9 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, a 15.1% decrease from 2024 in real terms. USD 107.6 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 20.6% decrease in real terms from 2024.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 636.4 million in 2024, representing 30.1% of Denmark’s gross bilateral ODA. Of this ODA, 46.9% was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 37% in 2023, while 14% was allocated to peace, a decrease from 20.7% in 2023. Conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, represented 5.4% of gross bilateral ODA, increasing from 4.8% in 2023.
Learn more about the States of Fragility platform.
In 2024, the largest focus of Denmark’s bilateral ODA was social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 30.1% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 714 million), with a strong focus on support to government and civil society (USD 420.8 million), education (USD 80.3 million) and water supply and sanitation (USD 79.9 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 617.2 million, with the majority unallocated / unspecified (USD 185.8 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 499.2 million (21% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2024.
In the period 2023-2024, Denmark committed 53.6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment compared to 36.9% in 2021-2022 and a DAC average of 48.2% in 2023-2024. This is equal to USD 876.6 million of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 7.7% in 2023-2024, compared with the DAC average of 4.2%.
Denmark includes gender equality objectives in 36.3% of ODA for humanitarian aid, above the 2023-2024 DAC average of 21.5%.
Denmark screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA against the DAC gender equality policy marker (90.5% in 2023-2024).
Denmark committed USD 134 000 of ODA to end violence against women and girls, and USD 5.6 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average per year in 2023-2024.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the development finance for gender equality dashboard.
In 2023-2024, Denmark committed 41.2% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 744.5 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 30.3% in 2021-2022. The DAC average was 39%. In addition:
11.8% of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.2%.
37.2% of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 672.1 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 35.4%), up from 24.9% in 2021-2022. Denmark had a greater focus on adaptation (35.3%) than on mitigation (25.2%) in 2023-2024.
9.9% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 159.8 million) focused on biodiversity overall (the DAC average was 8.6%), up from 2.6% in 2021-2022.
0.9% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 14.2 million) focused on desertification overall (the DAC average was 4.2%), down from 2.1% in 2021-2022.
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The OECD’s tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Denmark committed USD 8.1 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2024, USD 4.4 million more than in 2023. The 2024 value is equivalent to 0.4% of Denmark's bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2024, Denmark:
Allocated 5.2% of its bilateral ODA (USD 109.7 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation, multisector aid for basic social services) and development food aid. In addition, 0.5% of bilateral ODA (USD 11.5 million) went to social protection support. Learn more by exploring the Reducing poverty and inequalities through ODA data explainer.
Committed USD 358.2 million (17.7% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response, education and other multisector.
Committed USD 193.8 million (9.6% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Committed USD 11.3 million (0.6% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Denmark rarely seeks exemptions. It does not have a general policy nor does it make information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 331 million (16.4% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2024. Learn more by exploring the Aid for Trade dashboard.
In 2024, total official and private flows from Denmark to developing countries amounted to USD 3.5 billion in net terms. Official sources accounted for USD 3.3 billion, while USD 163.1 million originated from private sources.
To help build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Denmark, have established development finance institutions and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). The Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) was assessed as an ODA-eligible PSI vehicle. PSI represented 4.3% of Denmark’s ODA in 2024 while the DAC average stood at 1.9%.
In 2024, IFU extended USD 191.1 million in the form of PSI to developing countries.3 Of this, loans accounted for 12.2% whereas equities accounted for 54.2%. Other private sector instruments included grants and mezzanine finance instruments.
In 2024, USD 11.9 million (6.2%) of Denmark’s private sector instruments were allocated to the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs). By contrast, 64.9% was received by middle-income countries, notably upper middle-income countries (33.9%). USD 55.2 million was unallocated by income. Denmark’s PSI primarily supported projects in the agriculture, forestry, fishing (25.1%) and banking and financial services (24.6%) sectors.
Denmark uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2024, Impact Fund Denmark mobilised USD 163.1 million from the private sector through direct investment in companies and special purpose vehicles, shares in collective investment vehicles and syndicated loans. This constituted a 130% increase compared to 2023.
Private finance mobilised by Denmark in 2023-2024 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 80.1% of its total mobilised. Only 1.5% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), noting that 18.4% was unallocated by income.
Mobilised private finance by Denmark in 2023-2024 related mainly to activities in energy (32.2%), as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 58% of Denmark’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Learn more by exploring the Mobilisation of private finance for development dashboard.
Total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases the transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs received by developing countries (Pillar 1) and for addressing global challenges (Pillar 2). In 2024, activities reported by Denmark as TOSSD totalled USD 3.3 billion, marking a 4% increase compared with the previous year.4 Denmark’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 13 (climate action).
Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
Policy, co-ordination and implementation of Denmark’s development co-operation remain the remit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which manages almost all the ODA budget. A number of joint funds have been set up in areas such as stabilisation (with the Ministries of Justice and Defense) and climate (with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities). Denmark has not had a Minister for Development Cooperation since August 2024. The brand Danida describes Denmark’s development co-operation with other countries, but there is no distinct institution called Danida. Denmark’s development finance institution’s Investment Fund for Developing Countries manages several funds for the MFA, including one with a focus on fragile situations.
Denmark has roughly 750 staff working on development co-operation, 57% of whom are working at headquarters and 43% of whom are working in partner countries. The IFU’s average number of full-time employees was 116 in 2024.
The main mechanism for consulting stakeholders on grants above DKK 43 million is the Council for Development Policy, which engages in strategic and thematic discussions and publishes its deliberations and recommendations online. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate through the umbrella body, Globalt Fokus.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development placed a renewed emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of all forms of development co-operation by upholding and elevating the Effectiveness Principles. Adherence to these principles is measured through the partner country-led monitoring exercise of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC).
Notes: The global aggregate results of the 4th GPEDC monitoring round (2023-2026) will be published in the forthcoming 2026 GPEDC Global Monitoring Report. Learn more about partner countries’ participation, progress and country-specific results by exploring the GPEDC Global Dashboard. CRS: Creditor Reporting System; IATI: International Aid Transparency Initiative.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the delivery of Denmark’s development co-operation. The table below highlights some select features.
Access the full list of development co-operation providers at: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2024 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Denmark: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/5/en/pdf.
2021 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Denmark: https://doi.org/10.1787/6e9b77e5-en.
CSO umbrella organisation Globalt Fokus: https://www.globaltfokus.dk.
Danish Government (2020), A Green and Sustainable World: The Danish Government’s Long-term Strategy for Global Climate Action, https://um.dk/media/kgqfcgeg/a_green_and_sustainable_world.pdf
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (2025), A Changing World: Partnerships in Development: Denmark’s Strategy for Development Cooperation, https://um.dk/media/r24jx3zv/mfa-denmarks-strategy-for-development-cooperation.pdf.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (2024), The Government’s Priorities for Danish Development Cooperation 2025: Expenditure Framework for Danish Development Cooperation, 2025-2028, the-governments-priorities-for-danish-development-cooperation-2025.pdf
OpenAid, Denmark’s ODA data and results portal: https://openaid.um.dk.
Website to track Denmark’s progress against the Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.verdensmaal.org.
Denmark has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1963.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. It estimates how much ODA each person in extreme poverty would receive if total ODA was divided evenly among the extreme poor. This metric does not measure the amount of ODA actually received by each person in extreme poverty, nor does it measure how much ODA goes to poverty reduction. It instead highlights patterns in total ODA allocations relative to the number of people living in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 3. In 2023, the DAC agreed on revised reporting methods for measuring PSI in ODA based on ODA grant equivalents. Members may, however, take up to two years to transition to the new methods, with their PSI continuing to be accounted for on a net ODA basis during the transition period.
← 4. This amount does not include mobilised private finance by Denmark.