The scope of Danish youth policy is that all young people should have the best start in life. Regardless of social background, young people must have the same possibilities to learn, develop, thrive and be educated. The general focus is on young people’s well-being and early intervention. Therefore, any young person is the target group of Danish youth policy.

In Denmark, there is no single definition of the youth age group. In many cases children and youth is used as a combined category. This is the case in the Act on Health (Sundhedsloven). Similarly, the Child’s Act (Barnets lov), which is the key act in social security for children and young people, does not distinguish between child and youth, age wise, however certain support measures may be extended to the age of 22 years old, and this age range is named youth in the act. 

The Child’s act, with some exceptions, limits the support for young people until the age of 18 years old. Older persons are treated in accordance with the regulations in the Act on Social service (Lov om social service). 

In general, the youth concept is used within the age range between 13 and 30 years, however it varies due to different acts, strategies and institutions that target different groups of young people.

In the municipal setting, youth clubs and the youth schools typically target young people from 13 or 14 to 17 or 18 years old. 

The Social and Housing Agency (Social- og Boligstyrelsen) provides a definition of youth meaning a young person 15-17 years old.

In the educational sector, youth education covers upper secondary education and vocational education and training, which include young people in the age of 16 to 19 years old. However, in the preparatory basic education and training programme (Forberedende Grunduddannelse (FGU)) and in the municipal youth guidance measure (Den kommunale ungeindsats (KUI)), and in the Consolidation act on Municipal Provision for Young People under 25 years  (Lov om kommunal indsats for unge under 25 år), municipalities target young people under 25 years old, however the latter two define an obligation to register the lack of educational achievements of young people in the age of 25 to 29 years old.