5.2 Youth participation in representative democracy
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Young people as voters
Since 1978, the voting age limit in Denmark has been 18 years of age for all types of elections.
There is no imminent plan to lower the voting age limit.
There is no special provision for young people in electoral law.
Everybody in the electoral register can vote in advance. Thus, young offenders and young persons who are completing their military service or are deployed can vote in advance. The advance voting takes place under the auspices of Danish authorities or vote receivers appointed by the Danish authorities to perform this task and with resources procured by the Danish Ministry of Interior and Health.
The turnout of young people at elections in Denmark
The national turnout in the 2022 general election was 84.2%.
| 18 years | 85.0% |
| 19-21 years | 76.9% |
| 22-29 years | 75.9% |
The national turnout in the 2021 municipal and regional elections was 67.2%.
| 18 years | 70.6% |
| 19-21 years | 58.5% |
| 22-29 years | 53.1% |
The national turnout in the 2019 general election was 84.5%.
| 18 years | 84.1% |
| 19-21 years | 77.8 % |
| 22-29 years | 77.9 % |
The national turnout in the 2019 European Parliament was 66.1%
| 18 years | 68.5 % |
| 19-21 years | 58.8 % |
| 22-29 years | 56.7 % |
The national turnout in the 2017 municipal and regional elections was 70.8%.
| 18 years | 75.1% |
| 19-21 years | 60.1% |
| 22-29 years | 54.9% |
The national turnout in the 2015 general election was 85.9%.
| 18 years | 83.7% |
| 19-21 years | 77.1% |
| 22-29 years | 79.1% |
The national turnout in the 2014 European Parliament election was 56.3%.
| 18 years | 49.4% |
| 19-21 years | 39.4% |
| 22-29 years | 44.0% |
Young people as political representatives
Young people as members of political parties in Denmark
Political parties in Denmark are regulated by law in regard to state funding, the establishment of new political parties seeking election, and how to stand for general and local elections. Young people are welcome to join the parties.
There is no top-level legislation on youth wings of political parties; however, most political parties have youth wings with their own statutes that lay down the specific rules on membership, for instance:
The Social Democratic Party youth wing, DSU: Everyone under the age of 30 can apply for membership.
The Social Liberal party youth wing, RU: The minimum age for membership is 12 years.
The Socialist People’s Party youth wing, SFU: The maximum age for membership is 29 years.
The Liberal Alliance youth wing, LAU: The maximum age for membership is 29 years.
The Alternative youth wing, ÅU: No regulation on age.
The New Right youth wing, NBU: The minimum age for membership is 12 years and the maximum age for membership is 29 years.
The Danish People’s Party youth wing, DFU: The minimum age for membership is 12 years and the maximum age for membership is 29 years.
Socialist Youth Front, SUF: The maximum age for membership is 29 years.
Red Green Youth, RGU: The maximum age for membership is 29 years.
The Conservative Party youth wing, KU: No age regulation. Young people under the age of 18 years will need parental/legal guardian consent to apply for membership.
The Moderates youth wing, UM: The maximum age for membership is 29 years.
The Denmark Democrats youth wing, DDU: N/A
Young people as candidates in elections in Denmark
The legislation on young people as political representatives in national, regional, municipal, and European elections are the Danish Parliament Election Act, the Local and Regional Government Election Act, and the Members of the European Parliament Election Act.
Among other things, these acts determine criteria for eligibility. To stand as a candidate for general, regional, municipal, and European elections, young persons must have turned 18. There are no quotas or special functions reserved for young people in these acts.
Article 56 of the Danish constitution states that every member of the Danish parliament is bound only by his/her own beliefs.
Young people as elected representatives in the latest national, regional, municipal and European assemblies.
| Municipal councils (2021) | |
| Average age (years) | 51.3 |
| Proportion of young people below 30 (%) | 5.8 |
| National parliament (2022) | |
| Average age (years) | 45.7 |
| Proportion of young people below 30 (%) | N/A |
| Regional councils (2017) | |
| Average age (years) (Statistics Denmark, March 2018) | 53.4 years |
| Proportion of young people below 30 (%) (Statistics Denmark, March 2018) | 5.85 (12 out of 205) |
| Municipal councils (2017) | |
| Average age (years) (Statistics Denmark, March 2018) | 51.4 |
| Proportion of young people below 30 (%) (Statistics Denmark, March 2018) | 5.46 (133 of 2432) |
| European Parliament (2019) | |
| Average age (years) | 49.5 |
| Proportion of young people below 30 (%) | - |
There is no existing provision aiming at facilitating young people to stand as political candidates.