Denmark sees 10% rise in only children over 16 years

Denmark is experiencing a notable increase in the number of only children, with approximately 10% more children growing up without siblings compared to 16 years ago. Current statistics reveal that every eighth child in Denmark is now an only child, a significant rise from every tenth child in 2010.

Demographic experts attribute this trend to several factors, primarily the increasing age at which women are having their first child. The average age for first-time mothers has risen to 30.4 years in 2025, up from 29 years in 2010. This later start to motherhood can make subsequent pregnancies more challenging, leading some families to stop after one child, especially given the physical and mental toll of fertility treatments.

Furthermore, policy changes aimed at supporting families seeking fertility treatments are also playing a role. Recent regulations allow for more free attempts at conception, and the overall success rate of these treatments has improved. While the number of only children is rising, researchers suggest that factors like immigration mean the overall population is not necessarily shrinking. Despite the increase in only children, the majority of Danish children still have at least one sibling.

“

Fertility treatment can be hard mentally and physically, so there is a group that stops after one child. Until recently, it also cost money to get help for a second child.