More than one in seven Danish children now born through fertility treatment

More than 14% of all children born in Denmark in 2025 were conceived through fertility treatment, according to new figures from the Danish Health Data Authority, as reported by Danish broadcaster DR.

A record 8,782 children were born via fertility treatment last year, out of a total 59,443 births, the data shows. This marks a significant increase from 2015, when 6,315 children—or 10.8% of all births—were conceived through assisted reproduction.

Anja Pinborg, professor and senior consultant at the Fertility Clinic at Rigshospitalet, called the trend positive, noting that fertility treatment plays a crucial role in maintaining Denmark’s birth rate. “When Danish women on average have around 1.5 children, it’s important that there are good options for having children with the help of fertility treatment,” she said.

The rise follows expanded access to treatment in recent years. In 2024, the number of publicly funded attempts increased from three to six, and in 2025, couples became eligible for support in having a second child.

However, the data also reveals a sharp increase in births using donor eggs—from 97 in 2015 to 812 in 2025. Pinborg warned that this trend signals couples are starting treatment too late. “If the number of children born through fertility treatment is to keep rising, couples need to start no later than their early 30s,” she said.

Denmark’s first child conceived via in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was born in 1983, a milestone that was documented by national television at the time.