One in eight Danish children now has no siblings

One in eight children in Denmark is now an only child, an increase of 13,191 since 2010, according to figures cited by DR.

Jesper Dammeyer, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Copenhagen, dismisses the stereotype that only children are more selfish or spoiled. Research shows no evidence for this, he says. Instead, only children often benefit from greater parental time and resources, leading to stronger social skills and slightly faster development than children with siblings.

While some only children may feel loneliness due to the absence of siblings, Dammeyer notes that parental attention can compensate. However, they may miss out on conflict-resolution skills that siblings often develop. He adds that only children tend to be more independent, resourceful, and cognitively advanced, with stronger parent-child relationships.

Overall, Dammeyer says being an only child carries slight advantages due to undivided resources, though sibling relationships can also be valuable. He acknowledges that societal norms around family structure may create a desire for siblings in some only children.

Peter Fallesen, professor at the Rockwool Foundation, argues that rising numbers of only children will not shrink Denmark’s population, citing factors like improved fertility treatments, immigration, and stable birth rates among highly educated women. He also points to research showing only children perform better academically and are more likely to pursue longer educations, potentially boosting productivity.