Eight neighborhoods recognized as parallel societies in Denmark for 2024

Recent updates from the Social and Housing Ministry reveal a revised list of parallel societies in the country for 2024, which now includes eight neighborhoods. This marks a decrease, following the removal of four public housing areas previously classified as parallel societies. The list, which has been published annually since 2010 and was formerly known as the “ghetto list,” identifies public housing sectors with over 1,000 residents, where 50 percent or more come from non-Western immigrant backgrounds.

To be considered a parallel society, these housing areas must meet set criteria. Alongside having a significant proportion of non-Western residents, at least two of the following benchmarks must be met: over 40 percent of residents aged 18-64 are unemployed or not in education; the crime rate significantly exceeds the national average; more than 60 percent of residents aged 30-59 have only completed primary education; or the average gross income of tax-paying residents aged 15-64 is under 55 percent of the regional average.

The current list includes areas such as Tåstrupgård in Høje-Taastrup and Bispehaven in Aarhus, among others. The move aims to address issues surrounding integration and socio-economic disparities in these neighborhoods. In recent years, the government has invested billions in dismantling some public housing and transforming family units into accommodations for younger and older residents, with a goal to eliminate parallel societies by 2030.

The Ministry has also published additional lists highlighting vulnerable housing areas and those undergoing transformation and prevention efforts.