Over 12,000 Danish schoolchildren miss a quarter of classes, report finds

A new analysis by the children’s welfare organisation Børns Vilkår reveals that more than 12,000 pupils in Denmark’s public primary schools missed at least one in four school days last year, DR reports.

The study, based on data from Statistics Denmark, shows that 12,030 children had over 50 absences in the 2024/25 school year—equivalent to missing at least 25 percent of classes. While this marks a slight decrease from the previous year, the figures have nearly doubled over the past five years.

On average, these children were absent for 80 days out of a 200-day school year. The analysis also found that 74 percent of heavily absent pupils had siblings who were frequently missing school as well.

Warning signs of distress overlooked

Rasmus Kjeldahl, director of Børns Vilkår, warned that high absence rates often signal deeper issues in a child’s life, whether at home or within the school environment.

“School absence is never an isolated problem—it’s a sign that a child needs attention and support,” he said. “Yet our analysis shows that even children with clear signs of distress risk being overlooked.”

The report highlights that 61 percent of these pupils had not been reported to authorities, and most received neither special education nor municipal support. While not all children with high absence rates require intervention, Kjeldahl called it “alarming” that over half received no additional help.

Sharp rise since pandemic

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, between 6,200 and 8,000 pupils (1.1–1.6 percent of students) had 50 or more absences annually. That number surged to nearly 12,000 in 2021/22 and has remained high since.

The analysis also revealed gender disparities: boys had slightly higher absence rates in grades 0–5, but from grade 6 onward, girls accounted for the largest share of heavily absent pupils. Additionally, children from low-income families and those with immigrant backgrounds were disproportionately affected.

Political response

School absenteeism has become a political priority, with four parties proposing reforms during the recent election campaign. Last autumn, the government allocated 30 million kroner annually (2026–2029) to address long-term absenteeism, estimating that 52,000 pupils suffered from school refusal.

A 2023 DR documentary series, Skolens tabte børn (The School’s Lost Children), further highlighted the issue of involuntary absenteeism in public schools.