Denmark sees surge in co-housing as 8,200 new homes built since 2020

A new report from Aalborg University reveals that Denmark has added 8,200 co-housing units since 2020—an average of four new homes per day—marking a near-doubling in just six years, DR reports.

Senior researcher Jesper Ole Jensen of Aalborg University’s Build Institute describes the trend as a shift from the collective housing models of the past toward “modern villages.” These new developments are larger, often professionally managed, and increasingly cater to older adults. Two-thirds of new co-housing projects now target residents aged 55 and above, reflecting both demographic demand and a desire for community in later life.

“Younger generations are also following suit,” Jensen notes, with nearly 30 percent of new co-housing projects designed as intergenerational communities. “Some seniors enjoy living alongside families with children, while parents appreciate having older neighbors who might help with childcare or offer support.”

The growth is concentrated within 40–100 kilometers of major cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense, aligning with broader urbanization trends. Municipalities are prioritizing co-housing in planning, citing benefits like improved self-sufficiency, healthier lifestyles, and higher quality of life. “It’s easier to exercise when neighbors invite you to yoga, or to eat well when sharing meals,” Jensen explains.

Professional investors—pension funds, developers, and housing associations—now drive over 90 percent of new projects, a shift from the grassroots origins of co-housing in the 1970s. “Banks are less willing to finance individual initiatives, and land is harder to secure,” Jensen says. To foster community, some developments hire facilitators to organize activities, a new practice for commercial developers.

Denmark now has roughly 18,000 co-housing units across 600 communities, with the oldest, Sættedammen in Hillerød, dating to 1972.