Growing Nepalese in Denmark - Story in Numbers
March 14, 2025 •Lately, I’ve been digging into some data from Statistics Denmark about the Nepalese community here, and the story it tells is nothing short of captivating. From students chasing degrees to families reuniting and immigrants putting down permanent roots, the numbers reveal a growing presence. Let me unpack the trends.
Kicking off with a modest 408 new arrivals in 2007, the total Nepalese population hit 1,174 by 2008. From there, it climbed steadily but gently—yearly arrivals fluctuated between 226 and 614 through 2010—building the community to 4,089 by 2016. Then came a plateau: immigration dipped (notably to 234 in 2020—cheers, COVID-19), and the population hovered around 4,844 to 4,976 from 2017 to 2020.
The immigration roared back with 657 arrivals in 2021, almost 1,000 in 2022, then a staggering 2,157 in 2023 and 3,264 in 2024, catapulting the total population to 12,444 in early 2025.
Copenhagen stands as the largest hub for Nepalese with almost 3,500 residents—clearly the big draw. Høje-Taastrup (1,306) and Ishøj (1,030) are municipalities on the outskirt of the capital buzzing with Nepalese life. Meanwhile, spots like Rødovre (758), Brøndby (654), and Gladsaxe (557) paint a picture of suburban hubs. But it’s not all urban—tiny Thisted boasts 30, and even Bornholm has 17! Meanwhile, smaller numbers in centers like Aarhus (127) and Odense (270) hint at a gradual spread beyond the Copenhagen region.
Visa Pathways: Why Are Nepalese Coming to Denmark?
The table illustrates the cumulative residence permits granted to Nepalese nationals in Denmark from 1997 to 2023, showcasing key trends across selected years. Education-related permits dominate, soaring from 252 in 2001 to 15,858 by 2023, reflecting a significant rise in Nepalese students and study-related migration.
Work permits also show steady growth, climbing from just 7 in 2001 to 3,884 in 2023, highlighting increased labour migration. Family reunification permits grow consistently, from 31 in 2001 to 817 in 2023, driven by spouse, cohabitant, and minor-related categories.
EU/EEA-related permits experience a notable surge later in the period, jumping from 2 in 2001 to 1,300 in 2023, underscoring the linkage of Nepalese who have naturalised in other European countries.
Asylum and refugee status remains minimal, peaking at 10 permits by 2005 and stagnating thereafter. Other categories, such as adoption, show modest growth, increasing from 77 in 2001 to 202 in 2023. The cumulative approach provides a clear, long-term perspective on migration trends over the 26-year period.
Naturalisations Trend
Finally, let’s see how many Nepalese have taken the leap to become Danish citizens. Here’s the data from 1979 to 2024. Til date almost 600 Nepalese have acquired Danish citizenship - big spikes can be observed in the last 5 years.
This was an attempt to analyse data related to the Nepalese community in Denmark, sourced from Statistics Denmark. The numbers reveal a compelling story of growth, from new arrivals to naturalisations, but there’s more to uncover.
I’ll keep digging for additional data to flesh out this picture further.