Pension assets
How large is the pension wealth in Denmark, and how has it developed over time? The statistics on pension assets include the value of occupational and private pensions as well as ATP (Labour Market Supplementary Pension). Additionally, the statistics show how the assets are distributed across lifetime pensions, installment pension accounts and lump-sum pensions.
Explainer on…
The median represents the point at which exactly half of the population has a higher wealth, while the other half has a lower wealth. In particular, for wealth, the average can be significantly skewed by individuals with large fortunes, making it less representative of the general population. The median is a good alternative when aiming for a clearer picture of typical wealth levels in the Danish population.
Selected statistics on Pension assets
How much has been saved in pensions?
Data is collected from a variety of sources. Housing evaluation stems from the Danish property Assessment Authority but are adjusted to market values using sales statistics and the register on buildings and dwellings (BBR). Most data on financial assets and debt comes from the tax authorities. The value of cars is assessed by using used car sales prices from AutoBranchen Danmark and ownership of the cars are based on the car register. The pension data are collected from each of the 100 pension funds in close cooperation with the Danish National Bank and the tax authorities. The municipalities (mainly KMD) delivers data on postponed payments of real estate taxes. The Danish Debt Collection Agency (Gældsstyrelsen) delivers data on public debt. The assessment of the value of unquoted shares are done by Statistics Denmark in cooperation with the National Bank. It's mainly based on accounting statistics. The unquoted shares are distributed via the registers on ownership of businesses. LD delivers data on vacation funds.
Pension wealth peaks at retirement age
Data is collected from a variety of sources. Housing evaluation stems from the Danish property Assessment Authority but are adjusted to market values using sales statistics and the register on buildings and dwellings (BBR). Most data on financial assets and debt comes from the tax authorities. The value of cars is assessed by using used car sales prices from AutoBranchen Danmark and ownership of the cars are based on the car register. The pension data are collected from each of the 100 pension funds in close cooperation with the Danish National Bank and the tax authorities. The municipalities (mainly KMD) delivers data on postponed payments of real estate taxes. The Danish Debt Collection Agency (Gældsstyrelsen) delivers data on public debt. The assessment of the value of unquoted shares are done by Statistics Denmark in cooperation with the National Bank. It's mainly based on accounting statistics. The unquoted shares are distributed via the registers on ownership of businesses. LD delivers data on vacation funds.
Gender differences in pensions
Data is collected from a variety of sources. Housing evaluation stems from the Danish property Assessment Authority but are adjusted to market values using sales statistics and the register on buildings and dwellings (BBR). Most data on financial assets and debt comes from the tax authorities. The value of cars is assessed by using used car sales prices from AutoBranchen Danmark and ownership of the cars are based on the car register. The pension data are collected from each of the 100 pension funds in close cooperation with the Danish National Bank and the tax authorities. The municipalities (mainly KMD) delivers data on postponed payments of real estate taxes. The Danish Debt Collection Agency (Gældsstyrelsen) delivers data on public debt. The assessment of the value of unquoted shares are done by Statistics Denmark in cooperation with the National Bank. It's mainly based on accounting statistics. The unquoted shares are distributed via the registers on ownership of businesses. LD delivers data on vacation funds.
Pension wealth at retirement age
Data is collected from a variety of sources. Housing evaluation stems from the Danish property Assessment Authority but are adjusted to market values using sales statistics and the register on buildings and dwellings (BBR). Most data on financial assets and debt comes from the tax authorities. The value of cars is assessed by using used car sales prices from AutoBranchen Danmark and ownership of the cars are based on the car register. The pension data are collected from each of the 100 pension funds in close cooperation with the Danish National Bank and the tax authorities. The municipalities (mainly KMD) delivers data on postponed payments of real estate taxes. The Danish Debt Collection Agency (Gældsstyrelsen) delivers data on public debt. The assessment of the value of unquoted shares are done by Statistics Denmark in cooperation with the National Bank. It's mainly based on accounting statistics. The unquoted shares are distributed via the registers on ownership of businesses. LD delivers data on vacation funds.
On the statistics – documentation, sources and method
See the documentation of statistics to learn more:
The purpose of the income statistics - is to provide statistics on the population's incomes and tax payments as well as the distribution of incomes. The statistics are useful in the field of social sciences and form the basis for effective policymaking in areas that affect the economic situation of the households. Statistics Denmark has published statistics on income since 1905 and has coherent time series going back to the 1980’s.
Additional documentation
The purpose of the Wealth and Debt statistics is to provide insights into the wealth and debt of individuals, families, and various population groups. The statistics were first created in the aftermath of the financial crisis in collaboration with Danmarks Nationalbank (the Danish Central Bank) and were intended, among other things, to analyze families' resilience to economic shocks. Additionally, the statistics are used in analyses of the pension system and to measure economic inequality. The statistics have been produced since 2014.