How many police officers are there in Denmark?
Police staff, districts and new recruits.
Short answer
In 2024 the police spent 10,488 full-time equivalents of police staff, including police cadets, on police work, and 2,724 full-time equivalents of civilian staff, 13,212 in total. Denmark is divided into 12 police districts, plus Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which are police districts of their own. Each district is led by a police director. In 2025, 548 new students started the education to become a police officer, against 608 in 2024.
Why
- Figures are counted in full-time equivalents, not heads.
- Police cadets are counted together with trained officers.
- The national police commissioner and 12 police directors lead the police.
Details
The intake to the police officer education was 753 in 2017, the highest number between 2015 and 2025.
Tip
For police help that is not an emergency, call 114; for emergencies call 112.
What may differ
Staff numbers change every year with new intakes and retirements.
Common misconception
Every Danish city has its own local police force.
What actually happens
Denmark has one police service, divided into 12 police districts plus Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
People also ask
- What is the police number in Denmark?
- How many police districts are there in Denmark?
- How long is the police education in Denmark?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Laws, fines and rules can change, so check the Danish authorities before you travel.
Practical infoRelated questions
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What should you do after a traffic accident in Denmark?
If someone is injured or in danger, call 112 and ask for an ambulance or the police.
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What scams should you watch out for in Denmark?
The most common scams in Denmark come as fake text messages, Messenger messages, emails and phone calls from people pretending to be a bank or an authority.
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What happens after you report a crime to the police in Denmark?
Once your report is registered, you get a receipt with a case number (journalnummer) in e-Boks or on borger.dk.
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Can victims of crime get compensation from the Danish state?
Erstatningsnævnet decides applications for state compensation for physical or psychological injury caused by a breach of the Danish Criminal Code.