This page compares the education systems of Denmark and Sweden.
Education System Overview
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public/private mix with decentralized municipal delivery. National legislation sets the main rules for compulsory education, while municipalities operate the public Folkeskole system and publicly supported private schools provide an alternative. [Ministry of Education] | Public/private mix; governance is decentralized. Municipalities operate most public schools, while publicly funded independent schools (friskolor) may be run by private providers. National legislation, curricula and standards apply across the system. |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Children and Education for school and upper-secondary education; municipalities for public primary and lower-secondary schools; and the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs with the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science for most tertiary education. [Danish Ministry] | Ministry of Education and Research; Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket); municipalities; and the Swedish Schools Inspectorate for supervision and authorization of independent schools. [Swedish Schools Inspectorate] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 6.4% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] | 7.3% (2022, latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series). [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory education normally begins in August of the calendar year in which a child turns 6 and ends after completion of Grade 9, normally around age 16. Denmark requires education rather than attendance at a particular type of school. [Ministry of Education] | From the autumn term of the year a child turns 6 until completion of compulsory school, normally around age 16. Preschool class has been compulsory since 2018. [University Admissions] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 10 years: one compulsory preschool class, known as Grade 0, followed by Grades 1–9. Grade 10 is optional. [Ministry of Education] | 10 years: one compulsory preschool-class year followed by nine years of compulsory school. |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional before compulsory preschool class. Participation is high: 94.7% of 3-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood education in 2023. [OECD] | Optional before compulsory preschool class. In 2024, ECEC enrollment was 95% at age 3, 96% at age 4 and 96% at age 5. [OECD] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 9 + 3 is the common general route: one compulsory preschool-class year, Grades 1–9 of compulsory school and usually three years of general upper-secondary education. An optional Grade 10 is also available. Vocational routes have different durations. [Ministry of Education] | 1 + 9 + 3: one year of compulsory preschool class, nine years of compulsory school and three years of upper-secondary education. [University Admissions] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approximately 19% vocational / 81% general among 15–19-year-old upper-secondary students in the latest directly comparable OECD distribution. Danish VET students are often older than students in general upper-secondary education, so this age-based measure does not represent all VET participation. [OECD] | Among students in national upper-secondary programs in 2024/25, approximately 33.2% were in vocational programs and 66.8% in higher-education preparatory programs, based on 110,900 and 223,600 students respectively. [Skolverket] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August | August |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June | June |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 40 weeks in the most common Folkeskole calendar. [Ministry of Education] | — |
| Instruction Days per Year | Approximately 200 days in the most common school-year arrangement. [Ministry of Education] | At least 178 school days per academic year in compulsory school; compulsory activities may not exceed 190 days. [Skolverket] |
Grading System
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | 7-point scale: -3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12. Grades 02, 4, 7, 10 and 12 are passing grades when a pass requirement applies. [Ministry of Education] | A–F: A is the highest grade, E is the lowest passing grade and F is a failing grade. Upper-secondary students beginning education after 30 June 2025 receive subject-level grades under Gy25, while the A–F grading scale remains in use. [Skolverket] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | The same 7-point scale is used across state-regulated higher education, with pass/fail assessment also permitted in specified courses. [Danish Agency] | Institution-specific; common systems include U/G/VG (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction) and other institution- or course-specific letter or numerical scales. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Danish is the main language of instruction in ordinary public schooling. | Swedish is the main language of instruction. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | German is used in recognized German-minority schools in Southern Jutland. International and bilingual schools may teach partly or fully in English or another language. | Sweden's national minority languages are Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib, Sami and Yiddish. Mother-tongue instruction and minority-language education are available under specific statutory conditions. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | At compulsory-school level, approximately 82% of pupils attend the municipal/public sector, based on the Ministry's reported 18% share attending free private primary and lower-secondary schools. [Ministry of Education] | Compulsory school: 83% attended municipal schools in 2024/25. At upper-secondary level, the latest verified national ownership comparison showed approximately 69% in municipal or other public provision. [Skolverket] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0. Municipal Folkeskole education is free of charge. [Ministry of Education] | $0. Municipal and publicly funded independent compulsory schools are tuition-free for students. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for providing public compulsory education throughout Denmark. [Ministry of Education] | Yes; municipalities are responsible for providing access to compulsory education throughout Sweden. |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Approximately 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend a free private primary and lower-secondary school. These schools receive public subsidies and may charge parental fees. [Ministry of Education] | Compulsory school: 17% attended independent schools in 2024/25. The independent-school share at upper-secondary level was approximately 31% in 2022/23. [Skolverket] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide, with free private schools operating in both urban and regional areas. | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | 26 recognized international basic schools in the Ministry's official category. [Ministry of Education] | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 20 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Denmark; 17 offer the Diploma Programme. [IB] | 46 IB World Schools. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International and school-specific British, American or bilingual programs. | International Baccalaureate (IB) and school-specific international or bilingual curricula. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | For the standard Folkeskole teacher pathway, a four-year Professional Bachelor's degree in teacher education totaling 240 ECTS, including teaching practice. Upper-secondary teacher qualification requirements differ. [Danish Agency] | A recognized teaching degree and teacher certification are required for permanent employment and independent grading in most teaching positions. Requirements vary by school level and subject. [Skolverket] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | Approximately 19 students in 2023. [OECD] | 20.5 students (2023, OECD comparable measure). Swedish national legislation does not define a standardized class-size measure. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 20 students in 2023. [OECD] | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 509 / 501 / 493 | 502 / 506 / 499 [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 489 / 489 / 494. [OECD] | 482 / 487 / 494 [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 471 / 460 / 478. [OECD] | 464 / 466 / 485 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Performance was lower in 2025 than in 2022 in mathematics, reading and science. Mathematics declined by 19 points, reading by 29 points and science by 16 points. OECD reports that 2025 performance in all three subjects was lower than in any Danish PISA assessment conducted before 2022. [OECD] | Sweden has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science was about the same. Results in all three core domains were below their 2018 levels and among the lowest observed for Sweden across its PISA participation. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 478 points. [OECD] | Science — 485 points. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 25 core institutions across the main state-regulated categories: 8 universities, 7 university colleges, 7 business academies and 3 architecture/art institutions. Additional specialized institutions fall under other administrative arrangements. [Danish Agency] | 50 higher education institutions (2025), including universities, university colleges, arts institutions and independent higher education providers. [UKÄ] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 8 universities: University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Roskilde University, Aalborg University, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen. [Danish Agency] | 18 universities (2025), of which 16 are public-sector institutions. [UKÄ] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 7 university colleges and 7 business academies. Denmark does not use a single formal “University of Applied Sciences” category equivalent to some other European systems. [Danish Agency] | 12 university colleges (2025), plus 5 university colleges of fine, applied and performing arts classified separately. [UKÄ] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities, university colleges, business academies and architecture/art institutions, alongside additional specialized tertiary providers. | Universities, university colleges, university colleges of fine, applied and performing arts, and independent higher education providers. [UKÄ] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Public institutions: 99.6% / government-dependent private institutions: approximately 0.3% / independent private institutions: approximately 0% in 2023. [OECD] | — |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | 500+ English-taught higher education programs across Danish institutions. [Study in Denmark] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 1 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90). [QS] | 3 in QS 2027: Lund University (#71), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (#=82) and Uppsala University (#=87). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 5 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90), Technical University of Denmark (105), Aarhus University (=128), University of Southern Denmark (=283) and Aalborg University (=329). [QS] | 8 in QS 2027. In addition to the three top-100 institutions, Stockholm University, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Linköping University and Umeå University ranked within the top 500. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 5 in QS 2027. Roskilde University is ranked in the 1001–1200 band, while Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen do not have an overall QS World University Ranking position in this edition. [QS] | 8 in QS 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution), which conducts accreditation work within Denmark's higher education quality-assurance system. | Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ), responsible for quality assurance, legal supervision, degree-awarding powers and analysis of Swedish higher education. [UKÄ] |
| International Students (Total) | Approximately 30,000 international tertiary students in 2023, the latest OECD internationally comparable total. [OECD] | 46,920 incoming students studied in Swedish higher education in 2024/25, including exchange students and independently mobile students. [UKÄ] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 9.9% in 2023, down from 10.7% in 2018. [OECD] | — |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for Danish students and generally for eligible students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland in public higher education. [Study in Denmark] | $0 for Swedish, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens under the general tuition-fee rules. [UKÄ] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically $8,000–$21,000 per year for fee-paying full-degree students, equivalent to the official published range of DKK 45,000–120,000. Exact fees are set by institutions. [Study in Denmark] | Typical national range approximately $8,250–$30,420 per academic year for fee-paying students, equivalent to SEK 80,000–295,000 at the 12 September 2026 exchange rate. The exact fee is set by the institution and program. [European Education Area] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for eligible EU/EEA/Swiss students; generally $8,000–$21,000 per year for other full-degree students. [Study in Denmark] | Approximately $8,250–$30,420 per academic year for fee-paying international students, with an average around $13,300; fees vary by field and institution. [European Education Area] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Denmark | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Denmark has a decentralized public/private education system in which municipalities operate the public Folkeskole within national legislation. Compulsory education lasts 10 years, beginning with preschool class in the year a child turns six and continuing through Grade 9. Municipal schools provide free education, while about 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend publicly supported free private schools. General upper-secondary programs and vocational education provide the main routes after compulsory school. Danish is the principal instructional language, with German-minority and international-school provision also available. In PISA 2025, Denmark scored 471 in mathematics, 460 in reading and 478 in science; all three results were lower than in 2022. Higher education includes eight research universities, seven university colleges and seven business academies, with 99.6% of tertiary students enrolled in public institutions in 2023. Current school changes include greater local flexibility, fewer compulsory leaving examinations and revised subject plans, while a new epx upper-secondary route is being prepared for introduction in 2030. | Sweden operates a decentralized public/private education system under national legislation and curricula, with municipalities responsible for most public-school provision and publicly funded independent schools providing an alternative. Compulsory education currently begins with preschool class in the year a child turns six and continues through nine years of compulsory school, giving a standard compulsory duration of 10 years. Upper-secondary education normally lasts three years and includes both vocational and higher-education preparatory programs. Publicly funded schooling is tuition-free, while independent schools enrolled 17% of compulsory-school pupils in 2024/25. In PISA 2025, Sweden scored 464 in mathematics, 466 in reading and 485 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes 50 institutions in the broader official 2025 classification, including 18 universities and 12 university colleges. Incoming international students reached 46,920 in 2024/25. Current school changes include Gy25 subject grading, reduced digital-tool use in preschool and the nationwide mobile-free rule for compulsory schools introduced in August 2026. |