PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Henry Herrera
Phone: +1-301-801-0608
Email: davia@endtodv.org
Unseen Struggles: The Reality of Male Disadvantage in Denmark
February 12, 2025 — This statement examines the often-unnoticed difficulties that men in Denmark encounter, urging a broader societal reflection and a commitment to addressing these concerns. Awareness of these issues is vital to ensure fair and inclusive policies on gender-related challenges
Education: In Denmark, men face a significant disadvantage in the educational field compared to women. Over the past decade, female enrollment in upper secondary education has consistently surpassed that of males. In 2023, 77,000 women were enrolled at this level, compared to 64,100 men. This trend is also evident in higher education, where women are the majority in master’s degree programs. (1)
The gap becomes even more pronounced among young adults: 57.9% of women aged 25-34 hold a university degree, whereas only 40.4% of men in the same age group have attained this level, resulting in a difference of 17.5 percentage points. (2)
Furthermore, a higher proportion of men lack vocational training. Among individuals aged 19 to 64, 37.4% of men do not have an education that provides vocational skills, compared to only 31.8% of women. (3)
Health: Male mortality remains higher than female mortality. In 2023, a total of 58,384 people passed away, of whom 30,369 were men and 29,066 were women, highlighting greater male vulnerability. (4)
Additionally, the average life expectancy in Denmark reached 81.9 years, but with a notable gender disparity. While women live an average of 83.8 years, men only reach 80 years, revealing a life expectancy disadvantage of nearly four years. (5)
Suicide: In Denmark, suicide statistics show a significant gender disparity. In 2022, a total of 579 suicides were recorded in the country, of which 432 were men and 140 were women. This translates to a suicide rate of 14.65 per 100,000 men and 4.69 per 100,000 women, indicating a suicide rate for men approximately three times higher than for women. (6)
Homicide: Men have been disproportionately affected by homicides in recent years. In 2022, there were 58 homicides, a significant increase from 37 in 2021. Of the 58 homicides in 2022, 35 were men and 23 were women, showing that men face a higher exposure to lethal violence. This trend also appeared in 2021, with 23 male victims and 14 female victims. (7)
Parenting: In Denmark, custody courts appear to favor mothers. Mothers are awarded primary custody in 86% of divorces in Denmark, compared to only 14% of fathers. (8)
Denmark has an increasing number of single fathers, presenting a growing challenge for men because social policies and institutional support tend to focus more on mothers. (9)
Domestic Violence: Studies by the National Institute for Public Health and the National Gender Ministry reveal that domestic violence affects men and women at nearly equal rates, yet societal narratives often obscure male victimization. (10)
Research further indicates that Danish family court systems disproportionately impact fathers, with claims of psychological violence frequently resulting in loss of child access, despite only a small percentage being substantiated by police investigations. (11)
Homelessness: In Denmark, men continue to be more affected by homelessness, with an estimated 75% being men. Notwithstanding having three times the homelessness as women, men face greater challenges in accessing shelters and support services. Additionally, they are at higher risk of mental health problems, substance abuse, and social isolation due to the lack of support networks (12)
Workplace: In 2022, Denmark recorded 43 workplace fatalities, 41 men and only 2 women. The most affected sectors were construction, demolition, and goods transportation, which accounted for 50% of the cases, followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing. (13)
Conclusion: The challenges faced by men in Denmark are not isolated but part of a global issue, as men face 12 areas of disadvantage worldwide. (14) Addressing these disparities would create a fairer world for both sexes.
The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization that is working to celebrate the contributions of men to society and to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys around the world. Achieving #GenderEqualityForMen also will benefit women. https://www.menandboys.net/
Links:
2.https://op.europa.eu/webpub/eac/education-and-training-monitor/en/country-reports/denmark.html
4.https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/mortalidad/dinamarca?utm
5.https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/esperanza-vida/dinamarca
6.https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/mortalidad/causas-muerte/suicidio/dinamarca?utm_
7.https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/homicidios/dinamarca?utm_
8. https://sharedparenting.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/16/
10. https://mim.dk/ligestilling/publikationer/2022/vold-og-overgreb-i-danmark-2021
11. https://www.boerneraadet.dk/media/x4ajcbn5/brd_boerneindblik_nr7_2016_vold_i_hjemmet.pdf
12.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_Denmark?utm
13. https://eurogip.fr/en/denmark-fatal-accidents-at-work-to-rise-in-2022/