Public libraries
How many materials do citizens borrow from the public libraries in Denmark? How many people visit the public libraries? The public library statistics show the activity of the Danish public libraries – for example, the number of books, loans, and renewals. It also provides information regarding the number of loans taken through digital services, such as eReolen and Filmstriben.
Selected statistics on Public libraries
Visits to public libraries
Public and research libraries report data to Statistics Denmark via an electronic questionnaire. The Ministry of Culture provides population for the statistics.
Loans of physical and digital materials
Public and research libraries report data to Statistics Denmark via an electronic questionnaire. The Ministry of Culture provides population for the statistics.
Loans of materials in Filmstriben
Public and research libraries report data to Statistics Denmark via an electronic questionnaire. The Ministry of Culture provides population for the statistics.
Loans from public school libraries by material type
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| All Denmark | ||
| Lending. All materials | 12,517,737 | 12,459,028 |
| Lending. Books | 12,351,265 | 12,301,629 |
| Lending. Audio books | 1,667 | 1,340 |
| Lending. Music recordings | 455 | 416 |
| Lending. Moving pictures | 1,349 | 1,345 |
| Lending. Multimedia | 12,656 | 10,122 |
| Lending. Other materials | 89,488 | 87,114 |
| Lending. Serial publications | 60,857 | 57,062 |
Public and research libraries report data to Statistics Denmark via an electronic questionnaire. The Ministry of Culture provides population for the statistics.
Borrowers at public libraries by gender
Public and research libraries report data to Statistics Denmark via an electronic questionnaire. The Ministry of Culture provides population for the statistics.
On the statistics – documentation, sources and method
See the documentation of statistics to learn more:
The purpose of the Cultural Habits Survey is to document the cultural habits of the residents of Denmark. Culture is broadly defined, as the survey covers habits within the topics of culture, media and recreational activities, e.g. concerts, performing arts, cinema, literature, exercise, digital games and hobbies. The survey has been carried out regularly since 1964. Statistics Denmark has carried out the survey from 2018-2023 and in 2024-, while previous surveys have been carried out by the Ministry of Culture. The survey has been carried out with a new questionnaire since the first quarter of 2024, and is therefore not directly comparable with previous versions.
The purpose of the statistics is to disseminate the activity in the area of public libraries in Denmark. The statistics are produced by Statistics Denmark on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. From 2000 and up to and including 2009 the statistics was produced by the Ministry of Culture.