Since 1970, the population has only decreased: Record low population on Ærø

Since 1970, the population of Ærø has only been increasing: Record low population of 5,882 residents on Ærø

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*Page 1: Siden 1970 er det kun gået én vej:* Rekordlavt indbyggertal på Ærø

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I hope we won't have to cut deeply into municipal welfare, says city councilor.

According to statistics from Denmark's Statistics, there were 5,882 residents on Ærø as of February 1, 2025. This is nearly 4,000 fewer residents than on January 1, 1971. (Photo: Tim Kildeborg Jensen/Ritzau Scanpix) (Photo: © Tim Kildeborg Jensen, Ritzau Scanpix)

By

Lisa Scheper Thunø ([email protected]) 42 min. ago

Although new residents continue to move to the southern Fyn island, the number of Ærø residents is at its lowest level in 55 years.

The declining population is due to the fact that the average age of Ærø's population is among the highest in the country. This means that more residents are dying than are moving to the island.

The development concerns conservative city council member Mads Boeberg Hansen, who fears the economic consequences of the declining population.

- This will lead to a reduction in the level of service we provide to residents today. It could mean cuts in ferry services, a decline in elderly care or a guarantee of care in our daycare centers.

The declining population will affect the municipality's budget, as the municipality will receive less in state subsidies per resident. In addition, it will also have an impact on the municipality's childcare and elderly care expenses.

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Impossible to avoid

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But it's not just on Ærø that there are challenges in attracting more residents. According to municipal researcher Roger Buch, a declining population is a general trend in the country's outlying municipalities.

- It's a problem on most of our islands, but also on the mainland, that we are moving towards the larger cities. This means that it is going downhill in other places. It is some very strong forces that one cannot do anything about.

- If it becomes necessary to cut budgets, I would rather cut ferry services, says Mads Boeberg Hansen (K). (Photo: © Tim Kildeborg Jensen, Ritzau Scanpix)

Ærø Municipality experienced a brief period of population growth in the years following the corona, but has not been able to sustain the growth since 2022. This is despite the fact that the municipality in 2019 launched a housing initiative aimed at attracting more residents to the island.

According to Mads Boeberg Hansen, it is precisely initiatives like this that should turn the negative trend. He still believes there is hope for a positive population growth.

But the focus should be more on the problem, if the island's children and elderly are not to pay the price.

- It requires a good strategy to solve these population declines. Set a serious amount aside to ensure that we have an attractive housing strategy.

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A helping hand

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Despite such an initiative being an important piece in the quest for more residents, it is not something that can stop the general depopulation of the country's outlying municipalities, says Roger Buch. Instead, one should consider how many resources the individual municipalities will use on the issue.

>

> It is some very strong forces that one cannot do anything about.

> Roger Buch, municipal researcher

- One must take it as a given and try to make the best of the situation instead of starting all sorts of wild things because one thinks one can turn the development. That's why there's not much that suggests one can.

According to Roger Buch, responsibility for solving the problem should not lie with the individual municipality, but rather with the Danish Parliament:

- The Danish Parliament should be in the work to help. There is work being done to change our subsidy and equalization system, and here one could give municipalities an extra helping hand.

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