1. Bicycle Culture: Copenhagen is often referred to as the "Bike Capital of the World." Approximately 62% of the city's residents regularly use bicycles as their primary mode of transport, supported by an extensive network of cycle lanes and bike-sharing programs. 2. Green City Initiatives: The city has ambitious plans to become the world's first carbon-neutral capital by 2025, incorporating sustainable urban planning, extensive green spaces, and investments in renewable energy sources. 3. Hygge Lifestyle: The Danish concept of "hygge," which emphasizes coziness, comfort, and togetherness, is deeply ingrained in Copenhagen's culture. This lifestyle encourages residents and visitors to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, making it a key part of the city's identity.
Copenhagen's housing market is characterized by high demand and rising prices. As of 2025, the city has approximately 357,000 housing units. The ownership structure is diverse, with about 25% owner-occupied, 31% cooperative housing, 16% social housing, 21% private rentals, and 7% other rentals. Renting is more common than owning in Copenhagen, with roughly 75% of residents renting their homes. The median rent price is around €20-25 per square meter per month, while the median purchase price for apartments is approximately €7,000-8,000 per square meter. Public and social housing play a significant role, comprising about 20% of Copenhagen's housing stock. These options aim to provide affordable housing, but long waiting lists are common due to high demand. Cooperative housing is particularly prominent in Copenhagen, making up about 31% of the market. This unique Danish model offers a middle ground between renting and owning, providing more stability than renting but at a lower cost than full ownership. The city faces challenges in providing affordable housing, with property prices rising by at least 3% in 2024. The housing stock is aging, with about 40% of homes over 50 years old by 2025, potentially requiring significant maintenance or renovation in the coming years.
The city of Copenhagen has implemented several policies and initiatives to address housing affordability and sustainability. The administration aims to maintain social housing at 20% of the total housing stock and is participating in the European Affordable Housing Initiative to renovate 100 'Lighthouse Districts' across Europe. Concrete activities and programs include: 1. Youth Housing Project: Provides housing support to young people facing homelessness using the Housing First principle. 2. Social Strategy (Socialstrategien): Aims to improve quality of life and social mobility for all Copenhagen residents. 3. Homes for All Alliance: A city initiative to combat homelessness. 4. New Social Housing Construction: Building new, sustainable, low-rent social housing units. 5. Renovation of Existing Housing: Investing in renovating and future-proofing existing housing stock. 6. Sustainable Construction: Promoting sustainable building practices, including the use of treated wood and recycled materials. The city also supports cooperative housing through favorable zoning and land-use policies, providing information and resources to groups interested in forming cooperatives, and ensuring regulations that allow cooperatives to operate effectively. Despite these efforts, Copenhagen still faces challenges such as rising property prices, long waiting lists for social and cooperative housing, and increasing demand due to population growth. The city continues to work on innovative solutions, including exploring new forms of shared housing and using urban planning to create more affordable neighborhoods.