The latest figures from Statistics Denmark show that the number of Danish caravans has decreased by more than 20 percent over the past ten years. In 2014, there were around 140,000 caravans, but by 2023, the number has been reduced to 110,000 with Danish license plates. At the same time, the number of motorhomes has remained stable at around 13,000, bringing the total number of Danish registered caravans and motorhomes to 123,300 in 2023. This means that 39 out of 1000 Danish families own either a caravan or a motorhome, according to Statistics Denmark.
Henrik Byager, a communication advisor and lifestyle expert, points to several reasons for this trend. He notes that traditional forms of holidays such as camping and package holidays are being phased out in favor of more flexible holiday patterns, especially among the younger generations. “The newer generations seek greater flexibility and variety in their holidays, making caravans less attractive,” says Byager. “Additionally, there is an increasing awareness of environmental impact among young people who are looking for more sustainable ways to travel.”
Geographically, there is a significant difference in caravan ownership in Denmark. According to Statistics Denmark, caravan ownership is most common in Jutland, where 52 out of 1000 families own a caravan, compared to 25 families in Zealand and Bornholm, and 43 families in Funen. Jutlandic municipalities also dominate the list of municipalities with the most caravans and motorhomes per 1000 families, especially in the western parts of Jutland. Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality tops the list with 86 families per 1000, followed by Hedensted and Varde municipalities.
Henrik Byager explains that Jutland has a stronger tradition of camping holidays and also mentions the geographic proximity and cheaper access to Germany as contributing factors.