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That was the Danish summer that was: So who is the average Dane?
Ben Hamilton
August 13th, 2016
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This article is more than 8 years old.
A compilation of this summer’s stories reveals a tall, violent, disturbed individual who’s addicted to their phone
You can find out a lot about the average Dane reading the newspaper over the summer, but what can we expect from the next generation?
Let’s catch up with the Jensens of the future – or should that be Nielsens, now it’s become the country’s most common surname?
William and Sofia
In a generation’s time, young Danish adults will most likely be called William and Sofia. Noah, Lucas, Emil, Oliver, Freya, Ella, Alma and Anna will also be commonplace.
READ MORE: Sofia and William most popular baby names in Denmark
The Williams of the future will be tall and a little higher than today’s average 18-year-old who is 181.4 cm, number five in the world. ‘Sofia’ will be hoping to climb from seventh place at 167.2 cm. But they’ll have some way to catch the Dutch men and Latvian women – the world’s tallest
people.
READ MORE: Danish men keep getting taller
Studying … their phone
There’s a good chance they’ll go to university. A record 66,439 students have been admitted this year. In total, there were 94,766 applicants.
Although their mobile phones will distract them from their studies. Danes check them an average 2.5 times per hour. Some 17 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds check them at least 10 times per hour.
Checking their phones is a contributor to the 20 percent increase in accidents caused by distracted drivers over the past five years. In total, checking or texting caused 40 percent of all traffic accidents last year.
Leave them anywhere
Will they be better parkers? Increasing numbers of motorists in Aarhus and Copenhagen are parking illegally and failing to pay fines. The surge has coincided with a decision to replace SKAT’s old IT system.
And will they clean their act up? Some 72.2 percent of Danes would like to see stiffer penalties for people who drop rubbish in public spaces.
Today, litter louts can get a fine of up to 1,000 kroner. However, only 36 offenders have been penalised over the last eight years and only one person got a fine in 2015.
READ MORE: Danes want stiffer fines for littering
Let’s hope they don’t abandon their pets like their wrappers. At the end of June, the animal welfare organisation Dyrenes Beskyttelse rescued 833 animals – twice more than in the months of February, March and April combined.
Neighbours at work
neighbourly disputes are more likely. One in four Danes has one – a large rise over the past five years, normally over noise.
And they’ll need to be wary of the women, as for the first time ever, an equal number of men and women were convicted of involuntary manslaughter or bodily harm last year.
READ MORE: More women convicted of violent crimes in Denmark
The number of women guilty of a violent offence has increased from 186 in 1980 to 1,106 in 2015.
The strain of life
And it turns out half of all Danish women aged 18-34 are struggling with some form of psychological problem. And not enough is being done to address problems among the young.
Overall, a record number of Danes are seeking emergency psychiatric help. Compared to 20 years ago, the number has risen from 12,099 in 1995 to 33,333 in 2015.
But on a cheery note, at least they are less likely to drown. Numbers have been on the slide since 2009, and currently only 51 people die a year due to drowning. Alcohol tends to play a role in 30 percent of the cases.
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