Total population | |
---|---|
1,180 (Oct. 2009)[1] | |
Languages | |
Danish,Greek | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Greek diaspora |
TheGreeks in Denmark are a small community. As of October 2009[update],Statistics Denmark recorded 1,180 people of Greek origin living inDenmark, with 954 inZealand, 177 inJutland, 48 inFunen, and 1 inBornholm.[1]
Unskilled migrants began coming fromEvros andKastoria to Denmark in the 1960s; they worked primarily in the fur trade. Most of those initial migrants have returned to Greece as this sector became economically depressed. Political refugees fleeing theGreek military junta of 1967–1974 were numerically minor, but evoked a great deal of sympathy from the politically liberal Danish population.[2] The number of Greekinternational students choosing Denmark as their destination showed an uptick after 1981, when Greece became a member of theEuropean Economic Community.[3]
Many migrants consist of Greek men ininternational marriages with Danish women. The number of Greek women married to Danish men is smaller. Either way, such relationships have an unusually high rate of divorce. Spouses typically return to Greece if they separate from their Danish partner.[2]