Skip to content
Parts of the website are currently not working, including the search function. We apologize for the inconvenience.
White cross
Parts of the website are currently not working, including the search function. We apologize for the inconvenience.
White cross
Search dst.dk

    Statistical processing

    Contact info

    Personal Finances and Welfare, Social Statistics
    Siri Dencker
    +45 21 45 34 92

    SEN@dst.dk

    Get as PDF

    Children and young persons placed outside own home

    Data for these statistics are continually collected from the administrative municipalities. The collected data is then subjected to a meticulous validation process in cooperation with the municipalities. All of the municipalities receive feedback sheets, representing the scope and nature of the reported data, which need to be approved by the municipalities. Data is subsequently gathered in an incident register which forms the basis for a creation of a progress register and a status/stock register.

    Source data

    Data stem from municipalities' digital systems used for the administration of cases regarding children and young people. In addition, the municipalities can upload data through the webplatform https://www.dst.dk/anb provided by Statistics Denmark.

    In the period 2006-2016, Ankestyrelsen, (The Danish Social Appeals Board) was responsible for collecting data on placements in out-of-home care.

    Frequency of data collection

    Data from the 98 municipalities are collected continuously. It is possible to report on a daily basis.

    Data collection

    Data are transmitted via different system-to-system solutions. Municipalities can also upload data through a web platform, provided by Statistics Denmark. There are several different system providers: DUBU, DXC, SBSYS, KMD/Nexus, Dedalus and Modulus Social.

    Municipalities report the following events in a placement process:

    • Decision on placement
    • Initiation of a new placement
    • Change of placement location (relocation or administrative change at the placement site)
    • Change in the legal basis for the placement
    • Transfer or receipt of case responsibility
    • Continuation/reestablishment of residential care between the ages of 18 and 22

    For more information on reporting criteria, see: Bekendtgørelsen om dataindberetning på socialområdet.

    Data validation

    For data from the first half of 2025, validation will take place semi-annually in cooperation with the municipalities. Based on the event register at Statistics Denmark, a compilation is prepared showing the number of ongoing placements, placements initiated during the year, ongoing placements with consent, and ongoing placements in foster families. The compilation must be compared with the municipalities’ own figures and approved.

    Quarterly reports are issued, requesting municipalities to correct misleading or missing data.

    As a general rule, only approved data are included in the publication.

    Data compilation

    The Event Register (BUAH):

    If essential information — such as the personal identification number (CPR) or the date of the event — is missing or invalid, the submission is excluded. The Event Register contains reported events as well as events indicating a change in foster family category added by Statistics Denmark in connection with the reclassification of foster family categories in 2019–2020.

    If no termination has been reported when the placed child turns 18 or 23 years old, a termination is automatically added for the day before the birthday. In connection with the 18th birthday, dates and/or events are automatically adjusted to ensure that age-dependent events correspond to the person’s age. For example, a “placement initiated” event dated after the 18th birthday will be changed to “continuation of residential care.” A termination within one month after the 18th birthday without a continuation of residential care at age 18 is adjusted to the day before the 18th birthday. Age is calculated on the event date based on the CPR number or the reported date of birth.

    The Longitudinal Register (BUAF): The Longitudinal Register is generated using start and end dates derived from the Event Register. Terminations have the same start and end date. All other events end on the start date of the subsequent event. If there is no subsequent event, the end date is left blank. The duration of placements is calculated as the number of days between the start and end dates.

    The Status Register (BUAS): The Status Register is derived from the Course Register. Status is determined as of 30 June and 31 December and is indicated by the corresponding year. Age is calculated as of 30 June and 31 December based on the CPR number or the reported date of birth. When generating the Status Register, it is assumed that:

    • a provisional decision is replaced by a placement without consent within seven days, and

    • decisions concerning unborn children with or without consent are replaced at birth by “Decision with consent” and “Decision without consent,” respectively. Both assumptions apply if no change in the legal basis has been reported in the case by the end of the year.

    The StatBank tables ANB5, ANB6, and ANB7, which present ongoing placements as of 30 June and 31 December, are based on the Status Register.

    The StatBank tables ANBAAR2, ANBAAR9, ANBAAR12, ANBAAR13, ANBAAR15, and ANBAAR16, which present ongoing placements as of 31 December, are also based on the Status Register.

    The StatBank tables ANBAAR8, ANBAAR10, ANBAAR14, and ANBAAR17, which present initiated placements, are based on the Event Register.

    Adjustment

    Not relevant for these statistics.

    Statistical presentation

    Relevance