Nearly half of Danes are willing to personally fight to defend Denmark if the country were attacked by a foreign power, according to the Democracy Perception Index 2025 survey conducted in April. The survey, by Nira Data for the Alliance of Democracies, found that 48 percent of Danes surveyed would fight for their country.

The willingness of Danes to defend their country is notably higher than some of their European counterparts. Only 26 percent of French, 29 percent of Italians, and 30 percent of Germans surveyed expressed a willingness to defend their respective countries.

However, the survey also reveals a degree of hesitancy among Danes. Over half of those surveyed could not definitively say they would defend Denmark, and one in five answered no.

A separate survey conducted by Norstat for Kristeligt Dagblad presented a less optimistic picture. In that survey, only 25 percent of Danes said they were “willing” or “very willing” to go to war for Denmark, while 42 percent said they were not willing.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has spoken about the need for a “spiritual rearmament,” emphasizing that military rearmament alone is insufficient. She stressed the importance of ensuring that all Danes are prepared to contribute in the coming years.

The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) has warned that the threat against Denmark has become more serious, noting that the threat will increase as Russia regains its military strength.

Finland, which acceded to NATO in 2023, serves as an example of a nation well-prepared to defend itself. Finland boasts a high level of readiness, with the capacity to quickly mobilize approximately 900,000 soldiers thanks to conscription and a large reserve. The country also has shelters for nearly 100 percent of the population and a long tradition of public-private cooperation to secure society.