The results of a new survey - conducted by think tank Kraka and Deloitte - demonstrate clear integration progress in Denmark: pupils whose parents come from non-Western countries are graduating from primary schools with higher marks than ever and, when these marks are adjusted for socio-economic differences, with higher marks than pupils of ethnic Danish background.

Until now, those belonging to this migrant demographic have attained lower results than pupils with a native Danish background. This is still the case when their grades are compared without adjustment to take into account their parents’ education and income, with their average score falling 1.2 points lower on the 12-point scale.

A researcher in educational anthropology at Aarhus University provided the following explanation for the improvement in results: “There is positive development underway as many schools have become more inclusive towards ethnic minority Danish students, and many teachers have come to understand how to approach the task [of inclusion] in a better way. There are more and more people with an ethnic minority background [such as migrants and those with migrant parents] who perform better at school and achieve a longer education. This also affects the younger siblings in a family.”

While differences in grades are diminishing between those of different ethnic backgrounds, differences between those of different genders have increased: girls continue to achieve higher grades than boys in Denmark, with this attainment gap increasing, regardless of their ethnic background.

NB: In the Danish context, 'Western countries' are understood to be all EU countries plus Andorra, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the United Sates and the Vatican. Those from any other country are defined by Denmark as 'non-Western'. A person is not considered 'Danish' by Denmark's statistics body by virtue of holding a Danish passport, rather only if they have in addition at least one parent who is a Danish citizen and was born in Denmark.