Do adoptees have special CPR numbers?

Foreign adoptees always have a social security number with a relatively high serial number, but you cannot determine from the serial number whether the child is adopted. However, special conditions apply to foreign adoptees who came to Denmark between 1976 and 1984.

For adoptees who arrived in Denmark in 2001 or later, many have been surprised that the child has been given a very high serial number, but there is a natural explanation for this.

A CPR number consists of 10 digits: ddmmåå xyzw

ddmmyy is the date of birth, 6 digits.

xyz is a 3-digit serial number, 3 digits

w is a check digit that is calculated from the other 9. Men have an odd check digit, women an even one.

Due to the check digit (w) calculation algorithm, there are only 490 available serial numbers each day (and not 999), equally divided between both sexes. Since the year in the date of birth is only indicated with two digits, in one century only serial numbers below 500 are used and in the next century only serial numbers from 500 and up. This halves the number of available serial numbers per day to only approx. 245.

Why do foreign adoptees get high serial numbers?

The serial numbers that can be used are assigned consecutively in the order in which the persons are registered in the Folkeregisteret. There are no special series for special groups. Children born in Denmark will normally be assigned a number within 14 days of birth and will therefore always have the lowest numbers.

The subsequent numbers will then be assigned to immigrants, foreign adopted children and children born abroad to Danish parents in the order in which they arrive in the country. Almost 2 foreign children and 3-4 immigrants (under 4 years) are adopted daily. In addition, about 2 children born to Danish parents abroad arrive every day. These barely 10 children are assigned a CPR number after they were born in Denmark, but as can be seen below, they drown in the variation in the number of births.

In the course of a year, there are between approx. 165 and well over 200 births daily. Within the last 25 years, the lowest number has been approx. 120 births in one day and the highest a good 225 births. Even within a given month, the variation from day to day will often be over 10. (In this age of birth technology, for example, there are slightly more births on Fridays)

So: foreign adopted children will always have a high serial number (7-9 digits); but you cannot see from the serial number whether the child is adopted.

Why do foreign adoptees typically get a serial number over 7000 today?

Most of us are only used to seeing CPR numbers where the last four digits are below 5000. But as mentioned, you alternately only use serial numbers below and above 500 when you change the century. Therefore, everyone born in 2001 or later has been given a serial number over 500. Combined with the fact that foreign adoptees typically get a high number, the last four digits will often be over 7000.

Danish adopted

Danish adoptees will be assigned a CPR number like all other Danish-born children in close connection with the birth. The CPR number does not change when the child is adopted 3 months later at the earliest. Danish adoptees' CPR numbers therefore do not have a high serial number in the same way as foreign adoptees.

Children adopted from abroad in the period 1976 to 1984

In the period from 1976 to 1984, all foreign adoptees were given a CPR number with 10 or 11 as 7 and 8 digits. (xy)

In 1984, the Minister of the Interior gave permission for these children to get a new CPR number, and many applied for that.

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