Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt conceded defeat in Thursday's general election and resigned as Social Democratic party leader after a record score for an anti-immigration party lifted the opposition right-wing bloc to victory.

"Tomorrow I will go to the Queen and tell her that the government is stepping down. Now it is up to Lars Lokke Rasmussen to try to form a government," she said, referring to the leader of the main right-wing party Venstre.