[2] Rifbjerg was born in Copenhagen and grew up on the island of Amager, which is part of the city, the child of two teachers.

Along with Villy Sørensen, he was editor of the publication Vindrosen, and from 1984 to 1991 he was the literary director of Gyldendal.

Many of his works from 1970 and some 25 years on are seen as being looser in scope and composition, often humorous or sarcastic, often leaving the protagonist chaotically alone with his or her existential and psychological hangups, subtly exemplifying modernism as the breakdown of the normality of the bourgeoisie.

A principal theme is the portrayal of children and their difficulties establishing their own identity.

On 4 April 2015 Rifbjerg died in Copenhagen after a long illness, aged 83.