Page last updated on January 31, 2014
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)
total: 43,094 sq km
country comparison to the world: 134
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
low and flat to gently rolling plains
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
arable land: 57.99%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 41.91% (2011)
total: 0.66 cu km/yr (58%/5%/36%)
per capita: 118.4 cu m/yr (2009)
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Evangelical Lutheran (official) 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
5,556,452 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 489,845/female 465,189)
15-24 years: 13% (male 367,927/female 352,872)
25-54 years: 39.3% (male 1,091,525/female 1,094,584)
55-64 years: 12.5% (male 344,484/female 348,596)
65 years and over: 18% (male 446,476/female 554,954) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 55 %
youth dependency ratio: 27.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 27.7 %
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2013)
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.5 years
female: 42.3 years (2013 est.)
0.23% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
10.2 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
urban population: 86.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
COPENHAGEN (capital) 1.206 million (2011)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 152
total: 4.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 78.94 years
country comparison to the world: 48
male: 76.54 years
female: 81.47 years (2013 est.)
1.73 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
11.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 12
3.42 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
5,300 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
18.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
8.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2010)
total: 14.2%
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 14.8%
female: 14.1% (2012)
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day
previous 1665; latest adopted 5 June 1849; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)
civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born on 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (since 3 October 2011)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held on 15 September 2011 (next to be held by September 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - V 26.7%, SDP 24.9%, DF 12.3%, SLP 9.5%, SF 9.2%, O 6.7%, LA 5%, C 4.9%, other 0.8%; seats by party - V 47, SDP 44, DF 22, SLP 17, SF 16, O 12, LA 9, C 8; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and the two seats from the Faroe Islands
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts
Conservative People's Party or C [Lars BARFOED]
Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard LARSEN]
other: environmental groups; humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN (since 1 September 2010)
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Rufus GIFFORD (since 15 August 2013)
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen 0
mailing address: Unit 5280, DPO, AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong Christian" (King Christian)
lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown
note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; "Der er et yndigt land," adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while "Kong Christian," adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal anthem; "Kong Christian" is also known as "Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and "Kongesangen" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played, unless the national anthem is requested
This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a member of the European Union (EU); Danish legislation and regulations conform to EU standards on almost all issues. Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Within the EU, Denmark is among the strongest supporters of trade liberalization. After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in 2007 with the end of a housing boom. Housing prices dropped markedly in 2008-09 and, following a short respite in 2010, has since continued to decline. The global financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The global financial crisis cut Danish real GDP in 2008-09. Denmark made a modest recovery in 2010 with real GDP growth of 1.3%, in part because of increased government spending; however, the country experienced a technical recession in late 2010-early 2011. Historically low levels of unemployment rose sharply with the recession and have remained at about 6% in 2010-12, based on the national measure, about two-thirds average EU unemployment. An impending decline in the ratio of workers to retirees will be a major long-term issue. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the budget balance swung into deficit in 2009. In spite of the deficits, the new coalition government delivered a modest stimulus to the economy in 2012. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among the strongest in the EU with public debt at about 45% of GDP in 2012. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so far Denmark has decided not to join, although the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro.
$208.3 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$310.6 billion (2012 est.)
-0.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$37,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
22.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
household consumption: 49.4%
government consumption: 28.6%
investment in fixed capital: 17.3%
investment in inventories: -0.2%
exports of goods and services: 54.4%
imports of goods and services: -49.4%
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 21.4%
services: 77.1% (2012 est.)
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
-0.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
2.784 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 20.3%
services: 77.1% (2011 est.)
6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)
24.8 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
revenues: $174.1 billion
expenditures: $187 billion (2012 est.)
56% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
-4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
2.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
0.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
3.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$150.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$230.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$664.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$179.5 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 31
$17.44 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$104.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
Germany 15.9%, Sweden 13.5%, UK 9.6%, US 6.6%, Norway 6.3%, Netherlands 4.6% (2012)
$96.77 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Germany 21.2%, Sweden 13.5%, Netherlands 7.5%, China 6.4%, Norway 6.3%, UK 5.6% (2012)
$89.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$587.6 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 23
$147.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$241.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
33.71 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
33.56 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
10.71 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
15.92 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
13.71 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
63% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
36.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
207,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
155,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
55,010 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
805 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 43
145,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
160,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
104,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
124,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
6.412 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
4.994 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
2.983 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
254 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
42.98 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 67
46.66 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
2.431 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 53
6.6 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, multiple cellular mobile communications systems
international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2011)
strong public-sector TV presence with state-owned Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 4 channels and publicly owned TV2 operating roughly a half dozen channels; broadcasts of privately owned stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 nationwide FM radio stations, 15 digital audio broadcasting stations, and about 15 web-based radio stations; approximately 250 commercial and community radio stations (2007)
4.297 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 25
4.75 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
80 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 68
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
total: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m:
condensate 11 km; gas 4,377 km; oil 647 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2013)
total: 2,667 km
country comparison to the world: 61
standard gauge: 2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)
total: 73,929 km
country comparison to the world: 64
paved: 73,929 km (includes 1,143 km of expressways) (2012)
400 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
total: 367
country comparison to the world: 27
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 48, carrier 1, chemical tanker 125, container 94, liquefied gas 4, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 27 (Germany 9, Greenland 1, Norway 2, Sweden 15)
registered in other countries: 582 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Bahamas 69, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Curacao 1, Cyprus 6, Egypt 1, France 11, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 42, Isle of Man 30, Italy 4, Jamaica 1, Liberia 8, Lithuania 8, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 34, Marshall Islands 7, Moldova 1, Netherlands 27, Norway 7, Panama 41, Philippines 2, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Singapore 149, Sweden 4, UK 43, Uruguay 1, US 31, Venezuela 1, unknown 4) (2010)
major seaport(s): Baltic Sea - Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia, Kalundborg; North Sea - Esbjerg,
river port(s): Aalborg (Langerak)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Ensted (coal)
cruise port(s): Copenhagen
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,236,337
females age 16-49: 1,224,182 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,014,560
females age 16-49: 1,003,921 (2010 est.)
male: 37,913
female: 35,865 (2010 est.)
1.41% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 218
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission
