CIA - The World Factbook

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 two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

low and flat to gently rolling plains

petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

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

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

5,500,510 (July 2009 est.)

10.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

1.74 children born/woman (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)

constitutional monarchy

metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark

first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day

5 June 1953; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

18 years of age; universal

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)

Supreme Court (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)

Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian People's Party); Conservative Party [Lene ESPERSEN] (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Liberal Alliance [Naser KHADER](formerly known as New Alliance); Red-Green Unity List (Alliance) [collective leadership] (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Danish Free Press Society (freedom of speech); Danish National Socialist Movement or DNSB [Jonni HANSEN] (neo-Nazi organization)

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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

This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, an equitable distribution of income, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, a stable political system, and high dependence on foreign trade. Unemployment is low and capacity constraints limit growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so far Denmark has decided not to join 16 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Denmark's fiscal position is among the strongest in the EU. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2006. After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in early 2007 with the end of a housing boom. This cyclical slowdown has been exacerbated by the global financial crisis through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The slowing global economy cut GDP by 0.6% in 2008. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

$204.9 billion (2008 est.)

$206.2 billion (2007)

$202.9 billion (2006)

$369.6 billion (2008 est.)

2.86 million (2008 est.)

22.4% of GDP (2008 est.)

21.8% of GDP (2008 est.)

3.5% (31 December 2008)

4% (31 December 2007)

$143 billion (31 December 2008)

$148.7 billion (31 December 2007)

$95.82 billion (31 December 2008)

$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$684.7 billion (31 December 2007)

$277.7 billion (31 December 2007)

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

36.99 billion kWh (2007 est.)

34.68 billion kWh (2006 est.)

11.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)

10.43 billion kWh (2007 est.)

313,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

190,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

320,000 bbl/day (2006)

164,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

1.188 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

9.223 billion cu m (2007 est.)

4.555 billion cu m (2007 est.)

4.517 billion cu m (2007 est.)

70.51 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

$4.333 billion (2008 est.)

$119.5 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Germany 17.4%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8%, US 6.1%, Norway 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)

$120.7 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Germany 21.6%, Sweden 14.4%, Netherlands 7.1%, Norway 6%, China 5.4%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.1%, France 4% (2007)

$34.32 billion (2006 est.)

$492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

$133.6 billion (2008 est.)

$163.2 billion (2008 est.)

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)

2.824 million (2007)

6.243 million (2007)

AM 1, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

3.642 million (2008)

gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2008)

Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg

Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Island Command Greenland, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2008)

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 (2004)

1.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

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