2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskommune); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn (Copenhagen)*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg

note

as a result of an extensive 2005 local government reform, with 2006 being a transition year, 271 municipalities will be merged to 98 by 1 January 2007, and the 14 counties will be reorganized into five regions

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.7% (male 523,257/female 496,697) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,815,240/female 1,787,406) 65 years and over: 15.2% (male 355,656/female 472,405) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

Airports

92 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12

total

28

under 914 m

3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

64 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

61 (2006)

Area

land

42,394 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

total

43,094 sq km

water

700 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Background

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. Geography Denmark

Birth rate

11.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$138.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $4.6 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$147 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

55 40 N, 12 35 E

name

Copenhagen

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

7,314 km

Constitution

5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Denmark

conventional short form

Denmark

local long form

Kongeriget Danmark

local short form

Danmark

Currency (code)

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code

DKK

Current account balance

$4.941 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

10.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$405 billion (30 June 2006)

Defense Command

Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Tactical Air Command (2006)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James P. CAIN

embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen

mailing address

PSC 73, APO AE 09716

telephone

[45] 33 41 71 00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4300

Disputes - international

Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; 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; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

23.2 (2002)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $2 billion (2004)

Economy - overview

The Danish economy is undergoing strong expansion fueled by private consumption growth, low unemployment, rising real wages, and a strong increase in house prices. This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. 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 Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2006. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

Electricity - consumption

32.56 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

11.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

8.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

38.02 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

82.7%

hydro

0.1%

nuclear

0%

other

17.3% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Yding Skovhoej 173 m

lowest point

Lammefjord -7 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.93667 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001)

Exports

$93.93 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills

Exports - partners

Germany 17.6%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.7%, US 6.4%, France 5.5%, Netherlands 5.3%, Norway 5.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 328-1470

[45] 35 43 02 23

consulate(s) general

Chicago, New York

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Denmark

Flag description

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, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden Economy Denmark

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.4%

industry

24.6%

services

74% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$256.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$198.5 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24% (2000 est.)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$89.32 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 20.5%, Sweden 13.8%, Norway 6.6%, Netherlands 6.5%, UK 5.9%, China 4.7%, France 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2005)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

4.54 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, 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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.dk

Internet hosts

2,415,530 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (2000)

Internet users

3,762,500 (2005) Transportation Denmark

Investment (gross fixed)

22.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

4,490 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2.91 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

21%

services

76% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Germany 68 km

total

68 km

Land use

arable land

52.59%

other

47.22% (2005)

permanent crops

0.19%

Languages

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

note

English is the predominant second language

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (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)

election results

percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 29%, Social Democrats 25.9%, Danish People's Party 13.2%, Conservative Party 10.3%, Social Liberal Party 9.2%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Unity List 3.4%; seats by party - Liberal Party 52, Social Democrats 47, Danish People's Party 24, Conservative Party 18, Social Liberal Party 17, Socialist People's Party 11, Unity List 6; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands

elections

last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.22 years (2006 est.)

male

75.49 years

total population

77.79 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government Denmark

male

99%

total population

99%

Location

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)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,150,627 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,175,108

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

935,643 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

955,168

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

29,558 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

31,317

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

40.7 years (2006 est.)

male

38.9 years

total

39.8 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 7, cargo 63, chemical tanker 48, container 86, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4

foreign-owned

25 (Canada 1, Germany 13, Greece 5, Greenland 1, Norway 3, Sweden 1, UK 1)

registered in other countries

409 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Bahamas 59, Belgium 4, Cayman Islands 5, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Estonia 2, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Gibraltar 1, Hong Kong 6, Isle of Man 53, North Korea 1, Liberia 8, Lithuania 10, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 2, Netherlands 9, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 32, Panama 34, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14, Singapore 52, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 4, UK 46, US 24, Vanuatu 6, Venezuela 3, Vietnam 1) (2006)

total

293 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,986,735 GRT/9,936,431 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3,271.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (2004) Transnational Issues Denmark

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from four 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)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Danish

noun

Dane(s)

Natural gas - consumption

5.171 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

4.099 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

99.99 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

185,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

332,100 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

195,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

391,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

1.23 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate 12 km; gas 3,931 km; oil 626 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Bodil KORNBEK]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]; Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

5,450,661 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.33% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne Military Denmark

Public debt

28.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

6.02 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

2,673 km 1.435-m gauge (601 km electrified) (2005)

total

2,673 km

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$30.38 billion (August 2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)

total

72,257 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems

general assessment

excellent telephone and telegraph services

international

country code - 45; 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 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 (1997)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.35 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.469 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

3.121 million (1997)

Terrain

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.5% (2006 est.)

Waterways

400 km (2001)