2009 Edition

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.

Area

total: 43,094 sq km country comparison to the world: 133 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

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Climate

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

Coastline

7,314 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%) per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)

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

Irrigated land

4,490 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km

Land use

arable land: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)

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)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Terrain

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Total renewable water resources

6.1 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.1% (male 511,882/female 485,782) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,817,800/female 1,798,964) 65 years and over: 16.1% (male 387,142/female 498,940) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

10.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Death rate

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Education expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 12

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

4,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 203 male: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.3 years country comparison to the world: 46 male: 75.96 years female: 80.78 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 40.5 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish

Net migration rate

2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Population

5,500,510 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Population growth rate

0.28% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Urbanization

urban population: 87% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

5 June 1953; note - constitution 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

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Lars Lokke RASMUSSEN (since 5 April 2009) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections: 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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

[45] 35 43 02 23

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; 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 note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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) elections: last held 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.2%, Social Democrats 25.5%, Danish People's Party 13.9%, Socialist People's Party 13.0%, Conservative People's Party 10.4%, Social Liberal Party 5.1%, New Alliance 2.8%, Red-Green Unity List 2.2%, other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 46, Social Democrats 45, Danish People's Party 25, Socialist People's Party 23, Conservative People's Party 18, Social Liberal Party 9, New Alliance 5, Red-Green Alliance 4; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and the two seats from the Faroe Islands

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $188.6 billion expenditures: $176.3 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 126 4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA

Current account balance

$6.938 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $2.378 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$588.8 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 18 $567.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

24 (2005) country comparison to the world: 132 24.7 (1992)

Economy - overview

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 1.2% in 2008. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

Electricity - consumption

35.79 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - exports

11.36 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

12.82 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

36.92 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$114.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $100.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 18%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8.2%, Norway 5.7%, US 5.3%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.6% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.3% industry: 26.1% services: 72.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $37,800 (2007 est.) $37,300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 1.6% (2007 est.) 3.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$340 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$204.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $206.6 billion (2007 est.) $203.3 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)

Imports

$116.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $100.8 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 20.9%, Sweden 14%, Netherlands 6.7%, Norway 6.3%, China 5.7%, UK 5.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

-3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 1.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Labor force

2.88 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 23.8% services: 72.7% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 $277.7 billion (31 December 2007) $231 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

4.59 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - exports

5.516 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - production

10.09 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas - proved reserves

61.3 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - consumption

181,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Oil - exports

287,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Oil - imports

153,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Oil - production

288,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Oil - proved reserves

1.06 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

33.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 42.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$42.32 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $34.32 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$181.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $153.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$142.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $131.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$695.8 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 $684.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$143 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 9 $148.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$95.82 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 23 $81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

1.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 2.8% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.dk

Internet hosts

3.991 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 19

Internet users

4.579 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 44

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.487 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.551 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 75

Television broadcast stations

172 (2008)

Airports

92 (2009) country comparison to the world: 65

Airports - with paved runways

total: 28 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 under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 61 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 327 country comparison to the world: 29 by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 63, carrier 2, chemical tanker 78, container 84, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4 foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 1, Germany 1, Germany 9, Greece 4, Iceland 2, Norway 3, Sweden 6) registered in other countries: 534 (Antigua and Barbuda 19, Bahamas 67, Belgium 4, Brazil 2, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 4, Egypt 1, Estonia 1, France 2, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 24, Isle of Man 29, Italy 3, Jamaica 2, Liberia 12, Lithuania 5, Luxembourg 1, Malta 30, Marshall Islands 10, Mexico 2, Netherlands 29, Netherlands Antilles 2, Norway 25, Panama 40, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Singapore 87, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 4, Togo 1, UAE 1, UK 62, US 31, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 2,667 km country comparison to the world: 63 standard gauge: 2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 72,362 km country comparison to the world: 64 paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways

400 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 88

Defense Command

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,235,067 females age 16-49: 1,215,418 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,013,223 females age 16-49: 998,837 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 37,231 female: 35,306 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

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 page last updated on November 11, 2009