2010 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

land

42,434 sq km

total

43,094 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

highest point

Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

123 cu m/yr (2002)

total

0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%)

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

border countries

Germany 68 km

total

68 km

Land use

arable land

52.59%

other

47.22% (2005)

permanent crops

0.19%

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

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

7.9% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

4,800 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.97 years (2010 est.)

male

76.11 years

total population

78.47 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

41.6 years (2010 est.)

male

39.8 years

total

40.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Danish

noun

Dane(s)

Net migration rate

2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

5,515,575 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.267% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2007)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.055 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

87% of total population (2008)

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

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

geographic coordinates

55 40 N, 12 35 E

name

Copenhagen

time difference

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

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 Laurie S. FULTON

embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen

FAX

[45] 35 43 02 23

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 Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN

consulate(s) general

Chicago, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 328-1470

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4300

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN (since 5 April 2009)

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; 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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (becomes 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, FATF, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, 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 elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)

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

elections

last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

National anthem

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

name

"Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong Christian" (King Christian)

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 [Lars BARFOED] (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Alliance [Anders SAMUELSEN] (formerly known as New Alliance); Liberal Party [Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN]; 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

Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard LARSEN]; Principal DA member organizations: Confederation of Danish Industries [CEO Karsten DYBVAD]; Confederation of Danish Labor Unions [President Harald BORSTING]; Danish Bankers Association [CEO Joergen HORWITZ]; DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP]; Danish Society for Nature Conservation [President Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN]

other

humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2009) 3.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$14.35 billion (2010 est.) $12.43 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$559.5 billion (30 June 2010) $588.8 billion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29 (2007) 24.7 (1992)

Economy - overview

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. The Danish economy is also characterized by extensive government welfare measures, an equitable distribution of income, and comfortable living standards. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. 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. The global financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The global financial crises cut Danish GDP by 0.9% in 2008 and 4.7% in 2009. Historically low levels of unemployment rose sharply with the recession but remain below 5%, about half the level of the EU. Denmark made a modest recovery in 2010 in part because of increased government spending. 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 during 2009-10. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among the strongest in the EU. 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.

Electricity - consumption

34.3 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

11.36 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports

12.82 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - production

36.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2010), 5.3609 (2009), 5.0236 (2008), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)

Exports

$99.37 billion (2010 est.) $91.51 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 17.53%, Sweden 12.68%, UK 8.49%, US 6.05%, Norway 6.01%, Netherlands 4.84%, France 4.57% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.1%

industry

22.8%

services

76.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,000 (2010 est.) $36,400 (2009 est.) $38,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.) -4.7% (2009 est.) -0.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$304.6 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$204.1 billion (2010 est.) $200.5 billion (2009 est.) $210.4 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)

Imports

$90.83 billion (2010 est.) $84.46 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 21.07%, Sweden 13.18%, Norway 7%, Netherlands 6.97%, China 6.22%, UK 5.53% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2010 est.) 1.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.82 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.5%

industry

20.2%

services

77.3% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$186.9 billion (31 December 2009) $131.5 billion (31 December 2008) $277.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

4.41 billion cu m (2009)

Natural gas - exports

3.98 billion cu m (2009)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008)

Natural gas - production

8.398 billion cu m (2009)

Natural gas - proved reserves

61.3 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

166,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

268,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

173,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

262,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.06 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.1% (2007)

Public debt

46.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 41.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $76.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$209 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $226.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$199.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $186.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$149.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $144.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$636.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $671.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$148.1 billion (31 December 2010 est) $153.1 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

4.2% (2010 est.) 4.3% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

strong public-sector television 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 are operational (2007)

Internet country code

.dk

Internet hosts

4.145 million (2010)

Internet users

4.75 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

excellent telephone and telegraph services

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

2.062 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.406 million (2009)

Airports

92 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

64 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 61 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 56, carrier 1, chemical tanker 104, container 87, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 38, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3

foreign-owned

32 (Germany 10, Greece 1, Iceland 3, Norway 2, Sweden 16)

registered in other countries

592 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Bahamas 59, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Cyprus 6, Egypt 1, France 12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 6, Hong Kong 41, Isle of Man 26, Italy 4, Jamaica 1, Liberia 4, Lithuania 8, Malaysia 1, Malta 41, Marshall Islands 7, Mexico 2, Netherlands 36, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 11, Panama 46, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 19, Singapore 125, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 15, UK 46, Uruguay 1, US 34, Venezuela 1, unknown 3) (2010)

total

347

Pipelines

gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

standard gauge

2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)

total

2,667 km

Roadways

paved

73,197 km (includes 1,111 km of expressways) (2008)

total

73,197 km

Waterways

400 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,235,947 females age 16-49: 1,221,386 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,013,814 females age 16-49: 1,001,411 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

35,930 (2010 est.)

male

37,831

Military branches

Defense Command

Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================