2024 Edition Primary

Background

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.

Area

land

42,434 sq km

note

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

660 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

7,314 km

Elevation

highest point

Store Mollehoj 171 m

lowest point

Lammefjord -7 m

mean elevation

34 m

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

Irrigated land

2,360 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km

total

141 km

Land use

agricultural land

63.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.)

forest

12.9% (2018 est.)

other

23.7% (2018 est.)

Location

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)

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, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Population distribution

with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland

Terrain

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Age structure

0-14 years

16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)

15-64 years

62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)

65 years and over

20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 18

0.7% (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

10.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Modern immigration to Denmark began in the 1960s and 1970s, although immigration, primarily from the Nordic countries and Western Europe, has earlier roots.  Dutch migrants came in the 16th century and Germans in the 18th, in both cases to work in agriculture.  Between the late 19th century and World War I, Denmark absorbed unskilled Polish, German, and Swedish labor migrants in significant numbers, sometimes at the request of the Danish Government.  Between the two World Wars, Denmark received many Eastern European, Jewish, and German migrants. It wasn’t until after World War II, that refugees began seeking sanctuary in Demark, including a large number of German refugees and later Hungarians, Czechs, and Polish Jews.  Denmark also imported foreign labor during the 1960s, mainly from Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, and Pakistan.  Although the “guest worker” program was halted in 1973, immigrants continued to arrive to be reunited with family members who were already in Denmark as refugees or as guest workers. Non-European refugees came from Chile, Uganda, and Vietnam.  In the 1990s, Denmark began receiving migrants and refugees from new places, including Russia, Hungary, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.  Despite raising more restrictions on immigration, in the 2000s, Denmark continued to receive asylum seekers, particularly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and the former Yugoslavia, as well as labor migrants from new EU member states.  In more recent years, Denmark has severely limited its refugee intake, aiming to accept as few refugees outside of the UN resettlement program as possible.  In the mid-2010s, Denmark passed legislation enabling it to withdraw temporary protective status as soon as conditions in the home country, as determined by Denmark, have improved.  This policy has lead Denmark, to deem Damascus and other areas in Syria safe for return, making it the only country in Europe to do so.  Consequently, some Syrian refugees have had their residency status revoked, and they are detained in deportation centers because Denmark does not have diplomatic relations with Syria and, therefore, cannot send them back.  Copenhagen hopes its stricter policies will discourage asylum seekers, particularly those from non-Western countries.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

31.9

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

57.3

youth dependency ratio

25.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.)

note

note: data represent population by country of origin

Gross reproduction rate

0.86 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.1 years

male

80.2 years

total population

82.1 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

43.4 years

male

41 years

total

42.2 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Danish

noun

Dane(s)

Net migration rate

2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.7% (2016)

Physician density

4.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

female

2,997,875 (2024 est.)

male

2,975,261

total

5,973,136

Population distribution

with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland

Population growth rate

0.44% (2024 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran (official) 71.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other/none/unspecified (denominations include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 24.3% (2024 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

19 years (2020)

male

18 years

total

19 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

17.1% (2020 est.)

male

17.8% (2020 est.)

total

17.5% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.5% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)

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

etymology

name derives from the city's Danish appellation Kobenhavn, meaning "Merchant's Harbor"

geographic coordinates

55 40 N, 12 35 E

name

Copenhagen

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession)

history

several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Denmark

conventional short form

Denmark

etymology

the name derives from the words "Dane(s)" and "mark"; the latter referring to a march (borderland) or forest

local long form

Kongeriget Danmark

local short form

Danmark

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alan LEVENTHAL (since 1 July 2022)

email address and website

CopenhagenACS@state.govhttps://dk.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0

FAX

[45] 35-43-02-23

mailing address

5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC  20521-5280

telephone

[45] 33-41-71-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)

email address and website

wasamb@um.dkhttps://usa.um.dk/en

FAX

[1] (202) 328-1470

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4300

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024) 

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)

note

note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146

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

note: the shifted cross design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Independence

ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 each representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)

election results

percent of vote by party - SDP 27.5%, V 13.3%, M 9.3%, SF 8.3%, E 8.1%, LA 8.1%, C 5.5%, EL 5.1%, SLP 3.8%, AP 3.3%, NB 3.3%, DF 2.6%; seats by party - SDP 50, V 23, M 16, SF 15, E 14, LA 14, C 10, EL 9, SLP 7, AP 6, NB 6, DF 5; composition - men 98, women 81, percentage women 45.3%

elections

last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by 31 October 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown

name

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

note

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c)

total World Heritage Sites

11 (8 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland

National holiday

Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday

National symbol(s)

lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white

Political parties

The Alternative or AP Conservative People's Party or DKF or C Danish People's Party or DF or O Denmark Democrats or E Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F)Liberal Alliance or LA or I Liberal Party (Venstre) or V Moderates or M New Right Party or NB or D Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL Social Democrats or SDP or A Social Liberal Party or SLP or B 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

11.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$130.785 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$145.764 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

AAA (2003)

Moody's rating

Aaa (1999)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AAA (2001)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

$36.94 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$53.067 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$44.195 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income, EU member, trade-oriented Nordic economy; growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy and services; large share of employment in public sector; fixed exchange rate pegged to euro; strong fiscal position; tight labor market addressed by migrant workers and higher average retirement age

Exchange rates

Currency

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

6.669 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

6.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

6.287 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

7.076 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

6.89 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$237.861 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$279.939 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$278.917 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

packaged medicine, garments, fish, electricity, refined petroleum (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 15%, US 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 6%, Norway 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

69% (2023 est.)

government consumption

22.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

45.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-59.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.8% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1% (2023 est.)

industry

21.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

66.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$404.199 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

28.3 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.7% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$210.716 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$235.68 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$240.269 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

garments, cars, refined petroleum, electricity, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Germany 20%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Netherlands 8%, Norway 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

7.92% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.85% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.31% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.18 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

12.4% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt and include 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; intragovernmental 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

Public debt 2017

35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$409.262 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$420.44 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$428.385 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.84% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.73% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.89% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$69,900 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$71,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$72,000 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.35% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.31% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.35% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$82.236 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$96.073 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$109.371 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.56% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

5.04% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

4.43% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.14% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

11.3% (2023 est.)

male

12% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

11.7% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

3.973 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.628 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

21.706 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

30.308 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

1.788 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

826,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

1.89 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

33.167 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

17.392 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

18.797 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

19.503 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.965 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

26.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

11.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

6.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

56.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

100.26 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2.208 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

2.041 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

2.582 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

1.879 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

441 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

45 (2020 est.)

total

2,590,282 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

strong public-sector TV presence with state-owned Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 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, 10 digital audio broadcasting stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.dk

Internet users

percent of population

99% (2021 est.)

total

5.841 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line roughly 12 per 100 and about 124 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

Denmark has one of the highest broadband subscription rates globally, with a near universal availability of super-fast connections; extensive cable and DSL infrastructure has been supported by a progressive regulatory regime which has encouraged operator access to both copper and fiber networks; fiber networks have a fast-growing footprint, while a number of community and metropolitan schemes have supplemented their own commitments to build out fiber nationally; a number of wholesale fiber schemes have also added to the wider availability of fiber broadband; the reach of LTE infrastructure is comprehensive, while the Mobile Network Operators by mid-2021 had also provided about 90% population coverage with 5G; services based on 5G were initially launched using trial 3.5GHz licenses; the multi-spectrum auction held in April 2021 has enabled them to improve the resilience and capacity of 5G; all MNOs are engaged in closing down their 3G networks and repurposing spectrum for LTE and 5G use (2021)

international

country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 & 6, Skagenfiber West & East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 & 2 & 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 & 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 & 16 & 17 & 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US, 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 (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

712,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

127 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

7.444 million (2022 est.)

Airports

99 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY

Heliports

25 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392

total

715 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

582,011 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

76

number of registered air carriers

10 (2020)

Pipelines

1,536 km gas, 330 km oil (2015)

Ports

key ports

Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle

large

1

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

33

small

30

total ports

69 (2024)

very small

36

Railways

total

2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified

Roadways

total

73,591 km (2022)

Waterways

400 km (2010)

Military - note

the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country’s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark’s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergenciesNATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization’s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO’s Multinational Division – North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO’s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a June 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlandsthe Defense Command is Denmark's overall military command authority for land, air, and naval operations, although the Army, Air Force, and Navy also have their own individual service commands; an Arctic Command protects the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command, which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2024)

Military and security forces

Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Danish Home Guard (Reserves) (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 17,000 active-duty personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 3,500 Air Force) (2024)

Military deployments

approximately 800 Latvia (NATO); Denmark contributes small numbers of air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of other NATO and international missions (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy were all produced domestically (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.4% of GDP (2024 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 depending on specialization; former conscripts are assigned to mobilization units; women eligible to volunteer for military service; in addition to full time employment, the Danish military offers reserve contracts in all three branches (2023)

note

note 1: women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; as of 2022, they made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel; in 2024, Denmark announced that it would extend military conscription to women in 2026note 2: Denmark has had compulsory military service since 1849; conscripts are chosen by lottery; conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid worknote 3: foreigners who have lived in Denmark for at least one year or in another EU country for six years may apply to join the armed forces, provided they are fluent in Danish 

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 37,530 (Ukraine) (as of 3 March 2024)

stateless persons

11,644 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

no formal space agency; the Ministry of Higher Education and Science has responsibility for coordinating Danish space activities managing international cooperation; the Danish Space Research Institute (Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut (DRKI) was the country’s space agency from 1966-2005; DTU Space, National Space Institute, is Denmark’s national space institute (2024)

Space program overview

a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and fully integrated within its structure; participates in ESA programs, particularly those linked to human spaceflight and satellite-based remote sensing activities, as well as technology programs involving telecommunications and navigation; independently builds and operates satellites, particularly those with meteorological, science, technology, and signal/traffic monitoring capabilities; conducts research and development of such technologies as measurement and instrumentation systems, microwaves, remote sensing, electromagnetic systems, astrophysics, geomagnetism, etc.; in addition to cooperating with the ESA and EU, as well as bi-laterally with member states, it has relations with the space agencies and industries of Canada, India, Japan, and the US (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

31.79 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

6.54 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

9.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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; much of country's household and industrial waste is recycled

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Antarctic-Environmental Protection

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2024)

Land use

agricultural land

63.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.)

forest

12.9% (2018 est.)

other

23.7% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.485 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,223,060 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

27.3% (2015 est.)