Statistical information Denmark 1998

Denmark in the World
top of pageBackground: Once the seat of rapacious Viking raiders and later a major power in northwestern Europe, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the political and economic integration of Europe. So far, however, they have opted out of some aspects of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty.
top of pageLocation: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 43,094 km²
Land: 42,394 km²
Water: 700 km²
Note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundariesTotal: 68 km
Border countries: (1) Germany 68 kmCoastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 4 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
Extremes highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand
Land useArable land: 60%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 10%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural 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
GeographyNote: controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
top of pagePopulation: 5,333,617 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.49% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Dane(s)
Adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small minority)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 18% (male 496,886; female 471,891)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,807,384; female 1,760,353)
65 years and over: 15% (male 330,385; female 466,718) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.49% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 12.18 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 11.08 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.77 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 5.17 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 76.31 years
Male: 73.64 years
Female: 79.12 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99% (1980 est.)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
Conventional short form: Denmark
Local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Local short form: Danmark
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark_14 counties (amter, singular_amt) and 2 kommunes*; (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg
Note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
Dependent areasIndependence: in 10th century first organized as a unified state; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the queen (born 26 May 1968): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the queen
Elections: none; the queen is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_progovernment parties:Social Democrats 65, Socialist People's Party 13, Radical Liberal Party 7, Unity Party 5;
Opposition: Progress Party 42, Conservative People's Party 16, Danish People's Party 13, Center Democrats 8, other parties 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
In the us chancery: 3,200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-4,300
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-1470
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
From the us embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2,100 Copenhagen
From the us mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 9,716
From the us telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
From the us fax: [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, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food. The center-left coalition government will concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition has lowered marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European integration by 1999; Copenhagen has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time. Growth may fall off slightly to 2.8% in 1998, and inflation may rise to 2.5%.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $23,200 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 4%
Industry: 27%
Services: 69% (1995)
Agriculture products: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; meat, dairy products; fish
Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (1996)
Labor forceTotal: 2,895,950
By occupation private services: 40%
By occupation government services: 30%
By occupation manufacturing and mining: 19%
By occupation construction: 6%
By occupation agriculture forestry and fishing: 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $62.1 billion
Expenditures: $66.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$48.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: machinery and instruments 25%, meat and meat products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals
Partners: Germany 22.5%, Sweden 9.7%, UK 7.9%, Norway 5.9%, France 5.4%, Netherlands 4.4%, US 4.0% (1995)
Imports: total value:$43.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: machinery and equipment, petroleum 25%, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper
Partners: Germany 21.7%, Sweden 11.7%, Netherlands 7.0%, UK 6.6%, France 5.2%, Norway 4.9%, US 4.7%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1995)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $44 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1_6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 10.604 million kW (1995)
Production: 34.244 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 6,432 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 4.025 million (1995 est.), of which 822,000 are mobile telephones
Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services
Domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems
International: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada; 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 world-wide Inmarsat access
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.9 billion (1997 est.)
Percent of gdp: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 118 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 28
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 90
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 82 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
RailwaysTotal: 3,358 km (510 km privately owned and operated)
Standard gauge: 3,358 km 1.435-m gauge (440 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1996)
RoadwaysWaterways: 417 km
Merchant marineTotal: 327 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,972,331 GRT/6,894,091 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 118, chemical tanker 16, container 76, liquefied gas tanker 24, livestock carrier 6, oil tanker 25, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 22, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 2
Note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience within the Danish register (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalsDenmark - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs