top of pageBackground: 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.
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
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
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulationDistribution: 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
Total: 5,973,136
Male: 2,975,261
Female: 2,997,875 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.44% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 12.4% (2021 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line
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: data represent population by country of origin
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
Note: English is the predominant second language
Major-language samples: Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
Birth rate: 11.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
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
EnvironmentCurrent 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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
top of pageAdministrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Independence: ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
ConstitutionHistory: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953
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)
Legal system: civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Executive branchChief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
Cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
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
Note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146
Legislative branchDescription: 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)
Elections: last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by 31 October 2026)
Elections 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%
Judicial branchHighest courts: 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
Political parties and leaders: 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
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
Diplomatic representationIn the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)
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 email address and website: wasamb@um.dk;
[link]In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alan LEVENTHAL (since 1 July 2022)
From the us embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2,100 Kobenhavn 0
From the us mailing address: 5,280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20,521-5,280
From the us telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00
From the us fax: [45] 35-43-02-23
From the us email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.gov;
[link] 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 cross design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands
National anthemName: 'Der er et yndigt land' (There is a Lovely Country); 'Kong Christian' (King Christian)
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
top of pageEconomy 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
Real gdp growth rate: 1.89% (2023 est.); 2.73% (2022 est.); 6.84% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Agriculture products: milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
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
Labor force: 3.18 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate: 5.14% (2023 est.); 4.43% (2022 est.); 5.04% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
BudgetRevenues: $145.764 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $130.785 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt: 35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
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
Current account balance: $44.195 billion (2023 est.); $53.067 billion (2022 est.); $36.94 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports: $278.917 billion (2023 est.); $279.939 billion (2022 est.); $237.861 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Germany 15%, US 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 6%, Norway 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: packaged medicine, garments, fish, electricity, refined petroleum (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports: $240.269 billion (2023 est.); $235.68 billion (2022 est.); $210.716 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Germany 20%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Netherlands 8%, Norway 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: garments, cars, refined petroleum, electricity, packaged medicine (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $109.371 billion (2023 est.); $96.073 billion (2022 est.); $82.236 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.89 (2023 est.)
7.076 (2022 est.)
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)
6.669 (2019 est.)
top of pagetop of pagetop of pageMilitary expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.); 2% of GDP (2023); 1.4% of GDP (2022); 1.3% of GDP (2021); 1.4% of GDP (2020)
Military and security forces: Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Danish Home Guard (Reserves) (2024)
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 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 2026
Note 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 work
Note 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
Terrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
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
top of pageDenmark - Transnational issues 2024
top of page🅶🅷🅴🅾🆂.🅲🅾🅼