Denmark

Kingdom of DenmarkKongeriget Danmark

constitutional monarchy

Denmark as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalCopenhagen, UTC+1

Position56 00 N, 10 00 E

Area43,094 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland)

Populationas each edition published it

5.48 million July 2008 est. · 5.13m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.295% 2008 est. · 0.23% in 1993

Median ageyears

40.3 years 2008 est. · 39.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.13 years 2008 est. · 75.51 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.74 children per woman 2008 est. · 1.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

4.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$37,200 2007 est. · $18,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.7% 2007 est. · 1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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)

20 fields

Land useshare of 43,094 sq km

arable land 52.59%permanent crops 0.19%other 47.22% (2005)irrigated 4,490 sq km (2003)

Area

43,094sq km

land: 42,394 sq kmwater: 700 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

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

Coastline

7,314km

territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Highest point

173m

Yding Skovhoejlowest point: Lammefjord -7 m

Land boundaries

68km

border countries: Germany 68 km

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)

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references

Europe

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

Total renewable water resources

6.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

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

Geography - note

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

People

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

374,388

65 and over15.7%

487,634

1,818,681

15-6465.9%

1,796,753

516,735

0-1418.4%

490,532

MaleFemale

Population

5,484,723

(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 0.295% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth

10.71Death

10.25Net migration

2.49

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)78.13

75.8 · 80.59Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)4.4

4.44 · 4.35Literacy (2003 est.)99%

99% · 99%

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)40.3

39.4 · 41.2School life expectancy years (2006)17

16 · 17

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2%

(2003 est.)

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:: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Dane(s)
adjective:: Danish

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Education expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2005)

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

26.2%

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 Alliance 2.2%other 0.9%last held 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

People's Assembly or Folketinget, 175 seats, elected 13 November 2007one dot, one seat

Liberal Party 46Social Democrats 45Danish People's Party 25Socialist People's Party 23Conservative People's Party 18Social Liberal Party 9New Alliance 5Red-Green Alliance 4

Percent of vote

Country name

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form:: Denmark
local long form:: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form:: Danmark

Government type

constitutional monarchy

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 the North Atlantic components

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

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Constitution

5 June 1953 constitution allowed 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001)
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

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (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 Folketinget 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 Alliance 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

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian People's Party);
Conservative Party [Bendt BENDTSEN] (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party);
Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD];
Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN];
New Alliance [Naser KHADER];
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

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), 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

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

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
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;
the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

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

Economy

The Danish economy has in recent years undergone strong expansion fueled primarily by private consumption growth, but also supported by exports and investments.

51 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$203.3billion

(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $311.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$37,200

(2007 est.)

Real growth rate

1.7%

(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 0.5% (2007 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.7%

(2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 1.3%industry 25.7%services 73% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

17.4%

Germany

21.6%

14.5%

Sweden

14.4%

5.3%

4.8%

Netherlands

7.1%

6.1%

5.7%

Norway

China

5.4%

4.8%

France

Italy

4.1%

Exports $101.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $102 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues

$170.6 billionExpenditures

$156.8 billion (2007 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

36.99 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption

34.68 billion (2006 est.)Electricity exports

11.38 billion (2007 est.)Electricity imports

10.43 billion (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

The Danish economy has in recent years undergone strong expansion fueled primarily by private consumption growth, but also supported by exports and investments. This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade.

Unemployment is low and capacity constraints are limiting growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. 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 15 other EU members in the euro.

Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2007. The controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad printed in a Danish newspaper in September 2005 led to boycotts of some Danish exports to the Muslim world, especially exports of dairy products, but the boycotts did not have a significant impact on the overall Danish economy.

Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish living standards are among the highest in the world. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

Labor force

2.86 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:: 3%
industry:: 21%
services:: 76% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

24 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of money

$148.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$684.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products

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

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

Oil - production

313,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

190,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

320,000 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports

164,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.188 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.223 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

4.555 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

4.517 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

70.51 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$4.279 billion (2007 est.)

Exports

$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$102 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$34.32 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$149.7 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$166.6 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$178 billion (2005)

Currency (code)

Danish krone (DKK)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

6.243 million

(2007)

Internet users

3.642 million

(2008)

Fixed lines

2.824 million

(2007) · country code .dk

Telephone system

general assessment:: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic:: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Internet users

3.5 million (2007)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 28Unpaved 63

Networkskm

Roadways

72,362Railways

2,644Waterways

400 (2007)

Roadways: paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006) · Railways: standard gauge: 2,644 km 1.435-m gauge (636 km electrified) (2007)

Airports

91 (2007)

Pipelines

condensate 11 km; gas 4,073 km; oil 617 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2007)

Railways

total:: 2,644 km
standard gauge:: 2,644 km 1.435-m gauge (636 km electrified) (2007)

Roadways

total:: 72,362 km
paved:: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)

Merchant marine

total:: 327
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 1, Spain 1, Sweden 4, Togo 1, UAE 1, UK 62, US 31, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

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

Military

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

6 fields

Military expenditures

1.5%of GDP

(2006; 1.28% 2007 est.)

Military branches

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

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)

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:: 1,012,716
females age 16-49:: 996,436 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:: 36,561
female:: 34,603 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues