Denmark
Kingdom of DenmarkKongeriget Danmark
constitutional monarchy
Denmark as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 157 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)
20 fieldsLand useshare of 43,094 sq km
Note
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)
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 and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Languages
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language
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:
- 0.8 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (since 3 October 2011)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
People's Assembly or Folketing, 175 seats, elected 15 September 2011one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Denmark
- conventional short form:
- Denmark
- local long form:
- Kongeriget Danmark
- local short form:
- Danmark
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 its 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
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 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; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (since 3 October 2011)
- cabinet:
- Council of State appointed by the monarch; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- 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
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)
- elections:
- last held on 15 September 2011 (next to be held by September 2015)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.7%, Social Democrats 24.9%, Danish People's Party 12.3%, Social Liberal Party 9.5%, Socialist People's Party 9.2%, Unity List 6.7%, Liberal Alliance 5%, Conservative People's Party 4.9%, other 0.8%;
- seats by party - Liberal Party 47, Social Democrats 44, Danish People's Party 22, Social Liberal Party 17, Socialist People's Party 16, Unity List 12, Liberal Alliance 9, Conservative People's Party 8;
- note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and the two seats from the Faroe Islands
Political parties and leaders
- Conservative People's Party (Det Konservative Folkeparti) [Lars BARFOED];
- Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti) or DF [Kristian THULESEN DAHL];
- Liberal Alliance or LA [Anders SAMUELSEN];
- Liberal Party (Venstre) or V [Lars LOKKE RAMUSSEN];
- Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) [collective leadership, spokesperson Johanne SCHMIDT-NIELSEN];
- Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiet) or SDP [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT];
- Social Liberal Party (Det Radicale Venstre) or SLP [Margrethe VESTAGER];
- Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti) or SF [Annette VILHELMSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard LARSEN];
- Confederation of Danish Industries [CEO Karsten DYBVAD];
- Confederation of Danish Labor Unions (Landsorganisationen) or LO [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:
- environmental groups;
- humanitarian relief;
- development assistance;
- human rights NGOs
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN
- 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 Laurie S. FULTON
- embassy:
- Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
- mailing address:
- Unit 5280, DPO, 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) 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
National anthem
- name:
- "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "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
Economy
39 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
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. Denmark is a member of the European Union (EU); Danish legislation and regulations conform to EU standards on almost all issues.
Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector.
Within the EU, Denmark is among the strongest supporters of trade liberalization. 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 and, following a short respite in 2010, has since continued to decline.
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 real GDP in 2008-09. Denmark made a modest recovery in 2010 with real GDP growth of 1.3%, in part because of increased government spending;
however, the country experienced a technical recession in late 2010-early 2011. Historically low levels of unemployment rose sharply with the recession and have remained at about 6% in 2010-12, based on the national measure, about two-thirds average EU unemployment. 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 in 2009. In spite of the deficits, the new coalition government delivered a modest stimulus to the economy in 2012. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among the strongest in the EU with public debt at about 45% of GDP in 2012.
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. Denmark held the EU presidency during the first half of 2012; priorities included promoting a responsible, dynamic, green, and safe Europe, while working to steer Europe out of its euro zone economic crisis.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
24.8 (2011 est.) · 24.7 (1992) country comparison to the world: 133
Public debt
45.3% of GDP (2012 est.) · 46.6% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 note: data cover general government debt, and includes 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; intra-governmental 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
Central bank discount rate
0.75% (31 December 2011 est.) · 0.75% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Commercial bank prime lending rate
4.6% (31 December 2012 est.) · 4.5% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Stock of narrow money
$134.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $134.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Stock of broad money
$230.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $266.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Stock of domestic credit
$664.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $640.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Current account balance
$18.6 billion (2012 est.) · $22.08 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Exports - commodities
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$85.05 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $76.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Debt - external
$626.9 billion (30 June 2011) · $559.5 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 21
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$120.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $110.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$222.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $207.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.847 (2012 est.) · 5.3687 (2011 est.) · 5.6241 (2010 est.) · 5.361 (2009) · 5.0236 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 13.42 million kW(2009 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
900 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves
51.99 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
45.96 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- excellent telephone and telegraph services
- domestic:
- buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, multiple 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 (2011)
Broadcast media
- strong public-sector TV 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 (2007)
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 367 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)
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:
- 1,236,337
- females age 16-49:
- 1,224,182 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - 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;
- Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Denmark.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/denmark/2012.