ARCHIVE // DK // 1996
Denmark
1996 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard
Military expenditures
(Defense expenditures)
[time series]
exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 1.8% of GDP (1995)
Manpower availability
[time series]
males age 15-49: 1,338,791 males fit for military service: 1,150,996 males reach military age (20) annually: 34,324 (1996 est.)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note - Denmark shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
4.005 million (1985 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
2
Televisions
[time series]
2.04 million (1992 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; meat, dairy products; fish
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $56.5 billion expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Economic aid
[time series]
donor: ODA, $1.34 billion (1993)
Economic overview
[time series]
This thoroughly modern 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 self-sufficient in food production. The new 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. In the face of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will 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) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than many West European countries. Although unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European countries.
Electricity
[time series]
capacity: 10,030,000 kW production: 32 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)
Exports
[time series]
$39.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery partners: EU 49.4% (Germany 22.4%, UK 8.2%), Sweden 10.4%, Norway 6.5%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.7% (1994)
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$40.9 billion (1994 est.)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $112.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 3% industry: 23.5% services: 73.5% (1994)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP per capita)
[time series]
$21,700 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP real growth rate)
[time series]
3.1% (1995 est.)
Imports
[time series]
$34 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper partners: EU 51% (Germany 22%, UK 6.5%), Sweden 11.6%, Norway 5.1%, US 5.2%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1994)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-2.5% (1993 est.)
Industries
[time series]
food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.4% (1995 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
2,553,900 by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%, manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
9.5% (1995)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 43,070 sq km land area: 42,370 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Climate
[time series]
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Coastline
[time series]
3,379 km
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes 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 international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note
(Geographic note)
[time series]
controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Irrigated land
[time series]
4,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 68 km border country: Germany 68 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 61% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 21%
Location
[time series]
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
contiguous zone: 4 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone
Terrain
[time series]
low and flat to gently rolling plains lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms, Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle, Vestsjaellands, Viborg note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
Capital
[time series]
Copenhagen
Constitution
[time series]
1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Data code
[time series]
DA
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the queen (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA January 1993) was appointed by the queen cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the queen
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[45] (35) 43 02 23
Flag
[time series]
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
Independence
[time series]
10th century first organized as a unified state; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
International organization participation
[time series]
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life
Legal system
[time series]
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral
Country name
(Name of country)
[time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark
National holiday
[time series]
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Legislative branch
(Parliament (Folketing))
[time series]
elections last held 21 September 1994 (next to be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total) Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's Party 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6, Center Democrats 5, independent 1
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan Kopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN; Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party, Jann SJURSEN; Danish Workers' Party, Common Cause, Preben Moller HANSEN; Unity Party
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type
(Type of government)
[time series]
constitutional monarchy
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: APO AE 09716, PSC 73 telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 17% (male 469,672; female 446,907) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,789,552; female 1,738,870) 65 years and over: 16% (male 330,396; female 474,235) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
12.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small minority)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.3 years male: 73.78 years female: 81.01 years (1996 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Net migration rate
[time series]
2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population
[time series]
5,249,632 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.38% (1996 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.67 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 109 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 77 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 71,042 km paved: 71,042 km (including 696 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 334 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,013,054 GRT/7,171,871 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 114, chemical tanker 25, container 65, liquefied gas tanker 27, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 31, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 1 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 (1995 est.)
Pipelines
[time series]
crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports
[time series]
Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa, Koge, Odense, Struer
Railways
[time series]
total: 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1995)
Waterways
[time series]
417 km