Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
13 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.dk
Internet users [time series]
3.37 million (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
6.02 million (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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: 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 worldwide Inmarsat access (1997)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
4.785 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
1,444,016 (1997)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions [time series]
3.121 million (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $52.9 billion expenditures: $51.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2001 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Danish krone (DKK)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
DKK
Debt - external [time series]
$21.7 billion (2000)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
25 (1992)
Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]
ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has 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 Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join the 12 other EU members in the euro; even so, the Danish Krone remains pegged to the euro. Given the sluggish state of the world economy, growth in 2003 likely will be only moderately higher than in 2002.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
33.925 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports [time series]
7.679 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports [time series]
8.318 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production [time series]
35.792 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 84% hydro: 0% other: 16% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates [time series]
Danish kroner per US dollar - 8.418 (January 2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997); note - the Danes rejected the euro in a 28 September 2000 referendum
Exports [time series]
$56.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners [time series]
EU 64.7% (Germany 19.6%, Sweden 11.8%, UK 9.5%, France 5.1%, Netherlands 4.5%), US 6.9%, Norway 5.5% (2001)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $155.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (2002 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2002 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1.8% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Imports [time series]
$47.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners [time series]
EU 69.9% (Germany 21.9%, Sweden 12.1%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands 7.1%, France 5.7%, Italy 4.5%), US 4.2% (2001)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1.4% (2002 est.)
Industries [time series]
food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding, windmills
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force [time series]
2.856 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
services 79%, industry 17%, agriculture 4% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.1% (2002)
Geography
total: 43,094 sq km water: 700 sq km 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 land: 42,394 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Climate [time series]
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Coastline [time series]
7,314 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Air Pollution, 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, 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 signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates [time series]
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen
Irrigated land [time series]
4,760 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 55.74% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 44.07% (1998 est.)
Location [time series]
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)
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards [time series]
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
Natural resources [time series]
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand
Terrain [time series]
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing overseas 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
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local short form: Danmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart BERNSTEIN embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716 telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44 FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIEL consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Executive branch [time series]
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: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by Parliament elections: none; 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
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
constitutional monarchy
Independence [time series]
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
International organization participation [time series]
AfDB, 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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), 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 Parliament or Folketing (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) elections: last held 20 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party 22, Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, Social Liberal Party 9, Christian People's Party 4, Unity List 4; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands
National holiday [time series]
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as the National Day
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party [Jann SJURSEN]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Social Democratic Party [Mogens LYKKETOFT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Johannes LEBECH, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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. However, the country has opted out of European Union's Maastricht Treaty, the European monetary system (EMU), and issues concerning certain internal affairs.
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$2.47 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
1.4% (FY99/00)
Military manpower - availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 1,287,168 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]
males age 15-49: 1,099,900 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age [time series]
18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]
males: 29,212 (2002 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 514,589; female 488,121) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 1,806,722; female 1,760,149) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 334,599; female 464,674) (2002 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11.74 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate [time series]
10.81 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.17% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
4,300 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
4.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages [time series]
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 76.91 years female: 79.67 years (2002 est.) male: 74.3 years
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Net migration rate [time series]
2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population [time series]
5,368,854 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.29% (2002 est.)
Religions [time series]
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
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: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.73 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Iceland, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM; Faroese are considering proposals for full independence
Transportation
Airports [time series]
116 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 76 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 71,474 km paved: 71,474 km (including 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 301 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,258,959 GRT/8,143,520 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1, Greenland 1, Indonesia 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 105, chemical tanker 26, container 72, liquefied gas 20, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 25, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 3
Pipelines [time series]
crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Kolding, Odense, Roenne (Bornholm), Vejle
Railways [time series]
total: 2,859 km (508 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,859 km 1.435-m gauge (600 km electrified; 760 km double-track) (1998 est.)
Waterways [time series]
417 km