Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.dk
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
2,415,530 (2006)
Internet users [time series]
3,762,500 (2005)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
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: country code - 45; 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; 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]
3.35 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
5.469 million (2005)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $144 billion expenditures: $135 billion; including capital expenditures of $4.6 billion (2005 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]
Danish krone (DKK)
Current account balance [time series]
$7.753 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$352.9 billion (30 June 2005)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
23.2 (2002)
Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]
ODA, $2 billion (2004)
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 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 Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn accelerated through 2005. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
31.68 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports [time series]
15.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports [time series]
7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production [time series]
43.32 billion kWh (2003)
Exchange rates [time series]
Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001)
Exports [time series]
$84.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners [time series]
Germany 17.5%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.8%, US 6.4%, France 5.5%, Netherlands 5.3%, Norway 5.1% (2005)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$243.4 billion (2005 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$189.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 1.8% industry: 24.6% services: 73.5% (2005 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$34,800 (2005 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.2% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Imports [time series]
$74.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners [time series]
Germany 20.5%, Sweden 13.8%, Norway 6.6%, Netherlands 6.6%, UK 6%, China 4.7%, France 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2005)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1.6% (2005 est.)
Industries [time series]
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
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed) [time series]
20.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Labor force [time series]
2.9 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
5.173 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
7.965 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
73.51 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Oil - consumption [time series]
188,300 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports [time series]
332,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports [time series]
195,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - production [time series]
376,900 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
1.23 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Public debt [time series]
37% of GDP (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$34.03 billion (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.7% (2005 est.)
Geography
total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,394 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
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-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
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]
4,490 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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, chalk, 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 - amtskommune); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn (Copenhagen)*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note: as a result of an extensive 2005 local government reform, with 2006 being a transition year, 275 municipalities will be merged to 99 by 1 January 2007, and the 14 counties will be reorganized into five regions
Capital [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed 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 long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
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
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: Council of State appointed by the monarch 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, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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 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) elections: last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 29%, Social Democrats 25.9%, Danish People's Party 13.2%, Conservative Party 10.3%, Social Liberal Party 9.2%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Unity List 3.4%; seats by party - Liberal Party 52, Social Democrats 47, Danish People's Party 24, Conservative Party 18, Social Liberal Party 17, Socialist People's Party 11, Unity List 6; 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 (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Bodil KORNBEK]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]; Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]
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. 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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 18-49: 1,175,108 females age 18-49: 1,150,627 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 18-49: 955,168 females age 18-49: 935,643 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]
males age 18-49: 31,317 females age 18-49: 29,558 (2005 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Tactical Air Command (2006)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
1.5% (2004)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from four 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)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 523,257/female 496,697) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,815,240/female 1,787,406) 65 years and over: 15.2% (male 355,656/female 472,405) (2006 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate [time series]
10.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
less than 100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
5,000 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 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: 77.79 years male: 75.49 years female: 80.22 years (2006 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 39.8 years male: 38.9 years female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Net migration rate [time series]
2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Population [time series]
5,450,661 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.33% (2006 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; 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; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Transportation
Airports [time series]
92 (2006)
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 61 (2006)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 293 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,986,735 GRT/9,936,431 DWT by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 63, chemical tanker 48, container 86, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4 foreign-owned: 25 (Canada 1, Germany 13, Greece 5, Greenland 1, Norway 3, Sweden 1, UK 1) registered in other countries: 409 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Bahamas 59, Belgium 4, Cayman Islands 5, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Estonia 2, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Gibraltar 1, Hong Kong 6, Isle of Man 53, North Korea 1, Liberia 8, Lithuania 10, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 2, Netherlands 9, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 32, Panama 34, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14, Singapore 52, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 4, UK 46, US 24, Vanuatu 6, Venezuela 3, Vietnam 1) (2006)
Pipelines [time series]
condensate 12 km; gas 3,931 km; oil 626 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2006)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne
Railways [time series]
total: 2,673 km standard gauge: 2,673 km 1.435-m gauge (601 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways [time series]
total: 72,257 km paved: 72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)
Waterways [time series]
400 km (2001)