ARCHIVE // DK // 2024
Denmark
2024 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 2,590,282 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
strong public-sector TV presence with state-owned Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 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, 10 digital audio broadcasting stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
[time series]
.dk
Internet users
[time series]
total: 5.841 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: Denmark has one of the highest broadband subscription rates globally, with a near universal availability of super-fast connections; extensive cable and DSL infrastructure has been supported by a progressive regulatory regime which has encouraged operator access to both copper and fiber networks; fiber networks have a fast-growing footprint, while a number of community and metropolitan schemes have supplemented their own commitments to build out fiber nationally; a number of wholesale fiber schemes have also added to the wider availability of fiber broadband; the reach of LTE infrastructure is comprehensive, while the Mobile Network Operators by mid-2021 had also provided about 90% population coverage with 5G; services based on 5G were initially launched using trial 3.5GHz licenses; the multi-spectrum auction held in April 2021 has enabled them to improve the resilience and capacity of 5G; all MNOs are engaged in closing down their 3G networks and repurposing spectrum for LTE and 5G use (2021) domestic: fixed-line roughly 12 per 100 and about 124 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021) international: country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 6, Skagenfiber West East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 2 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 16 17 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US, 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 (2019)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 712,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 7.444 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2022 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
[time series]
on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $145.764 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $130.785 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Credit ratings
[time series]
Fitch rating: AAA (2003) Moody's rating: Aaa (1999) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2001) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Current account balance
[time series]
$44.195 billion (2023 est.) $53.067 billion (2022 est.) $36.94 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
high-income, EU member, trade-oriented Nordic economy; growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy and services; large share of employment in public sector; fixed exchange rate pegged to euro; strong fiscal position; tight labor market addressed by migrant workers and higher average retirement age
Exchange rates
[time series]
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.89 (2023 est.) 7.076 (2022 est.) 6.287 (2021 est.) 6.542 (2020 est.) 6.669 (2019 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$278.917 billion (2023 est.) $279.939 billion (2022 est.) $237.861 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
[time series]
packaged medicine, garments, fish, electricity, refined petroleum (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
Germany 15%, US 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 6%, Norway 5% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$404.199 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 45.8% (2023 est.) government consumption: 22.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 69% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -59.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 1% (2023 est.) industry: 21.5% (2023 est.) services: 66.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
28.3 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.7% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 23.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
[time series]
$240.269 billion (2023 est.) $235.68 billion (2022 est.) $210.716 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
[time series]
garments, cars, refined petroleum, electricity, packaged medicine (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
Germany 20%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Netherlands 8%, Norway 5% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
7.92% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
[time series]
wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
3.31% (2023 est.) 7.7% (2022 est.) 1.85% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
3.18 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line
[time series]
12.4% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
[time series]
35.3% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include 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; intragovernmental 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$428.385 billion (2023 est.) $420.44 billion (2022 est.) $409.262 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
1.89% (2023 est.) 2.73% (2022 est.) 6.84% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$72,000 (2023 est.) $71,200 (2022 est.) $69,900 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
0.35% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.31% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.35% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$109.371 billion (2023 est.) $96.073 billion (2022 est.) $82.236 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
30.56% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
[time series]
5.14% (2023 est.) 4.43% (2022 est.) 5.04% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 11.7% (2023 est.) male: 12% (2023 est.) female: 11.3% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
30.308 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.973 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 21.706 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.628 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Coal
[time series]
consumption: 1.788 million metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 826,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 1.89 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Electricity
[time series]
installed generating capacity: 19.503 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 33.167 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 17.392 billion kWh (2022 est.) imports: 18.797 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.965 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
fossil fuels: 11.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) wind: 56.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 26.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
[time series]
100.26 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Natural gas
[time series]
production: 1.879 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) consumption: 2.208 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) exports: 2.041 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) imports: 2.582 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) proven reserves: 29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
[time series]
total petroleum production: 63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 31.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.54 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
[time series]
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
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; much of country's household and industrial waste is recycled
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Geoparks
[time series]
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.) forest: 12.9% (2018 est.) other: 23.7% (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal
[time series]
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.485 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,223,060 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.3% (2015 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total : 43,094 sq km land: 42,434 sq km water: 660 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; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
Climate
[time series]
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Coastline
[time series]
7,314 km
Elevation
[time series]
highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m mean elevation: 34 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); 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]
2,360 sq km (2020)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 141 km border countries (2): Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.) forest: 12.9% (2018 est.) other: 23.7% (2018 est.)
Location
[time series]
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)
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Population distribution
[time series]
with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
Terrain
[time series]
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
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; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components etymology: name derives from the city's Danish appellation Kobenhavn, meaning "Merchant's Harbor"
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Constitution
[time series]
history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 amendments: proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession)
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark etymology: the name derives from the words "Dane(s)" and "mark"; the latter referring to a march (borderland) or forest
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan LEVENTHAL (since 1 July 2022) embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0 mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280 telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00 FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23 email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.gov https://dk.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesper M ller S RENSEN (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 email address and website: wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146
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; 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 cross design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands
Government type
[time series]
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Independence
[time series]
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
International law organization participation
[time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts
Legal system
[time series]
civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 each representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier) elections: last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by 31 October 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - SDP 27.5%, V 13.3%, M 9.3%, SF 8.3%, E 8.1%, LA 8.1%, C 5.5%, EL 5.1%, SLP 3.8%, AP 3.3%, NB 3.3%, DF 2.6%; seats by party - SDP 50, V 23, M 16, SF 15, E 14, LA 14, C 10, EL 9, SLP 7, AP 6, NB 6, DF 5; composition - men 98, women 81, percentage women 45.3%
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Country); "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
National heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 11 (8 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c)
National holiday
[time series]
Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday
National symbol(s)
[time series]
lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white
Political parties
[time series]
The Alternative or AP Conservative People's Party or DKF or C Danish People's Party or DF or O Denmark Democrats or E Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F) Liberal Alliance or LA or I Liberal Party (Venstre) or V Moderates or M New Right Party or NB or D Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL Social Democrats or SDP or A Social Liberal Party or SLP or B
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 part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergencies NATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO s Multinational Division North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU s Common Defense and Security Policy in a June 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlands the Defense Command is Denmark's overall military command authority for land, air, and naval operations, although the Army, Air Force, and Navy also have their own individual service commands; an Arctic Command protects the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command, which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2024)
Military and security forces
[time series]
Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Danish Home Guard (Reserves) (2024)
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 17,000 active-duty personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 3,500 Air Force) (2024)
Military deployments
[time series]
approximately 800 Latvia (NATO); Denmark contributes small numbers of air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of other NATO and international missions (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy were all produced domestically (2024)
Military expenditures
[time series]
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023) 1.4% of GDP (2022) 1.3% of GDP (2021) 1.4% of GDP (2020)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months depending on specialization; former conscripts are assigned to mobilization units; women eligible to volunteer for military service; in addition to full time employment, the Danish military offers reserve contracts in all three branches (2023) note 1: women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; as of 2022, they made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel; in 2024, Denmark announced that it would extend military conscription to women in 2026 note 2: Denmark has had compulsory military service since 1849; conscripts are chosen by lottery; conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid work note 3: foreigners who have lived in Denmark for at least one year or in another EU country for six years may apply to join the armed forces, provided they are fluent in Danish
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018) 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615) 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)
Alcohol consumption per capita
[time series]
total: 9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
11.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Child marriage
[time series]
women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
NA
Current health expenditure
[time series]
10.5% of GDP (2020)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
59.6% (2023 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Demographic profile
[time series]
Modern immigration to Denmark began in the 1960s and 1970s, although immigration, primarily from the Nordic countries and Western Europe, has earlier roots. Dutch migrants came in the 16 th century and Germans in the 18 th , in both cases to work in agriculture. Between the late 19 th century and World War I, Denmark absorbed unskilled Polish, German, and Swedish labor migrants in significant numbers, sometimes at the request of the Danish Government. Between the two World Wars, Denmark received many Eastern European, Jewish, and German migrants. It wasn t until after World War II, that refugees began seeking sanctuary in Demark, including a large number of German refugees and later Hungarians, Czechs, and Polish Jews. Denmark also imported foreign labor during the 1960s, mainly from Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, and Pakistan. Although the guest worker program was halted in 1973, immigrants continued to arrive to be reunited with family members who were already in Denmark as refugees or as guest workers. Non-European refugees came from Chile, Uganda, and Vietnam. In the 1990s, Denmark began receiving migrants and refugees from new places, including Russia, Hungary, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. Despite raising more restrictions on immigration, in the 2000s, Denmark continued to receive asylum seekers, particularly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and the former Yugoslavia, as well as labor migrants from new EU member states. In more recent years, Denmark has severely limited its refugee intake, aiming to accept as few refugees outside of the UN resettlement program as possible. In the mid-2010s, Denmark passed legislation enabling it to withdraw temporary protective status as soon as conditions in the home country, as determined by Denmark, have improved. This policy has lead Denmark, to deem Damascus and other areas in Syria safe for return, making it the only country in Europe to do so. Consequently, some Syrian refugees have had their residency status revoked, and they are detained in deportation centers because Denmark does not have diplomatic relations with Syria and, therefore, cannot send them back. Copenhagen hopes its stricter policies will discourage asylum seekers, particularly those from non-Western countries.
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 57.3 youth dependency ratio: 25.4 elderly dependency ratio: 31.9 potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
6.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.) note: data represent population by country of origin
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
0.86 (2024 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabog, den uundv rlig kilde til grundl ggende oplysninger. (Danish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.) male: 80.2 years female: 84.1 years
Literacy
[time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 42.2 years (2024 est.) male: 41 years female: 43.4 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
[time series]
29.8 years (2020 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
19.7% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
4.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Population
[time series]
total: 5,973,136 male: 2,975,261 female: 2,997,875 (2024 est.)
Population distribution
[time series]
with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.44% (2024 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Evangelical Lutheran (official) 71.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other/none/unspecified (denominations include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 24.3% (2024 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2020)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
[time series]
total: 17.5% (2020 est.) male: 17.8% (2020 est.) female: 17.1% (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
[time series]
no formal space agency; the Ministry of Higher Education and Science has responsibility for coordinating Danish space activities managing international cooperation; the Danish Space Research Institute (Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut (DRKI) was the country s space agency from 1966-2005; DTU Space, National Space Institute, is Denmark s national space institute (2024)
Space program overview
[time series]
a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and fully integrated within its structure; participates in ESA programs, particularly those linked to human spaceflight and satellite-based remote sensing activities, as well as technology programs involving telecommunications and navigation; independently builds and operates satellites, particularly those with meteorological, science, technology, and signal/traffic monitoring capabilities; conducts research and development of such technologies as measurement and instrumentation systems, microwaves, remote sensing, electromagnetic systems, astrophysics, geomagnetism, etc.; in addition to cooperating with the ESA and EU, as well as bi-laterally with member states, it has relations with the space agencies and industries of Canada, India, Japan, and the US (2024) note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
[time series]
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees (country of origin): 19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 37,530 (Ukraine) (as of 3 March 2024) stateless persons: 11,644 (2022)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
99 (2024)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
OY
Heliports
[time series]
25 (2024)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 715 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
National air transport system
[time series]
number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 76 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 582,011 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: mt-km
Pipelines
[time series]
1,536 km gas, 330 km oil (2015)
Ports
[time series]
total ports: 69 (2024) large: 1 medium: 2 small: 30 very small: 36 ports with oil terminals: 33 key ports: Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle
Railways
[time series]
total: 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified
Roadways
[time series]
total: 73,591 km (2022)
Waterways
[time series]
400 km (2010)