ARCHIVE // DK // 2025
Denmark
2025 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 2.65 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
strong public-sector TV presence, with Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; private stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 FM radio stations, 10 digital audio 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]
percent of population: 100% (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 698,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 7.57 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
[time series]
on food: 11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $149.393 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $136.662 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance
[time series]
$55.901 billion (2024 est.) $40.061 billion (2023 est.) $46.488 billion (2022 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 and declining public debt; tight labor market mitigated by migrant workers and higher retirement age
Exchange rates
[time series]
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.894 (2024 est.) 6.89 (2023 est.) 7.076 (2022 est.) 6.287 (2021 est.) 6.542 (2020 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$299.405 billion (2024 est.) $276.646 billion (2023 est.) $283.37 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
[time series]
packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$429.457 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 45.5% (2023 est.) government consumption: 22.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 68% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -59.8% (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: 0.7% (2024 est.) industry: 24% (2024 est.) services: 64% (2024 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]
29.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
[time series]
$252.954 billion (2024 est.) $243.478 billion (2023 est.) $245.07 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
[time series]
natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
12% (2024 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]
1.4% (2024 est.) 3.3% (2023 est.) 7.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
3.21 million (2024 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]
$440.558 billion (2024 est.) $424.937 billion (2023 est.) $414.592 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
3.7% (2024 est.) 2.5% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$73,700 (2024 est.) $71,500 (2023 est.) $70,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$108.405 billion (2024 est.) $109.371 billion (2023 est.) $96.073 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
[time series]
5.6% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 12.1% (2024 est.) male: 12.3% (2024 est.) female: 11.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Coal
[time series]
consumption: 1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity
[time series]
installed generating capacity: 20.794 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
fossil fuels: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
[time series]
98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas
[time series]
production: 2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 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: 151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate
[time series]
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Environmental issues
[time series]
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides
Geoparks
[time series]
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)
International environmental 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
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 16% (2023 est.) other: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Methane emissions
[time series]
energy: 49.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 236.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 54.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 5.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
[time series]
10.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 382.787 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 45.076 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 506.487 million cubic meters (2022)
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: 4.911 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 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]
2,420 sq km (2022)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 141 km border countries (2): Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 16% (2023 est.) other: 18.5% (2023 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]
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 Danish words k ber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)
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 amendment process: 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
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 , a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark , a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland)
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 5 November 2025) 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 election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146
Flag
[time series]
description: red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left history: referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; the origin of the design is unclear; one legend says that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th-century battle and inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner note: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands subsequently adopted the shifted-cross design
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]
legislature name: Parliament (Folketinget) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) number of seats: 179 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 11/1/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (50); Liberal Party (Venstre) (23); Moderates (M) (16); Socialist People's Party (SF) (15); Danish Democrats (Æ) (14); Liberal Alliance (14); Conservative People's Party (10); Unity List-Red-Green Alliance (9); Other (24) percentage of women in chamber: 43.6% expected date of next election: October 2026
National anthem(s)
[time series]
title: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Country) lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown history: adopted 1844; national anthem _____ title: Kong Christian stod ved h jen mast (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) lyrics/music: Johannes EWALD/unknown history: adopted 1780; one of the oldest royal anthems in the world; used for events when Danish royalty is present; anthem has equal status with the national anthem note: Denmark is one of only two countries that has two national anthems of equal status (New Zealand is the other)
National coat of arms
[time series]
Denmark s King Frederick VI adopted the national coat of arms in 1819; the crown of King Christian V, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, sits atop the shield, symbolizing royal and national authority; the three lions represent a strong and powerful country, with red lily pads in the shape of hearts that stand for strength, valor, and joy
National color(s)
[time series]
red, white
National heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 12 (8 cultural, 4 natural) 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); M ns Klint (n) note: includes three sites in Greenland
National holiday
[time series]
Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) note: closest equivalent to a national holiday
National symbol(s)
[time series]
lion, mute swan
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 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 Forsvaret has an Arctic Command to protect 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 (SOKOM), which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2025)
Military and security forces
[time series]
Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military deployments
[time series]
Denmark contributes air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of international missions, including grounds troops to NATO's forward defenses in Latvia (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, Israeli, 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 are produced domestically (2025)
Military expenditures
[time series]
3.2% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; draftees serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025) note 1: 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 2: women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; military conscription was extended to women in June 2025
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]
9.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage
[time series]
women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
54.3% (2024 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
10.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
[time series]
6.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 14.2% national budget (2022 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]
0.73 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
[time series]
9.5% of GDP (2022) 17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 42.2 years (2025 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]
7.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
19.7% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Population
[time series]
total: 6,051,491 (2025 est.) male: 3,001,698 female: 3,049,793
Population distribution
[time series]
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]
0.64% (2025 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]
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 18 years (2023 est.) male: 18 years (2023 est.) female: 19 years (2023 est.)
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: 14.3% (2025 est.) male: 14.4% (2025 est.) female: 14.3% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
[time series]
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/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: 100,832 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 8,566 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
102 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
OY
Heliports
[time series]
29 (2025)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 715 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
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