Denmark

A little history

What's it like there?

The weather is temperate.

Location

• 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)

Size

• Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
• About two-thirds the size of West Virginia

Climate

• Temperate
• Humid and overcast
• Mild, windy winters and cool summers

Landscape

Low and flat to gently rolling plains

Natural resources

• Petroleum
• Natural gas
• Fish
• Arable land
• Salt
• Limestone
• Chalk
• Stone
• Gravel and sand

Land use

Agricultural land	65.5%
Arable land	59.1%
Permanent crops	0.7%
Permanent pasture	5.6%
Forest	16%
Other	18.5%

2023 estimate

Good to know

• 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

Who lives there?

About 5.8 million people live in Denmark, and the biggest city is Copenhagen.

Largest cities

Copenhagen Capital		1,153,615
Århus		285,273
Odense		180,863
Aalborg		142,937
Frederiksberg		95,029
Esbjerg		71,698
Randers		62,802
Kolding		61,638
Horsens		61,074
Vejle		60,231

Languages

• Danish
• Faroese
• Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
• German (small minority)

Note - English is the predominant second language

Religions

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 estimate

Ethnic groups

Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese)		84.2%
Turkish		1.1%
Other (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi)		14.7%

2023 estimate

Note: Data represent population by country of origin

Where people live

Population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland

Cities and towns

Urban population	88.5% of total population 2023
Rate of urbanization	0.54% annual rate of change 2020-25 estimate

What people are called

Noun	Dane(s)
Adjective	Danish

Who's in charge?

Its government is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

Leaders

Head of state	King Frederik X (since 14 January 2024)
Head of government	Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (since 27 June 2019)

Parliament

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

Courts

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

Constitution

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

Legal system

• Civil law
• Judicial review of legislative acts

Who can vote

• 18 years of age
• Universal

How does it make a living?

In short

• 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

Industries

• 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

Farming

• Milk
• Wheat
• Potatoes
• Barley
• Sugar beets
• Pork
• Rapeseed
• Rye
• Oats
• Chicken

2023

Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Exports

• Packaged medicine
• Fish
• Vaccines
• Refined petroleum
• Pork

2023

Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Sells most to

Germany		13%
USA		10%
Sweden		9%
Netherlands		7%
China		5%

2023

Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports

• Natural gas
• Cars
• Garments
• Packaged medicine
• Refined petroleum

2023

Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Buys most from

Germany		18%
Sweden		11%
Norway		10%
Netherlands		9%
China		7%

2023

Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Workforce

3.21 million

2024 estimate

Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Below the poverty line

12.4%

2021 estimate

Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Electricity

Electrification - total population	100% 2022 estimate

Government budget

Revenues	$149.393 billion
Expenditures	$136.662 billion

2023 estimate

Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated