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 EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

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)

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Europe

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

7,314 km

temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

low and flat to gently rolling plains

highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m

petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

arable land 58.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.4%

4,350 sq km (2012)

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

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

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

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

5,593,785

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

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

Evangelical Lutheran (official) 80%, Muslim 4%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, includes Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 16% (2012 est.)

0.22% (2016 est.)

10.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

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

COPENHAGEN (capital) 1.268 million (2015)

29.1 (2012 est.)

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

1.73 children born/woman (2016 est.)

10.8% of GDP (2014)

3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 99.6% of population

total: 99.6% of population

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0.4% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

0.16% (2014 est.)

6,000 (2014 est.)

fewer than 100 (2014 est.)

21% (2014)

8.5% of GDP (2011)

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)

ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as National Day

several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession) (2016)

civil law; judicial review of legislative acts

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Alternative Party or AP [Uffe ELBAEK]

Conservative People's Party or C [Soren PAPE POULSEN]

Danish People's Party or DF [Kristian THULESEN DAHL]

Liberal Alliance or LA [Anders SAMUELSEN]

Liberal Party or V [Lars LOEKKE RAMUSSEN]

Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL [collective leadership, spokesperson Johanne SCHMIDT-NIELSEN]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mette FREDERIKSEN]

Social Liberal Party or SLP [Morten OSTERGAARD]

Socialist People's Party or SF [Pia OLSEN DYHR]

Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [CEO Jacob HOLBRAAD]

Confederation of Danish Industries or DI [CEO Karsten DYBVAD]

Confederation of Danish Labor Unions (Landsorganisationen) or LO [President Lizette RISGAARD]

DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP]

Danish Shipowners' Association [Director General and CEO Anne STEFFENSEN]]

Danish Bankers Association [CEO Ulrik NODGAARD]

Danish Society for Nature Conservation or DN [President Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN]

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, MINUSMA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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

lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white

This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food, oil, and gas and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus, but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. An aging population will be a major long-term issue.

Denmark is a member of the EU; Danish legislation and regulations conform to EU standards on almost all issues. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the European Economic and Monetary Union, Denmark has negotiated an opt-out with the EU and is not required to adopt the euro. Within the EU, Denmark is among the strongest supporters of trade liberalization.

After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in 2007 with the end of a housing boom. Housing prices dropped markedly in 2008-09 but, with significant regional differences, have since recovered. Household indebtedness is still relatively high at more than 305% of net disposable income in 2014, while household net worth - from private pension schemes and other assets - amounted to 546% of net disposable income.

The global financial crisis exacerbated this cyclical slowdown by increasing domestic borrowing costs and lowering foreign demand for Danish exports. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the budget balance swung into deficit in 2009. The structural budget deficit has remained below 1% and is estimated at -0.4% in 2016. Denmark is experiencing a lackluster economic recovery, having still not regained the GDP level of 2008. GDP contracted in 2012 and 2013, followed by real growth of 1.3% in 2014, and 1.2% in 2015. The government projects 1.9% growth in 2016, while private sector estimates are about 1% growth. A historically low level of unemployment rose with the economic downturn but the labor market has strengthened since 2013, and unemployment stood at about 4.5% in early 2016, based on the national measure. Productivity growth was significantly below the OECD average in 2012–2014.

$258.7 billion (2015 est.)

$255.7 billion (2014 est.)

$252.5 billion (2013 est.)

$295 billion (2015 est.)

1.2% (2015 est.)

1.3% (2014 est.)

-0.2% (2013 est.)

$45,700 (2015 est.)

$45,400 (2014 est.)

$45,100 (2013 est.)

26.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

25.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

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

1.3% (2015 est.)

2.801 million (2015 est.)

4.6% (2015 est.)

5% (2014 est.)

13.4% (2011 est.)

24.8 (2011 est.)

24.7 (1992)

54% of GDP (2015 est.)

-1.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

40.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

44.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

0.5% (2015 est.)

0.6% (2014 est.)

0.75% (31 December 2011)

0.75% (31 December 2010)

3.42% (31 December 2015 est.)

3.62% (31 December 2014 est.)

$151.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$153.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$181.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$189.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$632.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$702.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$224.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$179.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$231.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$20.28 billion (2015 est.)

$26.71 billion (2014 est.)

$95.97 billion (2015 est.)

$111.4 billion (2014 est.)

machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Germany 17.8%, Sweden 11.6%, US 8.4%, Norway 6.3%, UK 6.3%, Netherlands 4.4%, China 4.2% (2015)

$85.02 billion (2015 est.)

$101.3 billion (2014 est.)

machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Germany 20.4%, Sweden 12.3%, Netherlands 8.1%, China 7.3%, Norway 6.1%, UK 4.4% (2015)

$65.19 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$75.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$534.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$609.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$133.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$145.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$239.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$250 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

6.7236 (2015 est.)

5.6183 (2014 est.)

5.6125 (2013 est.)

5.79 (2012 est.)

5.3687 (2011 est.)

31 billion kWh (2014 est.)

32 billion kWh (2014 est.)

9.8 billion kWh (2014 est.)

13 billion kWh (2014 est.)

14 million kW (2014 est.)

56.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

43.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

156,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

98,430 bbl/day (2015 est.)

86,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

611 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)

189,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

154,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

167,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

182,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

4.634 billion cu m (2014 est.)

3.182 billion cu m (2014 est.)

2.093 billion cu m (2014 est.)

625 million cu m (2014 est.)

29.93 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

42 million Mt (2013 est.)

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; in 2010, there were 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations

.dk

OY (2016)

80 (2013)

condensate 11 km; gas 4,377 km; oil 647 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2013)

400 km (2010)

Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 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 (2012)

1.2% of GDP (2015)

1.17% of GDP (2014)

1.37% of GDP (2013)

1.41% of GDP (2012)

1.35% of GDP (2011)

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission