Denmark

People & Society

Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish

Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Languages:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language

Religions:
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.)

Population:
5,569,077 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 485,115/female 460,682)
15-24 years: 13.1% (male 371,258/female 355,984)
25-54 years: 39.2% (male 1,087,993/female 1,093,545)
55-64 years: 18.4% (male 343,685/female 347,732)
65 years and over: 18% (male 457,175/female 565,908) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 55.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 27.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 28.5 %
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2014 est.)

Median age:
total: 41.6 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 42.5 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.22% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Birth rate:
10.22 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Death rate:
10.23 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Net migration rate:
2.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Urbanization:
urban population: 86.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas – population:
COPENHAGEN (capital) 1.206 million (2011)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth:
29.1 (2012 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:
12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 151

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.09 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 76.68 years
female: 81.64 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Health expenditures:
11.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 12

Physicians density:
3.42 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density:
3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Drinking water source:
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 (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access:
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 (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,300 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

HIV/AIDS – deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Obesity – adult prevalence rate:
18.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107

Education expenditures:
8.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2010)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 14.2%
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 14.8%
female: 14.1% (2012)

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Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
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

Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark – 5 regions (regioner, singular – region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007
Independence:
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)

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

Constitution:
previous 1665; latest adopted 5 June 1849; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)

Legal system:
civil law; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born on 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT (since 3 October 2011)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral People’s Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held on 15 September 2011 (next to be held by September 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party – V 26.7%, SDP 24.9%, DF 12.3%, SLP 9.5%, SF 9.2%, O 6.7%, LA 5%, C 4.9%, other 0.8%; seats by party – V 47, SDP 44, DF 22, SLP 17, SF 16, O 12, LA 9, C 8; note – does not include the two seats from Greenland and the two seats from the Faroe Islands

Judicial branch:
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

Political parties and leaders:
Conservative People’s Party or C [Lars BARFOED]
Danish People’s Party or DF [Kristian THULESEN DAHL]
Liberal Alliance or LA [Anders SAMUELSEN]
Liberal Party or V [Lars LOKKE RAMUSSEN]
Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or O [collective leadership, spokesperson Johanne SCHMIDT-NIELSEN]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]
Social Liberal Party or SLP [Margrethe VESTAGER]
Socialist People’s Party or SF [Annette VILHELMSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard LARSEN]
Confederation of Danish Industries [CEO Karsten DYBVAD]
Confederation of Danish Labor Unions (Landsorganisationen) or LO [President Harald BORSTING]
Danish Shipowners’ Association [Chairman Carsten MORTENSEN]; Danish Bankers Association [CEO Joergen HORWITZ]
DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP]
Danish Society for Nature Conservation [President Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN]
other: environmental groups; humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs

International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN (since 1 September 2010)
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rufus GIFFORD (since 15 August 2013)
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen 0
mailing address: Unit 5280, DPO, AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23

Flag description:
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 design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

National symbol(s):
lion; mute swan

National anthem:
name: “Der er et yndigt land” (There is a Lovely Land); “Kong Christian” (King Christian)

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Economy

Economy – overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a member of the European Union (EU); Danish legislation and regulations conform to EU standards on almost all issues. Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income.

Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus, but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. 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 and, following a short respite in 2010, have since continued to decline. Household indebtedness is still relatively high at more than 275% of gross disposable income in the first half of 2013. The global financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. Denmark made a modest recovery in 2010, in part because of increased government spending; however, the country experienced a technical recession in late 2010-early 2011.

Historically low levels of unemployment rose sharply with the recession and have remained at about 6% in 2010-13, based on the national measure, about two-thirds average EU unemployment. An impending decline in the ratio of workers to retirees will be a major long-term issue. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the budget balance swung into deficit in 2009, where it remains. In spite of the deficits, the new coalition government delivered a modest stimulus to the economy in 2012. Nonetheless, Denmark’s fiscal position remains among the strongest in the EU with public debt at about 46% of GDP in 2013. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so far Denmark has decided not to join, although the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$211.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$211.1 billion (2012 est.)
$211.9 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):
$324.3 billion (2013 est.)

GDP – real growth rate:
0.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
-0.4% (2012 est.)
1.1% (2011 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP):
$37,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$37,800 (2012 est.)
$38,100 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving:
24.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
NA% (2012 est.)
NA% (2011 est.)

GDP – composition, by end use:
household consumption: 49.1%
government consumption: 28.8%
investment in fixed capital: 17.7%
investment in inventories: 0.2%
exports of goods and services: 53.4%
imports of goods and services: -49.2%
(2013 est.)

GDP – composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 21.7%
services: 76.8% (2013 est.)

Agriculture – products:
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

Industries:
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

Industrial production growth rate:
1.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Labor force:
2.795 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force – by occupation:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 20.3%
services: 77.1% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
6% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line:
13.4% (2011)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)

Distribution of family income – Gini index:
24.8 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
24.7 (1992)

Budget:
revenues: $181.4 billion
expenditures: $189.7 billion (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:
55.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Public debt:
47% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes 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; intra-governmental 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

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
2.4% (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
0.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
3.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money:
$147.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$150.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money:
$180.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$174.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$675 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$664.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$179.5 billion (31 December 2011)
$231.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Current account balance:
$19.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$17.44 billion (2012 est.)

Exports:
$106 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$104.9 billion (2012 est.)

Exports – commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Exports – partners:
Germany 15.9%, Sweden 13.5%, UK 9.6%, US 6.6%, Norway 6.3%, Netherlands 4.6% (2012)

Imports:
$98.45 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$96.77 billion (2012 est.)

Imports – commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports – partners:
Germany 21.2%, Sweden 13.5%, Netherlands 7.5%, China 6.4%, Norway 6.3%, UK 5.6% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$89.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$89.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Debt – external:
$586.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$571.4 billion (31 December 2011)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:
$146 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$147.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:
$248.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$241.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar –
5.695 (2013 est.)
5.7925 (2012 est.)
5.6241 (2010 est.)
5.361 (2009)
5.0236 (2008)

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