Country Summary
Introduction
Background
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.
Geography
Area
total: 43,094 sq km
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
Climate
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
People and Society
Population
5,920,767 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 85.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 13.3% (largest groups are Polish, Syrian, Romanian, German, and Iraqi) (2022 est.)
Languages
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran (official) 74.7%, Muslim 5.5%, other/none/unspecified (denominations of less than 1% each in descending order of size include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 19.8% (2019 est.)
Population growth rate
0.44% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Copenhagen
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 Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
Legislative branch
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)
Economy
Economic overview
longstanding EU leader; global environmental regulatory innovator; diversified trade-based economy, dominated by its services sector; increased government spending but retaining budget surpluses; increasing taxes and innovating emissions tax incentives
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$326.2 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$55,900 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, rye, rapeseed, oats, poultry
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
Exports
$191.53 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 14%, United States 11%, Sweden 10%, United Kingdom 7%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
packaged medicines, electric generators, pork, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019)
Imports
$170.33 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 21%, Sweden 11%, Netherlands 8%, China 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2022
