Country Profile 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 European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs. Disputes
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Population and Demographics
Denmark has a population of 5,484,723 (July 2008 est.) .
Capital | Copenhagen |
Main urban areas | Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Odense, Randers |
Ethnic groups | Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali |
Languages spoken | Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) |
Population age 0-14: 18.4% (m 516,735/f 490,532) | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
0-14 | 15-64 | 65+ | |
Gender ratios At birth: 1.06 m/f , 0-14: 1.05 m/f , 15-64: 1.01 m/f , 65+: 0.77 m/f |
Changing Population (Life expectancy, births, deaths and fertility)
The population growth rate for Denmark is 0.295% (2008 est.) (world growth rate at 2006 is 1.14%). The country also saw migration of 2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.). The median age of the country is total: 40.3 years male: 39.4 years female: 41.2 years (2008 est.).
Note: on the graphs, world figures are represented by a red bar, figures for Denmark are illustrated with a green bar.
Life Expectancy: | Total population: 78.13 years Male: 75.8 years Female: 80.59 years (2008 est.) | ![]() ![]() ![]() Male:, m] ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fertility: | 1.74 children born/woman (2008 est.) | ![]() ![]() |
Births: | 10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) | ![]() ![]() |
Deaths: | 10.25 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) | ![]() ![]() |
Infants: | Total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Economy Overview
The Danish economy has in recent years undergone strong expansion fueled primarily by private consumption growth, but also supported by exports and investments. This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade.
Unemployment is low and capacity constraints are limiting growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so far Denmark has decided not to join 15 other EU members in the euro.
Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2007. The controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad printed in a Danish newspaper in September 2005 led to boycotts of some Danish exports to the Muslim world, especially exports of dairy products, but the boycotts did not have a significant impact on the overall Danish economy. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish living standards are among the highest in the world. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.
Debt and Aid
Debt: $492.6 billion (30 June 2007)
Aid Given: ODA, $2.236 billion (2006)
Aid Received: $NA
Labour Force
Number in labour force: 2.86 million (2007 est.)
Sectors: agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (2004 est.)
Unemployment: 2.8% (2007 est.)
GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
GDP: $203.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $37,400 (2007 est.)
GDP Real Growth: 1.8% (2007 est.)
GDP Composition: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 26% services: 72.4% (2007 est.)
Production Growth Rate: 1.5% (2007 est.)
Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
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
Land use: arable land: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)
Exports: machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
Electricity Consumption: 34.02 billion kWh (2005)
Natural Gas Consumption: 4.775 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Oil Consumption: 171,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Geographic Data
Denmark is located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn), in the timezone GMT 1. The country has boundaries of 68 - Germany 68 (km), and a coastline of 7,314 (km). Major urban areas: Copenhagen, Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Odense, Randers.
Elevations
Lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
Highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Physical Features
Lim Fjord, low and flat to gently rolling plains
Hazards
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
Climate
Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Natural Resources
Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Land Use
Arable land: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)
Renewable Water Resources
6.1 cu km (2003)
Fresh Water Withdrawal
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%) per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)
Environmental Issues
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
A selection of key transport and communications information for Denmark
Number of main telephone lines
3.098 million (2006)
Mobile (cellular) phones
5.841 million (2006)
Radio stations
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television stations
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Internet users
3.171 million (2006)
Country internet code
.dk
Railways
total: 2,673 km standard gauge: 2,673 km 1.435-m gauge (601 km electrified) (2005)
Highways
total: 72,257 km paved: 72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)
Waterways
400 km (2001)
Pipelines
condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)
Ports and harbours
Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne
Airports
91 (2007)
Heliports
NA