{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "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)" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "56 00 N, 10 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Europe" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "43,094 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "42,434 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "660 sq km" }, "note": "note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn) but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland" }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "141 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "7,314 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "low and flat to gently rolling plains" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Store Mollehoj 171 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Lammefjord -7 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "34 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "65.6% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 59% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.8% (2022 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "15.8% (2022 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "18.6% (2022 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "2,420 sq km (2022)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "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" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "5,973,136 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "2,975,261" }, "female": { "text": "2,997,875" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Dane(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Danish" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data represent population by country of origin" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." } }, "Religions": { "text": "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 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "57.2 (2024 est.)" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "24.7 (2024 est.)" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "32.5 (2024 est.)" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "3.1 (2024 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "42.2 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "41 years" }, "female": { "text": "43.4 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.44% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "11.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "88.5% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.07 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.86 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "29.8 years (2020 est.)" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "3.4 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "2.5 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "82.1 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "80.2 years" }, "female": { "text": "84.1 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.86 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Health expenditure": { "Health expenditure (as % of GDP)": { "text": "9.5% of GDP (2022)" }, "Health expenditure (as % of national budget)": { "text": "17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)" } }, "Physician density": { "text": "7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "19.7% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "14.3% (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "14.4% (2025 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "14.3% (2025 est.)" } }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "59.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 18": { "text": "0.7% (2021)" } }, "Education expenditure": { "Education expenditure (% GDP)": { "text": "5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Education expenditure (% national budget)": { "text": "11.8% national budget (2022 est.)" } }, "Literacy": { "total population": { "text": "NA" }, "male": { "text": "NA" }, "female": { "text": "NA" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "19 years" }, "male": { "text": "18 years" }, "female": { "text": "19 years (2020)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Antarctic-Environmental Protection" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "65.6% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 59% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.8% (2022 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "15.8% (2022 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "18.6% (2022 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "88.5% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "9.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "31.79 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "6.54 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "4.485 million tons (2015 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "1,223,060 tons (2015 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "27.3% (2015 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "Geoparks": { "total global geoparks and regional networks": { "text": "3 (2024)" }, "global geoparks and regional networks": { "text": "Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Kingdom of Denmark" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Denmark" }, "local long form": { "text": "Kongeriget Danmark" }, "local short form": { "text": "Danmark" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name derives from the words Dane, a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark, a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland)" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary constitutional monarchy" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Copenhagen" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "55 40 N, 12 35 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components" }, "etymology": { "text": "name derives from the Danish words køber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law; judicial review of legislative acts" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953" }, "amendment process": { "text": "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" } }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "7 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of State appointed by the monarch" }, "election/appointment process": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister " }, "note": "note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146" }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Parliament (Folketinget)" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "chamber name": { "text": "The Danish Parliament (Folketinget)" }, "number of seats": { "text": "179 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "proportional representation" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "4 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "11/1/2022" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "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": { "text": "43.6%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "October 2026" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "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": { "text": "Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "The Alternative or AP 
Conservative People's Party or DKF or C 
Danish People's Party or DF or O 
Denmark Democrats or E 
Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F)
Liberal Alliance or LA or I 
Liberal Party (Venstre) or V 
Moderates or M 
New Right Party or NB or D 
Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL 
Social Democrats or SDP or A 
Social Liberal Party or SLP or B " }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)" }, "chancery": { "text": "3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 234-4300" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 328-1470" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
wasamb@um.dk

https://usa.um.dk/en" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer Hall GODFREY (since January 2025)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0" }, "mailing address": { "text": "5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC  20521-5280" }, "telephone": { "text": "[45] 33-41-71-00" }, "FAX": { "text": "[45] 35-43-02-23" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
CopenhagenACS@state.gov

https://dk.usembassy.gov/" } }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" }, "Independence": { "text": "ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday" }, "Flag description": { "text": "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 and inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign", "note": "note: the shifted cross design element was subsequently adopted by Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "lion, mute swan" }, "National color(s)": { "text": "red, white" }, "National coat of arms": { "text": "Denmark’s King Frederick VI adopted the national coat of arms in 1819; the crown of King Christian V, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, sits atop the shield, symbolizing royal and national authority; the three lions represent a strong and powerful country, with red lily pads in the shape of hearts that stand for strength, valor, and joy" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Der er et yndigt land\" (There is a Lovely Country); \"Kong Christian\" (King Christian)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown" }, "note": "note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; \"Der er et yndigt land,\" adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while \"Kong Christian,\" adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal anthem; \"Kong Christian\" is also known as \"Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast\" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and \"Kongesangen\" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played, unless the national anthem is requested" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "11 (8 cultural, 3 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c)" }, "note": "note: includes three sites in Greenland" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

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

" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$428.759 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$418.321 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$411.976 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "1.54% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "6.84% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$72,100 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$70,900 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$70,300 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$407.092 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { "text": "1.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "3.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "7.7% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.8% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "23.5% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "64.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "45.5% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "22.5% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "22.6% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.3% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "68% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-59.8% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "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" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "10.41% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "3.207 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "5.6% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "5.1% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "4.4% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "12.1% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "12.3% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "11.9% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "12.4% (2021 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "28.3 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3.7% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "23.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.35% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.35% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.35% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$145.764 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$130.785 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data cover general government debt and include 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; intragovernmental 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" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "$40.061 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$46.488 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "$35.362 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$276.646 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$283.37 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$239.956 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$243.478 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$245.07 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$214.488 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": { "text": "$103.239 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$109.371 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$96.073 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "6.894 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "6.89 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "7.076 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "6.287 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "6.542 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "20.794 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "consumption": { "text": "1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "441 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "755,000 (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "13 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "7.5 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "127 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "strong public-sector TV presence, with Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; private stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 FM radio stations, 10 digital audio stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".dk" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "100% (2024 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "2.65 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "44 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "OY" }, "Airports": { "text": "102 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "29 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "715 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "69 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "1" }, "medium": { "text": "2" }, "small": { "text": "30" }, "very small": { "text": "36" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "33" }, "key ports": { "text": "Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { "text": "2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "2% of GDP (2023)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2022)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2021)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2020)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 17,000 active-duty Armed Forces (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 3,500 Air Force) (2024)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy were all produced domestically (2024)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; conscripts serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025)", "note": "note 1: Denmark has had compulsory military service since 1849; conscripts are chosen by lottery (about 4,700 were selected in 2024); conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid work

note 2: women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; as of 2022, they made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel; military conscription was extended to women in June 2025

note 3: foreigners who have lived in Denmark for at least one year or in another EU country for six years may apply to join the armed forces, provided they are fluent in Danish" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "approximately 800 Latvia (NATO); Denmark contributes small numbers of air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of other NATO and international missions (2024)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country’s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark’s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergencies

NATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization’s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO’s Multinational Division – North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO’s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlands

the Forsvaret has an Arctic Command to protect the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command (SOKOM), which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2025)" } }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { "text": "no formal space agency; the Ministry of Higher Education and Science has responsibility for coordinating Danish space activities managing international cooperation; the Danish Space Research Institute (Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut (DRKI) was the country’s space agency from 1966-2005; DTU Space, National Space Institute, is Denmark’s national space institute (2024)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "member of the European Space Agency (ESA); participates in ESA programs, particularly those linked to human spaceflight and satellite-based remote sensing activities, as well as technology programs involving telecommunications and navigation; independently builds and operates satellites, particularly with meteorological, science, technology, and signal/traffic monitoring capabilities; conducts research and development of technologies such as measurement and instrumentation systems, microwaves, remote sensing, electromagnetic systems, astrophysics, and geomagnetism; has relations with the space agencies and industries of Canada, India, Japan, and the US, in addition to the EU member states (2024)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force", "note": "note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 37,530 (Ukraine) (as of 3 March 2024)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "11,644 (2022)" } } } }