Denmark

Broadcast media

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 (2012)

Internet country code

.dk

Internet users

total: 5,424,169 | percent of population: 97.0% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Telephone system

general assessment: excellent telephone and Internet services | domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network; multiple mobile-cellular communications systems | international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,557,101 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 6,985,035 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $162.3 billion | expenditures: $164.3 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (2016) | 0.05% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 147

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.25% (31 December 2016 est.) | 3.42% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Current account balance

$24.09 billion (2016 est.) | $27.58 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Debt - external

$484.8 billion (31 March 2016 est.) | $519.8 billion (31 March 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.8 (2015 est.) | 25.7 (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Economy - overview

This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping, and in 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 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. | Denmark is experiencing a modest economic expansion. The economy grew by 1.6% in 2015 and an estimated 1.3% in 2016. The expansion is expected to continue at similar rates in 2017 and 2018. The labor market has strengthened since 2013, and unemployment stood at 4.2% in early 2017, based on the national measure. By early 2017, some sectors were experiencing difficulties attracting qualified labor. Productivity growth was significantly below the OECD average from the mid-1990s until 2011, but has increased in recent years. Improvement in productivity is needed to ensure continued growth. | Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the global financial crisis swung the budget balance into deficit. The 2016 deficit was 1.4%. The government projects lower deficits in 2017 and 2018, and public debt (EMU debt) as a share of GDP is expected to decline. In 2015, household indebtedness remained relatively high at more than 292% of net disposable income, while household net worth - from private pension schemes and other assets - amounted to 497% of net disposable income.

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - | 6.7309 (2016 est.) | 6.7309 (2015 est.) | 6.7236 (2014 est.) | 5.6125 (2013 est.) | 5.79 (2012 est.)

Exports

$103.6 billion (2016 est.) | $102.6 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 16.3%, Sweden 11.9%, US 8.2%, UK 6.5%, Norway 6.1%, Netherlands 5.1%, China 4.4% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$306.7 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$275.3 billion (2016 est.) | $267.3 billion (2015 est.) | $260.3 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 60

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 47.5% | government consumption: 25.4% | investment in fixed capital: 20.1% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 53.4% | imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.1% | industry: 23.6% | services: 75.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$48,200 (2016 est.) | $47,800 (2015 est.) | $47,400 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 33

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2016 est.) | 1.6% (2015 est.) | 1.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Gross national saving

28.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 28.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | 28.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% | highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)

Imports

$86.39 billion (2016 est.) | $87.55 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 21.4%, Sweden 12.2%, Netherlands 8%, China 7.3%, Norway 5.5%, UK 4.2% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.3% (2016 est.) | 0.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Labor force

2.953 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.4% | industry: 18.3% | services: 79.3% (2016 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$224.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $179.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $231.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Population below poverty line

13.4% (2011 est.)

Public debt

37.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 39.5% of GDP (2015 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 | country comparison to the world: 140

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$64.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $65.19 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Stock of broad money

$173.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $168.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$235.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $230.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$147.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $145.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Stock of domestic credit

$637.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $632.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Stock of narrow money

$159.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $151.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Taxes and other revenues

52.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Unemployment rate

6.2% (2016 est.) | 4.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

42 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Crude oil - exports

78,370 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Crude oil - imports

77,950 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Crude oil - production

140,600 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - proved reserves

490.6 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - consumption

31.41 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - exports

9.919 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - from fossil fuels

48.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - from other renewable sources

53.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2

Electricity - imports

14.98 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14.01 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - production

27.34 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

4.392 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - exports

2.192 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Natural gas - imports

658 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - production

4.618 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - proved reserves

16.88 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 78

Refined petroleum products - consumption

158,200 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Refined petroleum products - exports

171,600 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Refined petroleum products - imports

165,400 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Refined petroleum products - production

187,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Area

total: 43,094 sq km | land: 42,434 sq km | water: 660 sq km | 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 | country comparison to the world: 134

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Climate

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

Coastline

7,314 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 34 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m | highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m

Environment - current 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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

4,350 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 140 km | border countries (1): Germany 140 km

Land use

agricultural land: 63.4% | arable land 58.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.4% | forest: 12.9% | other: 23.7% | note: highest percentage of arable land for any country in the world (2011 est.)

Location

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)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural 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

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

low and flat to gently rolling plains

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

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 | amendments: proposed by the Folketing 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 by the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession) (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark | conventional short form: Denmark | local long form: Kongeriget Danmark | local short form: Danmark | etymology: the name derives from the words "Dane(s)" and "mark"; the latter referring to a march (borderland) or forest

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Laura LOCHMAN (since 2 January 2017) | 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lars Gert LOSE (since 17 September 2015) | chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 | FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

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 Lars LOKKE RASMUSSEN (since 28 June 2015) | cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

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

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

civil law; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description: unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 representing Greenland and 2 representing the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier) | elections: last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held by June 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - SDP 26.3%, DF 21.1%, V 19.5%, EL 7.8%, LA 7.5%, AP 4.8%, SLP 4.6%, SF 4.2%, C 3.4%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SDP 47, DF 37, V 34, EL 14, LA 13, AP 9, SLP 8, SF 7, C 6; note - does not include each of the 2 seats from Greenland and the Faroe Islands

National anthem

name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong Christian" (King Christian) | lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown | 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 holiday

Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday

National symbol(s)

lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

The Alternative A or AP [Uffe ELBAEK] | Conservative People's Party or DKF or C [Soren PAPE POULSEN] | Danish People's Party or DF or O [Kristian THULESEN DAHL] | Liberal Alliance or LA [Anders SAMUELSEN] | Liberal Party (Venstre) or V [Lars LOKKE RA/SMUSSEN] | Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL [collective leadership, spokesperson Pernille SKIPPER] | Social Democrats or A [Mette FREDERIKSEN] | Social Liberal Party or B [Morten OSTERGAARD] | Socialist People's Party or SF [Pia OLSEN DYHR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [Jacob HOLBRAAD] | Confederation of Danish Industries or DI [Karsten DYBVAD] | Confederation of Danish Labor Unions or LO [Lizette RISGAARD] | DaneAge Association [Bjarne HASTRUP] | Danish Shipowners' Association [Anne STEFFENSEN] | Danish Bankers Association [Ulrik NODGAARD] | Danish Society for Nature Conservation or DN [Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN] | other: environmental groups; humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. 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.

Military branches

Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2017)

Military expenditures

1.15% of GDP (2016) | 1.12% of GDP (2015) | 1.15% of GDP (2014) | 1.23% of GDP (2013) | 1.35% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 71

Military service age and obligation

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; former conscripts are assigned to mobilization units; women eligible to volunteer for military service; in addition to full time employment, the Danish Military offers reserve contracts in all three branches (2016)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.41% (male 472,106/female 447,997) | 15-24 years: 13.08% (male 374,379/female 358,927) | 25-54 years: 38.76% (male 1,080,118/female 1,092,503) | 55-64 years: 12.52% (male 349,091/female 352,903) | 65 years and over: 19.23% (male 483,519/female 594,405) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

10.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Death rate

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56 | youth dependency ratio: 26.3 | elderly dependency ratio: 29.7 | potential support ratio: 3.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

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.)

Education expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 8

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, Turkish, Polish, Syrian, German, Iraqi (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

10.8% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 16

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.5 years | male: 77.1 years | female: 82.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Major urban areas - population

COPENHAGEN (capital) 1.268 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Median age

total: 42.2 years | male: 41.2 years | female: 43.2 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.1 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dane(s) | adjective: Danish

Net migration rate

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.7% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 111

Physicians density

3.65 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

5,605,948 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.22% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran (official) 76%, Muslim 4%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, includes Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 20% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years | male: 18 years | female: 20 years (2014)

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: 0.99 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 12% | male: 13.1% | female: 10.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Urbanization

urban population: 88% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 18,215 (Syria) (2016) | stateless persons: 7,610 (2016)

Airports

80 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 68

Airports - with paved runways

total: 28 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 | 914 to 1,523 m: 12 | under 914 m: 2 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 52 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | under 914 m: 47 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 666 | by type: towing- and supply ships 193, container 118, product tanker 91, passenger 80, chemical tanker 64, guard ships 40, other dry bulk 33, roll on/roll off 20, liquefied gas 11, bulk carrier 7, oil tanker 5, cable ships 4 (2016) | foreign-owned: 27 (Germany 9, Greenland 1, Norway 2, Sweden 15) | registered in other countries: 582 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Bahamas 69, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Curacao 1, Cyprus 6, Egypt 1, France 11, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 42, Isle of Man 30, Italy 4, Jamaica 1, Liberia 8, Lithuania 8, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 34, Marshall Islands 7, Moldova 1, Netherlands 27, Norway 7, Panama 41, Philippines 2, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Singapore 149, Sweden 4, UK 43, Uruguay 1, US 31, Venezuela 1, unknown 4) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 18

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 10 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 76 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 582,011 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 1,536 km; oil 330 km (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Baltic Sea - Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia, Kalundborg; North Sea - Esbjerg, | river port(s): Aalborg (Langerak) | dry bulk cargo port(s): Ensted (coal) | cruise port(s): Copenhagen

Railways

total: 3,476 km | standard gauge: 3,476 km 1.435-m gauge (1,756 km electrified) (2017) | country comparison to the world: 62

Roadways

total: 74,558 km | paved: 74,558 km (includes 1,205 km of expressways) (2017) | country comparison to the world: 64

Waterways

400 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 87