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.

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)

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

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

low and flat to gently rolling plains

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

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

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

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

5,500,510 (July 2010 est.)

10.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)

constitutional monarchy

metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark

first organized as a unified state in the 10th century; became a constitutional monarchy in 1849

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

5 June 1953; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

18 years of age; universal

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)

Supreme Court (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)

Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian People's Party); Conservative Party [Lene ESPERSEN] (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Alliance [Anders SAMUELSEN] (formerly known as New Alliance); Liberal Party [Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (Alliance) [collective leadership] (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Joergen VORSHOLT]; Principal DA member organizations: Confederation of Danish Industries [President Hans Skov CHRISTENSEN]; Confederation of Danish Labor Unions [ President Harald BORSTING]; Danish Bankers Association [CEO Joergen HORWITZ]; DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP]; Danish Society for Nature Conservation [President Ella Maria BISSCHOP-LARSEN]

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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

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. The Danish economy is also characterized by extensive government welfare measures, an equitable distribution of income, and comfortable living standards. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in early 2007 with the end of a housing boom. The global financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The global financial crises cut Danish GDP by 0.9% in 2008 and 4.3% in 2009. Historically low levels of unemployment have risen sharply with the recession. Denmark is likely to make a slow and modest recovery, though unemployment is likely to rise through 2010. 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 during 2009. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among the strongest in the EU. 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.

$197.8 billion (2009 est.)

$207.5 billion (2008 est.)

$209.4 billion (2007 est.)

$309.3 billion (2009 est.)

2.84 million (2009 est.)

18.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

41.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

33.4% of GDP (2008 est.)

1.2% (31 December 2009)

3.75% (31 December 2008)

$155.6 billion (31 December 2009)

$143 billion (31 December 2008)

$95.82 billion (31 December 2008)

$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)

$709.2 billion (31 December 2009)

$695.8 billion (31 December 2008)

$203.2 billion (31 December 2008)

$131.5 billion (31 December 2008)

$277.7 billion (31 December 2007)

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

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

36.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)

34.3 billion kWh (2008 est.)

11.36 billion kWh (2008)

12.82 billion kWh (2008)

262,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

166,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

267,600 bbl/day (2008)

137,000 bbl/day (2008)

1.06 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

8.398 billion cu m (2009)

4.41 billion cu m (2009)

3.98 billion cu m (2009)

61.3 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$9.103 billion (2009 est.)

$7.55 billion (2008 est.)

$91.49 billion (2009 est.)

$114.7 billion (2008 est.)

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

Germany 17.53%, Sweden 12.68%, UK 8.49%, US 6.05%, Norway 6.01%, Netherlands 4.84%, France 4.57% (2009)

$84.74 billion (2009 est.)

$115.4 billion (2008 est.)

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

Germany 21.07%, Sweden 13.18%, Norway 7%, Netherlands 6.97%, China 6.22%, UK 5.53% (2009)

$76.65 billion (31 December 2009)

$42.32 billion (31 December 2008)

$607.4 billion (30 June 2009)

$588.8 billion (31 December 2008)

$145.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$138 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$185.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$176.9 billion (31 December 2008)

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4742 (2009), 5.0236 (2008), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005)

2.062 million (2009)

7.424 million (2009)

strong public-sector television presence with state-owned Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 4 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, 15 digital audio broadcasting stations, and about 15 web-based radio stations; approximately 250 commercial and community radio stations are operational (2007)

4.145 million (2010)

4.579 million (2008)

gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2009)

Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg

Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)

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; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service (2004)

1.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland