Eurobusinessonline, european company guide, economic news, country information, EuroTradeLeads to do businesses in Europe

Country information - Denmark

The exact origin of Denmark is lost in history. The oldest Danevirke is from the seventh century, appearing at the same time as the new Runic alphabet. At various times the King of Denmark has ruled parts of England and Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, France, especially Normandy and the Virgin Islands, Tranquebar in India, Estonia and what is now Northern Germany. Scania, Blekinge and Halland were part of Denmark for most of its early history, but were lost to Sweden in 1658.

The union with Norway was dissolved in 1814, when Norway entered a new union with Sweden (until 1905). The Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European Revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy June 5, 1849.

Denmark remained neutral during World War I, although the conflict affected the country to a considerable extent. There was widespread profiteering, but commerce was also greatly disrupted by the conflict and the ensuing financial instability in Europe. Despite its declaration of neutrality at the beginning of World War II, and the conclusion of a non-aggression agreement with Nazi Germany, Denmark was invaded by Nazi Germany on April 9, 1940 and occupied until May 5, 1945 (in 1943 Nazi Germany assumed full control of Denmark). Toward the end of the war, Denmark grew increasingly difficult for Nazi Germany to control, but the country was not liberated until Allied forces arrived in the country at the end of the war.

After the war, Denmark became one of the founding members of NATO and, in 1973, joined the European Economic Community (later, the European Union). 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.

	Geography	Denmark

Loczation

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)

Area	total: 43,094 sq km

Land	42,394 sq km

Water

700 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 68 km

border countries

Germany 68 km

Coastline

7,314 km

Climate

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

Terrain

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m

highest point

Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

flooding is a threat in some areas of the country that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

	People	Denmark

Population

5,432,335

Nationality

noun: Dane(s), adjective: Danish

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%

Languages

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

	Government	Denmark

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark

Conventional short form

Denmark

Local long form

Kongeriget Danmark

Local short form

Danmark

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Copenhagen

Administrative divisions

metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg and 2 boroughs (amtskommuner, singular - amtskommune); Kobenhavn (Copenhagen), Frederiksberg.

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Constitution

5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen Margrethe II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Frederik, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968)

Head of government

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (since 27 November 2001)

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament

Elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative Elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Elections

last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009)

Judicial branch

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

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, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

	Economy	Denmark

Denmark has a thoroughly modern market economy that 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. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. The Danisch economy is highly unionized, 75% of it's labor force are members of a union in the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro; even so, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. The Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

Labor force

2.9 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 4%, industry 17%, services 79%

Unemployment rate

5.7%

Population below poverty line

Household income by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%, highest 10%: 24%

Agriculture - products

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

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

Currency (code)

Danish krone (DKK)