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
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
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references
Europe
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
comparison ranking: total 133
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 141 km
border countries (2): Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
Coastline
7,314 km
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
Climate
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation
highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
mean elevation: 34 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Land use
agricultural land: 65.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 59% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 15.8% (2022 est.)
other: 18.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
2,420 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country’s mainland
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
Geography – note
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: 5,973,136 (2024 est.)
male: 2,975,261
female: 2,997,875
comparison rankings: total 115; female 115; male 115
Nationality
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups
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: data represent population by country of origin
Languages
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note – English is the predominant second language
major-language sample(s):
Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Danish audio sample:
Religions
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: 16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)
65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 32.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 42.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 41 years
female: 43.4 years
comparison ranking: total 45
Population growth rate
0.44% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 155
Birth rate
11.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 160
Death rate
9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 41
Net migration rate
2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 41
Population distribution
population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country’s mainland
Urbanization
urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
29.8 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 167
Infant mortality rate
total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 210
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 80.2 years
female: 84.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 35
Total fertility rate
1.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 144
Gross reproduction rate
0.86 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
9.5% of GDP (2022)
17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
19.7% (2016)
comparison ranking: 109
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 33
Tobacco use
total: 14.3% (2025 est.)
male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
female: 14.3% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 106
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021)
Education expenditure
5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
11.8% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 50
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 19 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
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: 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: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Land use
agricultural land: 65.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 59% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 15.8% (2022 est.)
other: 18.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 31.79 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 6.54 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.485 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,223,060 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.3% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)
Government
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, a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark, a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland)
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
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
etymology: name derives from the Danish words køber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)
Administrative divisions
metropolitan Denmark – 5 regions (regioner, singular – region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Legal system
civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953
amendment process: 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
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
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
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: Parliament (Folketinget)
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: The Danish Parliament (Folketinget)
number of seats: 179 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/1/2022
parties elected and seats per party: 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: 43.6%
expected date of next election: October 2026
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
Political parties
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: Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://usa.um.dk/en
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer Hall GODFREY (since January 2025)
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0
mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280
telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00
FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://dk.usembassy.gov/
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, 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
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
National holiday
Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note – closest equivalent to a national holiday
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 and 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 Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands
National symbol(s)
lion, mute swan
National colors
red, white
National coat of arms
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
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: “Der er et yndigt land” (There is a Lovely Country); “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 heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 11 (8 cultural, 3 natural); note – includes three sites in Greenland
selected World Heritage Site locales: 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)
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$428.759 billion (2023 est.)
$418.321 billion (2022 est.)
$411.976 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 53
Real GDP growth rate
2.5% (2023 est.)
1.54% (2022 est.)
6.84% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 125
Real GDP per capita
$72,100 (2023 est.)
$70,900 (2022 est.)
$70,300 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 14
GDP (official exchange rate)
$407.092 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.4% (2024 est.)
3.3% (2023 est.)
7.7% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 38
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 23.5% (2023 est.)
services: 64.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 63; industry 113; agriculture 186
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 45.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 22.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 68% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -59.8% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
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
10.41% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 16
Labor force
3.207 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 106
Unemployment rate
5.6% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
4.4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 116
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 12.1% (2024 est.)
male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
female: 11.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 109
Population below poverty line
12.4% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
28.3 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 137
Average household expenditures
on food: 11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.7% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 23.8% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.35% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.35% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.35% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $145.764 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $130.785 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
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
comparison ranking: 152
Taxes and other revenues
31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 19
Current account balance
$40.061 billion (2023 est.)
$46.488 billion (2022 est.)
$35.362 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 15
Exports
$276.646 billion (2023 est.)
$283.37 billion (2022 est.)
$239.956 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 33
Exports – partners
Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$243.478 billion (2023 est.)
$245.07 billion (2022 est.)
$214.488 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 33
Imports – partners
Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$103.239 billion (2024 est.)
$109.371 billion (2023 est.)
$96.073 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 24
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
6.894 (2024 est.)
6.89 (2023 est.)
7.076 (2022 est.)
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 20.794 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 119; imports 12; exports 17; consumption 62; installed generating capacity 50
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 74
Energy consumption per capita
98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 52
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 755,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 78
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.5 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 108
Broadcast media
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
.dk
Internet users
percent of population: 100% (2024 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 2.65 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 54
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OY
Airports
102 (2025)
comparison ranking: 53
Heliports
29 (2025)
comparison ranking: 47
Railways
total: 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified
Merchant marine
total: 715 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
comparison ranking: total 33
Ports
total ports: 69 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 2
small: 30
very small: 36
ports with oil terminals: 33
key ports: 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
Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
2% of GDP (2023)
1.4% of GDP (2022)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.4% of GDP (2020)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 17,000 active-duty Armed Forces (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 3,500 Air Force) (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
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
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months depending on 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 (2023)
note 1: 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; in 2024, Denmark announced that it would extend military conscription to women in 2026
note 2: Denmark has had compulsory military service since 1849; conscripts are chosen by lottery; 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 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
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
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
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
a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and fully integrated within its structure; 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 those with meteorological, science, technology, and signal/traffic monitoring capabilities; conducts research and development of such technologies as measurement and instrumentation systems, microwaves, remote sensing, electromagnetic systems, astrophysics, geomagnetism, etc.; in addition to cooperating with the ESA and EU, as well as bi-laterally with member states, it has relations with the space agencies and industries of Canada, India, Japan, and the US (2024)
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)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
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): 19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 37,530 (Ukraine) (as of 3 March 2024)
stateless persons: 11,644 (2022)
