Copenhagen
Denmark
Key facts and a structured country profile. π§Ύ Change log π True Size
6,051,491 (2025 est.)
43,094 sq km
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)
π§ Background
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.
πΊοΈ Geography
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)
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Europe
43,094 sq km
42,434 sq km
660 sq km
Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
141 km
Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
7,314 km
12 nm
24 nm
200 nm
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Low and flat to gently rolling plains
Store Mollehoj 171 m
Lammefjord -7 m
34 m
Petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
65.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
16% (2023 est.)
18.5% (2023 est.)
2,420 sq km (2022)
Population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
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
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
π₯ People and Societyβ¬οΈ Top
6,051,491 (2025 est.)
3,001,698
3,049,793
Dane(s)
Danish
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.)
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)
62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)
20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)
57.2 (2025 est.)
24.5 (2025 est.)
32.7 (2025 est.)
3.1 (2025 est.)
42.2 years (2025 est.)
41 years
43.4 years
0.64% (2025 est.)
9.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
10.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
7.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
88.5% of total population (2023)
0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
1.07 male(s)/female
1.05 male(s)/female
1.03 male(s)/female
0.86 male(s)/female
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
29.8 years (2020 est.)
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
82.1 years (2024 est.)
80.2 years
84.1 years
1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
0.73 (2025 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
9.5% of GDP (2022)
17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
19.7% (2016)
9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
14.3% (2025 est.)
14.4% (2025 est.)
14.3% (2025 est.)
54.3% (2024 est.)
0.7% (2021)
6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
18 years (2023 est.)
18 years (2023 est.)
19 years (2023 est.)
πΏ Environmentβ¬οΈ Top
Air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides
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
Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
65.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
16% (2023 est.)
18.5% (2023 est.)
88.5% of total population (2023)
0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
10.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
49.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
236.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
54.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
5.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
4.911 million tons (2024 est.)
35.4% (2022 est.)
382.787 million cubic meters (2022)
45.076 million cubic meters (2022)
506.487 million cubic meters (2022)
6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
3 (2024)
Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)
ποΈ Governmentβ¬οΈ Top
Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark
Kongeriget Danmark
Danmark
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)
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Copenhagen
55 40 N, 12 35 E
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components
Name derives from the Danish words kΓΈber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)
Metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953
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
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
No
At least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark
Yes
7 years
18 years of age; universal
King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)
Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
Council of State appointed by the monarch
The monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Parliament (Folketinget)
Unicameral
The Danish Parliament (Folketinget)
179 (all directly elected)
Proportional representation
Full renewal
4 years
11/1/2022
Social Democratic Party (50); Liberal Party (Venstre) (23); Moderates (M) (16); Socialist People's Party (SF) (15); Danish Democrats (Γ) (14); Liberal Alliance (14); Conservative People's Party (10); Unity List-Red-Green Alliance (9); Other (24)
43.6%
October 2026
Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)
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
Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts
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
Ambassador Jesper MΓΈller SΓRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)
3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
[1] (202) 234-4300
[1] (202) 328-1470
Wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en
Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 5 November 2025)
Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0
5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280
[45] 33-41-71-00
[45] 35-43-02-23
CopenhagenACS@state.gov https://dk.usembassy.gov/
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
Ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
Constitution Day, 5 June (1849)
Description: red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left history: referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; the origin of the design is unclear; one legend says 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
Lion, mute swan
Red, white
Denmarkβs 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
βKong Christian stod ved hΓΈjen mastβ (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast)
Johannes EWALD/unknown
Adopted 1780; one of the oldest royal anthems in the world; used for events when Danish royalty is present; anthem has equal status with the national anthem
12 (8 cultural, 4 natural)
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); AasivissuitβNipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c); MΓΈns Klint (n)
πΉ Economyβ¬οΈ Top
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
$440.558 billion (2024 est.)
$424.937 billion (2023 est.)
$414.592 billion (2022 est.)
3.7% (2024 est.)
2.5% (2023 est.)
1.5% (2022 est.)
$73,700 (2024 est.)
$71,500 (2023 est.)
$70,200 (2022 est.)
$429.457 billion (2024 est.)
1.4% (2024 est.)
3.3% (2023 est.)
7.7% (2022 est.)
0.7% (2024 est.)
24% (2024 est.)
64% (2024 est.)
45.5% (2023 est.)
22.5% (2023 est.)
22.6% (2023 est.)
0.2% (2023 est.)
68% (2023 est.)
-59.8% (2023 est.)
Milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)
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
12% (2024 est.)
3.21 million (2024 est.)
5.6% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)
12.1% (2024 est.)
12.3% (2024 est.)
11.9% (2024 est.)
12.4% (2021 est.)
29.3 (2022 est.)
11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)
24.5% (2022 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
$149.393 billion (2023 est.)
$136.662 billion (2023 est.)
35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
$55.901 billion (2024 est.)
$40.061 billion (2023 est.)
$46.488 billion (2022 est.)
$299.405 billion (2024 est.)
$276.646 billion (2023 est.)
$283.37 billion (2022 est.)
Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
$252.954 billion (2024 est.)
$243.478 billion (2023 est.)
$245.07 billion (2022 est.)
Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)
Natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
$108.405 billion (2024 est.)
$109.371 billion (2023 est.)
$96.073 billion (2022 est.)
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
6.894 (2024 est.)
6.89 (2023 est.)
7.076 (2022 est.)
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)
β‘ Energyβ¬οΈ Top
100% (2022 est.)
20.794 million kW (2023 est.)
35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.)
16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.)
19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.)
1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)
11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.)
124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
441 million barrels (2021 est.)
2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
π‘ Communicationsβ¬οΈ Top
698,000 (2024 est.)
12 (2024 est.)
7.57 million (2024 est.)
127 (2024 est.)
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)
.dk
100% (2024 est.)
2.65 million (2023 est.)
44 (2023 est.)
π Transportationβ¬οΈ Top
OY
102 (2025)
29 (2025)
2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified
715 (2023)
Bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
69 (2024)
1
2
30
36
33
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
π‘οΈ Military and Securityβ¬οΈ Top
Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
The Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, Israeli, 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 are produced domestically (2025)
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; draftees serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025)
Denmark contributes air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of international missions, including grounds troops to NATO's forward defenses in Latvia (2025)
The Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the countryβs sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmarkβs 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 organizationβs 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 NATOβs Multinational Division β 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 NATOβs 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 EUβs 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)
π¨ Terrorismβ¬οΈ Top
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
π Transnational Issuesβ¬οΈ Top
100,832 (2024 est.)
8,566 (2024 est.)
Source: Factbook JSON archive.