Denmark Travel Podcast with Freja Andersen

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)

Terrain

Low and flat to gently rolling plains

Climate

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

Elevation

Highest point

Store Mollehoj 171 m

Lowest point

Lammefjord -7 m

Mean elevation

34 m

Area

Total

43,094 sq km

Land

42,434 sq km

Water

660 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia

Coastline

7,314 km

Land borders

Total

141 km

Border countries

Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km

Natural resources

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

Land use

Agricultural land

65.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land

59.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

5.6% (2023 est.)

Forest

16% (2023 est.)

Other

18.5% (2023 est.)

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

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

Population

Total

6,051,491 (2025 est.)

Male

3,001,698

Female

3,049,793

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.)

Languages

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)

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.)

Median age

Total

42.2 years (2025 est.)

Male

41 years

Female

43.4 years

Life expectancy

Total population

82.1 years (2024 est.)

Male

80.2 years

Female

84.1 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

88.5% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland

Largest cities

1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)

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.

Government

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital

Copenhagen

Time zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Kongeriget Danmark

Independence

Ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

National day

Constitution Day, 5 June (1849)

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$73,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$71,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$70,200 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

5.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

4.5% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

6.894 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

6.89 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

7.076 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

6.287 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

6.542 (2020 est.)

Main 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

Agriculture

Milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)

Airports

102 (2025)

Railways

Total 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified

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

Internet domain

.dk

Internet users

Percent of population 100% (2024 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

7.57 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

127 (2024 est.)

Environmental 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

Fresh water

6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks

Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)