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.
Country profile: Denmark
Denmark's relations with the European Union, which it joined in 1973, have dominated its political life for over a decade.Centuries of maritime trading contacts with Europe and the US have given Denmark, a relatively small country, the confidence to assert and defend its independence.
The Danes rejected the euro as the national currency in a referendum in September 2000. Analysts believe that Danish fears of loss of political independence and national sovereignty outweighed any economic arguments about the benefits of joining the eurozone.
Denmark's euroscepticism put it at odds with many of its European partners seven years previously when Danish voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty which proposed monetary union and a common European defence force. Denmark had to be granted opt-outs from these provisions before the treaty was approved in 1993.
The social democrats led a string of coalition governments for most of the second half of the last century in a country generally known for its liberal traditions. This pattern was upset in November 2001 when a right-wing coalition promising tighter immigration controls came to power following a snap election called in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the US.
Denmark has won plaudits for running a healthy economy. Its employment levels are the envy of many industrialised countries and it accommodates a competitive economic edge as well as a generous social security system.
Danish cinema has won international recognition, not least for its willingness to experiment. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s the Dogme movement directors often used hand-held cameras to dynamic effect in a conscious reaction against high-tech, big-budget cinema.
- Full name: Kingdom of Denmark
- Population: 5.4 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Copenhagen
- Area: 43,098 sq km (16,640 sq miles)
- Major language: Danish
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 krone = 100 ore
- Main exports: Machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals
- GNI per capita: US $47,390 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .dk
- International dialling code: +45
Queen: Margrethe II
Prime minister: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Prime Minister Rasmussen, leader of the Venstre (Liberal) Party, was re-elected in February 2005 after calling early elections as his party rode high in opinion polls and the economy fared well. He is the first Danish Liberal leader to win a second consecutive term.
Mr Rasmussen has led a minority Liberal-Conservative coalition government since November 2001 when the election result ended decades of domination of the Danish political scene by the Social Democrats. During his first term, he pushed through policies designed to tighten immigration controls and cut taxes.
Although it is not part of the coalition, the far-right Danish People's Party wielded strong influence on the anti-immigration stance of Mr Rasmussen's government during its first term and increased its presence in parliament in the February 2005 elections. Mr Rasmussen has pledged to continue to pursue a "fair and firm immigration policy".
In his early political career Mr Rasmussen was regarded as a strong believer in free market economics, but in government he has taken a less harsh line on the welfare state than some had predicted.
He is committed to Europe and has stated the view that Denmark's Maastricht opt-outs are not in the country's best interests.
His government was supportive of the US-led campaign in Iraq. Around 500 Danish troops are stationed there. It has also increased the Danish military contingent in Afghanistan.
Mr Rasmussen graduated in economics in 1978 and entered parliament the same year. He served as minister for tax affairs from 1987 to 1992 and was also minister of economic affairs for the last two years of that period.
He was born in 1953.
Denmark's public broadcaster, Danmarks Radio (DR), operates two TV networks and national and regional radio stations. It is funded by a licence fee.
TV2, a commercial broadcaster, operates regional outlets and an internet-based on-demand service. Other private stations are available via satellite and cable.
There are some 250 local commercial and community radio stations. Two commercial networks, one national and one semi-national, were launched in 2003 and quickly gained large audiences.
Freedom of expression is provided for in law. This principle was reiterated by the Jyllands-Posten daily amid a backlash in early 2006 over its publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The images sparked violent protests in some countries as well as unofficial boycotts of Danish goods.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
This thoroughly modern market economy 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. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn accelerated through 2005. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, 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.
Danish natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen
Danish religion is Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%.
Natural hazards in Denmark include 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.
Travel Advice on Denmark
SUMMARY
- Denmark shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets.
- Around 100,000 British tourists visit Denmark every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Denmark is for replacing lost or stolen passports.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Homosexuality is legal and Danish law allows same sex marriages.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
HEALTH
GENERAL