India

Denmark


Background

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.

Other Information

Natural Resources

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

Land Use

arable land: 57.99%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 41.91% (2011)

Population

5,569,077 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Ethnic Groups

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

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran (official) 80%, Muslim 4%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, includes Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 16% (2012 est.)

Languages

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Capital

Copenhagen

Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)

National Holiday

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