Denmark |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| 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) and issues concerning certain
justice and home affairs. |
| Natural
resources |
petroleum, natural gas,
fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand |
| Land
use |
arable land: 55.74%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 44.07% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
5,384,384 (July 2003 est.)
|
| Ethnic
groups |
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese,
German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali |
| Religions |
Evangelical Lutheran 95%,
other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2% |
| 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: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Capital |
Copenhagen |
| Government
type |
constitutional monarchy
|
| Independence |
first organized as a unified
state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
|
| National
holiday |
none designated; Constitution
Day, 5 June is generally viewed as the National Day |
|
|
