Denmark Travel Guide - Facts on Denmark

History		Top of Page
	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.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic Coordinates	56 00 N, 10 00 E
Area	Total: 43,094 sq km Water: 700 sq km Note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland land: 42,394 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land Boundaries	Total: 68 km Border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline	7,314 km
Climate	Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain	Low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m Highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural Resources	Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand
Geography Note	Controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen
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
People		Top of Page
Population	5,450,661 (July 2006 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 18.7% (male 523,257/female 496,697) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,815,240/female 1,787,406) 65 years and over: 15.2% (male 355,656/female 472,405) (2006 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Dane(s) Adjective: Danish
Ethnic Groups	Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions	Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
Language	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%

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark Conventional short form: Denmark Local short form: Danmark Local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Government Type	Constitutional monarchy
Capital	Copenhagen
Administrative Divisions	Metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg Note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing overseas administrative divisions
Independence	First organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
Flag Description	Red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	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.
Currency	Danish krone
Currency Code	DKK
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
Internet Country Code	.dk
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 2,673 km standard gauge: 2,673 km 1.435-m gauge (601 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways	total: 72,257 km paved: 72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)
Waterways	400 km (2001
Ports and Harbors	Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne
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	Denmark Travel Guide: Facts on Denmark
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Denmark Travel Guide:

Facts on Denmark