Denmark Danmark (Danish) | |
---|---|
Anthem: Der er et yndigt land (Danish) (English: "There is a lovely country") | |
National and royal anthem: Kong Christian stod ved højen mast (Danish)[N 1] (English: "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") | |
Sovereign state | Kingdom of Denmark |
Consolidation | c. 8th century[2] |
Constitutional Act | 5 June 1849 |
Capital and largest city | Copenhagen 55°43′N 12°34′E / 55.717°N 12.567°E |
Official languages | Danish |
German[N 2] | |
Ethnic groups (2020) | |
Demonym(s) | |
Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Frederik X |
Mette Frederiksen | |
Legislature | Folketing |
Area | |
• Total | 43,094[5] km2 (16,639 sq mi) (130th) |
• Water (%) | 1.74[6] |
Highest elevation (Møllehøj) | 170.86 m (560.56 ft) |
Population | |
• September 2024 estimate | 5,982,117[N 4][7] (112th) |
• Density | 138.8/km2 (359.5/sq mi) (93rd) |
GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $496.696 billion[N 4][8] (52nd) |
• Per capita | $83,454[8] (10th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $412.293 billion[N 4][8] (37th) |
• Per capita | $69,273[8] (9th) |
Gini (2022) | 27.7[9] low |
HDI (2022) | 0.952[10] very high · 5th |
Currency | Danish krone[N 5] |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Calling code | +45 |
Internet TLD | .dk[N 6] |
Website | denmark |
Denmark (Danish: Danmark, pronounced [ˈtænmɑk] ) is a Nordic country in the south-central portion of Northern Europe with a population of nearly 6 million;[7] 770,000 live in Copenhagen (1.9 million in the capital region).[7] It is the metropolitan part, and most populous constituent part of, the Kingdom of Denmark,[N 7] a constitutionally unitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the North Atlantic Ocean.[11] Metropolitan Denmark[N 8] is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, lying south-west and south of Sweden, south of Norway,[N 9] and north of Germany, with which it shares a short border.
As of 2013, the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, had a total of 1,419 islands greater than 100 square metres (1,100 sq ft) in area; 443 of these have been named and 78 are inhabited.[12] Spanning a total area of 42,943 km2 (16,580 sq mi),[13] metropolitan Denmark consists of the northern part of the Jutland peninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands.[14] Of these, the most populated island is Zealand, on which the capital and largest city, Copenhagen, is situated, followed by Funen, the North Jutlandic Island, and Amager.[15] Denmark has flat, arable land, sandy coasts, low elevations, and a temperate climate. Denmark exercises hegemonic influence in the Danish Realm, devolving powers to handle internal affairs. Home rule was established in the Faroe Islands in 1948 and in Greenland in 1979; the latter obtained further autonomy in 2009.[16]
The unified Kingdom of Denmark emerged in the 8th century AD as a proficient maritime power amid the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea.[2] In 1397, it joined Norway and Sweden to form the Kalmar Union, which persisted until the latter's secession in 1523. The remaining Kingdom of Denmark–Norway endured a series of wars in the 17th century that resulted in further territorial cessions. A surge of nationalist movements in the 19th century were defeated in the First Schleswig War of 1848. The adoption of the Constitution of Denmark on 5 June 1849 ended the absolute monarchy and introduced the current parliamentary system. An industrialised exporter of agricultural produce in the second half of the 19th century, Denmark introduced social and labour-market reforms in the early 20th century, which formed the basis for the present welfare state model and advanced mixed economy. Denmark remained neutral during World War I; Danish neutrality was violated in World War II by a rapid German invasion in April 1940. During occupation, a resistance movement emerged in 1943, while Iceland declared independence in 1944; Denmark was liberated after the end of the war in May 1945. In 1973, Denmark, together with Greenland but not the Faroe Islands, became a member of what is now the European Union, but negotiated certain opt-outs, such as retaining its own currency, the krone.
Denmark is a developed country with a high standard of living, and was the first country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships. It is a founding member of NATO, the Nordic Council, the OECD, the OSCE and the United Nations, and is part of the Schengen Area. Denmark maintains close political, cultural, and linguistic ties with its Scandinavian neighbours. The Danish political system is used in political science as a reference point for near-perfect governance and the term "getting to Denmark" is used to describe how other countries can improve their governments.[17][18]
Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories
Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self-governing territories belonging to Denmark.
Greenland [...] is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark
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