View source for Denmark

{{Short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{About|metropolitan Denmark|the sovereign state|Danish Realm|other uses}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2026}}
<!-- Please DO NOT put information about the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the article, this article is about "metropolitan Denmark" which excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland. -->
{{Infobox political division
| name = Denmark<!--Do not change to Kingdom of Denmark; it has its own article.-->
| native_name = {{native name|da|Danmark}}<!--Do not change to Kingdom of Denmark; it has its own article.-->
| settlement_type = [[Danish Realm#Population and area|Constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark]]
| image_flag = Flag of Denmark.svg
| flag_size = 120
| flag_link = Flag of Denmark
| image_seal = National coat of arms of Denmark.svg
| seal_size = 95
| seal_type = National coat of arms
| seal_link = Coat of arms of Denmark
| motto     = {{Lang|da|Forbundne, forpligtet, for kongeriget Danmark|italics=yes}}{{Efn|The motto of Denmark is the motto of the reigning monarch, chosen after accession. The current motto is that of the current monarch, [[Frederik X]].}}<br>(United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark)
| anthem = {{native name|da|[[Der er et yndigt land]]|link=on}}<br />({{langx|en|"There is a lovely country"}})<div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Der er et yndigt land.ogg]]}}</div>
| song = {{native name|da|[[Kong Christian stod ved højen mast]]|link=on}}{{refn|''Kong Christian'' has equal status as a [[national anthem]] but is generally used only on [[Honors music|royal]] and military occasions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Not one but two national anthems|url=http://denmark.dk/en/quick-facts/national-anthems/|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark]]|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515093426/http://denmark.dk/en/quick-facts/national-anthems|archive-date=15 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="N"}}<br />({{langx|en|"King Christian stood by the lofty mast"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast.ogg]]}}</div>
| song_type = '''Royal Anthem'''
| image_map              = {{switcher|[[File:Denmark (orthographic projection).svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Denmark.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=2}}
| map_caption            = {{map caption
  | countryprefix = metropolitan
  | location_color = dark green
  | region = Europe
  | region_color = dark grey
  | subregion = the [[European Union]]
  | subregion_color = light green
  }}
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = [[Kingdom of Denmark]]
| established_title = [[History of Denmark#Middle Ages|Consolidation]]
| established_date = {{circa}} 8th century{{sfnp|Stone|Bain|Booth|Parnell|2008|p=31}}
| established_title2 = {{nowrap|[[Constitution of Denmark|Constitutional Act]]}}
| established_date2 = 5 June 1849
| official_languages = [[Danish language|Danish]]
| languages_type = [[Regional language]]s
| languages_sub = yes
| languages = [[German language|German]]<ref group="N">German is recognised as a protected minority language in the South Jutland area of Denmark.</ref>
| demonym = {{hlist|[[Danes|Danish]]|[[Danes|Dane]]}}
| capital = [[Copenhagen]]
| largest_city = capital
| eea                = true
| eurozone                = false
| schengen                = true
| coordinates = {{Coord|55|43|N|12|34|E|type:city}}
| membership_type = [[Member state of the European Union|Member State]]
| membership = [[European Union]]
| ethnic_groups = {{ublist |item_style=white-space;
|83.7% [[Danes|Danish]]{{refn|including [[Faroese people|Faroese]], [[Indigenous peoples|Indigenous group]] [[Greenlandic Inuit|Inuit]], and [[minority group]] [[North Schleswig Germans|German]]}}
|16.3% [[Immigration to Denmark|Others]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2025
| religion               = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:nowrap;
|71.4% [[Lutheran Christianity in Denmark|Lutheranism]] ([[State religion|official]])<ref>[http://www.km.dk/statstilskud.html State fundings to the National Church] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101152726/http://www.km.dk/statstilskud.html |date=1 November 2006 }} {{in lang|da}}. Retrieved 21 January 2011</ref>
|4.3% [[Islam in Denmark|Islam]]
|24.3% [[Religion in Denmark|Other]] / [[Irreligion|none]]
}}
| religion_year          = 2024 
| religion_ref           = <ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Denmark|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118191623/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2026 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en |date=21 May 2024}}</ref>
| government_type = Unitary parliamentary [[constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Denmark|Monarch]] 
| leader_name1 = [[Frederik X]] 
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Mette Frederiksen]]
| legislature = [[Folketing]]
| area_km2 = 43,094<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/#geography|title=Denmark|date=21 November 2023|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=22 November 2023|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705032013/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/#geography|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_rank = 130th
| area_sq_mi = 16,580<!--Do not remove per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]-->
| percent_water = 1.74<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|archive-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|url-status=live}}</ref>
| elevation_max_m = 170.86
| elevation_max_ft =
| elevation_max_point = [[Møllehøj]]
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 6,001,008<ref group="N" name="denonly group=N" /><ref name="Pop.Denmark">{{cite web |title=Development in the number of inhabitants month by month |url=https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/borgere/befolkning/befolkningstal |publisher=[[Statistics Denmark]] |website=www.dst.dk |access-date=27 October 2024 |archive-date=13 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313105052/https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/borgere/befolkning/befolkningstal |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_estimate_rank = 112th
| population_estimate_year = May 2025
| population_density_km2 = {{#expr: 6001008/43094 round 1}}
| GDP_PPP                            = {{increase}} $541.335 billion<ref group="N" name="denonly group=N" /><ref name="IMFWEO.DK">{{cite web |url=https://data.imf.org/en/Data-Explorer?datasetUrn=IMF.RES:WEO(9.0.0) |title=World Economic Outlook Database (April 2026 Edition) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=www.imf.org |date=14 April 2026 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year                    = 2026
| GDP_PPP_rank                    = 54th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita          = {{increase}} $89,667<ref name="IMFWEO.DK" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 11th
| GDP_nominal                      = {{increase}} $503.772 billion<ref group="N" name="denonly group=N" /><ref name="IMFWEO.DK" />
| GDP_nominal_year             = 2026
| GDP_nominal_rank             = 37th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita   = {{increase}} $83,445<ref name="IMFWEO.DK" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 9th
| Gini = 27.7 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year = 2022
| Gini_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=25 November 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
| HDI = 0.962
| HDI_year = 2023<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=13 March 2024|page=288|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 4th
| currency = [[Danish krone]]
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +01:00
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +02:00
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Denmark|+45]]
| iso_code = DK
| cctld = [[.dk]]<ref group="N">The [[top-level domain name]] [[.eu]] is shared with other [[European Union]] countries.</ref>
|population_density_rank=93rd <!-- Should match [[List of countries and dependencies by population density]] -->}}

'''Denmark'''{{efn|{{langx|da|Danmark}}, {{IPA|da|ˈtænmɑk|pron|DA-Danmark.ogg}}}} is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]]. It is the [[metropole]] and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,<ref group="N">{{langx|da|Kongeriget Danmark}}, {{IPA|da|ˈkʰɔŋəʁiːð̩ ˈtænmɑk|pron|Kongeriget Danmark.ogg}}.</ref> also known as the [[Danish Realm]], a [[constitution]]ally [[unitary state]] that includes the [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous territories]] of the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]] in the north [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref name="territory">*{{Cite web|last=Benedikter|first=Thomas|date=19 June 2006|title=The working autonomies in Europe|url=http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html|publisher=[[Society for Threatened Peoples]]|quote=Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories|access-date=8 June 2012|archive-date=9 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html|url-status=dead}}
*{{Cite web|last=Ackrén|first=Maria|date=November 2017|title=Greenland|url=http://www.world-autonomies.info/tas/Greenland/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830110832/http://www.world-autonomies.info/tas/Greenland/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=30 August 2019|access-date=30 August 2019|publisher=Autonomy Arrangements in the World|quote=Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self-governing territories belonging to Denmark.}}
*{{Cite web|date=3 June 2013|title=Greenland|url=https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/countries/greenland_en|access-date=27 August 2019|website=International Cooperation and Development|publisher=[[European Commission]]|language=en|quote=Greenland [...] is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark|archive-date=16 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916135422/https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/countries/greenland_en|url-status=live}}</ref> Metropolitan Denmark,<ref name="proper" group="N" /> also called "continental Denmark" or "Denmark proper",<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2024 |title=Denmark {{!}} History, Geography, Map, & Culture {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark#ref33905 |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123074111/https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark#ref33905 |url-status=live }}</ref> consists of the northern [[Jutland]] [[peninsula]] and an [[archipelago]] of 406 islands.<ref name="islands">{{Cite web |title=Denmark in numbers 2010 |url=http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/14847/dkital.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418081728/http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/14847/dkital.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=2 May 2013 |publisher=Statistics Denmark}}</ref> It is the southernmost of the [[Scandinavia]]n countries, lying southwest of [[Sweden]], south of [[Norway]], and north of [[Germany]], with which it shares a short [[border]]. Denmark proper is situated between the [[North Sea]] to the west and the [[Baltic Sea]] to the east.<ref group="N">The island of [[Bornholm]] is offset to the east of the rest of the country, in the [[Baltic Sea]].</ref>

The Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, has roughly [[List of islands of Denmark|1,400 islands]] greater than {{convert|100|m2|sqft}} in area; 443 have been named and 78 are inhabited.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irland.um.dk/en/about-denmark |title=About Denmark |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227125541/https://irland.um.dk/en/about-denmark |url-status=live }}</ref> Denmark's population is over 6 million (1 May 2025),<ref name="Pop.Denmark" /> of which roughly 40% live in [[Zealand]], (Sjælland) the largest and most populated island in Denmark proper; [[Copenhagen]], (København) the capital and largest city of the Danish Realm, is situated on Zealand and Amager and Slotsholmen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statistikbanken.dk/bef4|title=Statistikbanken|website=statistikbanken.dk|access-date=27 December 2022|archive-date=6 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606071411/https://www.statistikbanken.dk/BEF4|url-status=live}}</ref> Composed mostly of flat, [[arable land]], Denmark is characterised by sandy coasts, low elevation, and a [[temperate climate]]. Denmark exercises [[hegemony|hegemonic]] influence in the [[Danish Realm]], [[devolution|devolving]] powers to the other constituent entities to handle their internal affairs. [[Home rule]] was established in the Faroe Islands in 1948; [[Greenland]] achieved home rule in 1979 and [[2008 Greenlandic self-government referendum|further autonomy]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greenland and the Faroe Islands |url=https://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/the-arctic/greenland-and-the-faroe-islands |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218164608/https://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/the-arctic/greenland-and-the-faroe-islands |archive-date=18 December 2023 |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark}}</ref> 

The [[history of Denmark|unified Kingdom of Denmark]] emerged in the eighth century AD as a [[maritime power]] amid the struggle for [[Dominium maris baltici|control of the Baltic Sea]].{{sfnp|Stone|Bain|Booth|Parnell|2008|p=31}} In 1397, it formed the [[Kalmar Union]] with Norway and Sweden. This union persisted until Sweden's [[secession]] in 1523. The remaining Kingdom of [[Denmark–Norway]] endured a [[Northern Wars|series of wars]] in the 17th century that resulted in [[cession|territorial cession]]s to Sweden. A surge of [[History of Denmark#The 19th century|nationalist movements]] in the 19th century were defeated by the Danes in the [[First Schleswig War]] of 1848. The adoption of the [[Constitution of Denmark]] on 5 June 1849 ended the [[absolute monarchy]]. In the [[Second Schleswig War]] Denmark lost [[Schleswig-Holstein]], which led to changes in Danish politics henceforth emphasising social cohesion in the diminished realm, as well as the clearing of the vast moors of Jutland for agriculture, new Christian movements split between [[Indre Mission]] and [[N. F. S. Grundtvig|Grundtvig]], but generally a stronger self-perception among the people of belonging to a unified country and state. In 1920, [[North Schleswig]] became Danish again.

Denmark began industrialising in the mid 19th century, becoming a major agricultural exporter. It introduced [[Kanslergade Agreement|social and labour market reforms]] in the early 20th century, forming the basis for the present [[welfare state]] [[Nordic model|model]] and advanced [[mixed economy]]. [[Denmark during World War I|Denmark remained neutral]] during [[World War I]]; Danish neutrality was violated in [[World War II]] by a rapid [[German invasion of Denmark (1940)|German invasion]] in April 1940. During occupation, a [[Danish resistance movement|resistance movement]] emerged in 1943, while Iceland declared independence in 1944; Denmark was [[Denmark in World War II#Hardship and the end of the war|liberated]] after the end of the war in May 1945. In 1973, Denmark, together with [[Withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities|Greenland]] but not the [[Faroe Islands]], became a member of what is now the [[European Union]]; however, it negotiated [[Opt-outs in the European Union|certain opt-outs]], such as retaining its own currency, the [[Danish krone|krone]].

Denmark is a [[developed country]] with an advanced [[World Bank high-income economy|high-income economy]], high [[standard of living]], and robust [[Nordic model|social welfare policies]]. Danish culture and society are broadly progressive egalitarian, and [[Social liberalism|socially liberal]]; Denmark was the first country to legally recognise [[Same-sex marriage in Denmark|same-sex partnerships]]. It is a founding member of [[NATO]], the [[Nordic Council]], the [[OECD]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], the [[Council of Europe]] and the [[United Nations]], and is part of the [[Schengen Area]]. Denmark maintains close political, cultural, and linguistic ties with its Scandinavian neighbours.

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Etymology of Denmark}}

The etymology of the name "Denmark", the relationship between "Danes" and "Denmark", and the emergence of Denmark as a unified kingdom are topics of continuous scholarly debate.<ref>Kristian Andersen Nyrup, Middelalderstudier [http://www.nyrups.dk/Historie/MiddelalderIndex.htm Bog IX. Kong Gorms Saga] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109141345/http://www.nyrups.dk/Historie/MiddelalderIndex.htm |date=9 January 2010 }}</ref><ref>''Indvandrerne i Danmarks historie'', Bent Østergaard, Syddansk Universitetsforlag 2007, {{ISBN|978-87-7674-204-1}}, pp. 19–24</ref> This is centred primarily on the morpheme ''"Dan"'' and whether it refers to the [[Danes (tribe)|Dani]] or a historical person [[Dan (king)|Dan]] and the exact meaning of the -''"mark"'' ending.

Most etymological dictionaries and handbooks derive "Dan" from a word meaning "flat land", related to German {{lang|de|Tenne}} "threshing floor", English ''den'' "cave".<ref name="et1">[[Jan de Vries (philologist)|J. de Vries]], ''Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch'', 1962, 73; [[:da:Niels Åge Nielsen|N. Å. Nielsen]], ''Dansk etymologisk ordbog'', 1989, 85–96.</ref> The element ''mark'' is believed to mean [[woodland]] or [[border]]land (see [[March (territory)|marches]]), with probable references to the border forests in south [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]].<ref>Navneforskning, Københavns Universitet{{cite web|url=http://navneforskning.ku.dk/stednavne.doc/betydninger.doc |title=Udvalgte stednavnes betydning |access-date=27 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716144406/http://navneforskning.ku.dk/stednavne.doc/betydninger.doc |archive-date=16 July 2006 }}</ref>

The first recorded use of the word ''Danmark'' within Denmark itself is found on the two [[Jelling stones]], which are [[runestone]]s believed to have been erected by [[Gorm the Old]], considered to be Denmark's first king, ({{circa|955}}) and [[Harald Bluetooth]] ({{circa|965}}). The larger of the two stones is popularly cited as the "baptismal certificate" ({{lang|da|dåbsattest}}) of Denmark,<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Donoghue |first=Heather |title=Old Norse-Icelandic Literature: A Short Introduction |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lY-g2MTFh9gC&pg=PT27 |year=2008 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-77683-4 |page=27 |access-date=21 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412172508/https://books.google.com/books?id=lY-g2MTFh9gC&pg=PT27 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> though both use the word "Denmark", in the [[accusative case|accusative]] {{runic|ᛏᛅᚾᛘᛅᚢᚱᚴ}} {{lang|non|tanmaurk}} ({{IPA|[danmɒrk]}}) on the large stone, and the [[Genitive case|genitive]] {{runic|ᛏᛅᚾᛘᛅᚱᚴᛅᚱ}} "tanmarkar" (pronounced {{IPA|[danmarkaɽ]}}) on the small stone, while the [[Dative case|dative]] form ''tąnmarku'' (pronounced {{IPA|[danmarkʊ]}}) is found on the contemporaneous Skivum stone. The inhabitants of Denmark are there called {{lang|da|tani}} ({{IPA|[danɪ]}}), or "Danes", in the accusative.

== History ==
{{Main|History of Denmark}}
{{seealso|History of the Faroe Islands|History of Greenland}}

=== Prehistory ===
[[File:Solvognen-00100.jpg|thumb|left|The gilded side of the [[Trundholm sun chariot]] dating from the Nordic Bronze Age]]

The earliest [[Archaeology of Denmark|archaeological finds in Denmark]] date back to the [[Eemian|Eem interglacial period]] from 130,000 to 110,000 [[Anno Domini|BC]].{{sfnp|Michaelsen|2002|p=19}} Denmark has been inhabited since around 12,500 BC and agriculture has been evident since 3900 BC.<ref name="foreign ministry">{{cite web|last=Nielsen|first=Poul Otto|date=May 2003|url=http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap6/6-1.asp|title=Denmark: History, Prehistory|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark]]|access-date=1 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122020555/http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap6/6-1.asp |archive-date=22 November 2005}}</ref> The [[Nordic Bronze Age]] (1800–600 BC) in Denmark was marked by [[Tumulus|burial mounds]], which left an abundance of findings including [[lur]]s and the [[Trundholm sun chariot|Sun Chariot]].

During the [[Pre-Roman Iron Age]] (500 BC&nbsp;– AD 1), native groups began migrating south, and the first tribal [[Danes (tribe)|Danes]] came to the country between the Pre-Roman and the [[Germanic Iron Age]],{{sfnp|Busck|2002|p=20}} in the [[Roman Iron Age]] (AD 1–400).<ref name="foreign ministry" /> The [[Roman province]]s maintained [[trade route]]s and relations with native tribes in Denmark, and [[Roman currency|Roman coins]] have been found in Denmark. Evidence of strong [[Celtic nations|Celtic]] cultural influence dates from this period in Denmark and much of North-West Europe and is among other things reflected in the finding of the [[Gundestrup cauldron]].

The tribal Danes came from the east [[List of islands of Denmark|Danish islands]] ([[Zealand]]) and [[Scania]], today Skåne in Southern Sweden, and spoke an early form of [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]]. Historians believe that before their arrival, most of [[Jutland]] and the nearest islands were settled by tribal [[Jutes]]. Many Jutes migrated to [[Great Britain]], according to legend some as mercenaries of [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] King [[Vortigern]], and formed the south-eastern territories of [[Kent]], the [[Isle of Wight]] and other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed or [[ethnic cleansing|ethnically cleansed]] by the invading [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]] and [[Saxons]], who formed the [[Anglo-Saxons]]. The remaining Jutish population in Jutland assimilated in with the settling [[Danes (tribe)|Danes]].

A short note about the ''Dani'' in ''[[Getica]]'' by the historian [[Jordanes]] is believed to be an early mention of the Danes, one of the [[ethnic group]]s from whom modern [[Danes]] are descended.{{sfnp|Busck|2002|p=19}}<ref>{{cite web |author=Jordanes |translator=[[Charles C. Mierow]] |date=22 April 1997 |title=The Origin and Deeds of the Goths, chapter III |url=http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/jordgeti.html#III |access-date=1 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060424044148/http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/jordgeti.html#III |archive-date=24 April 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Danevirke]] defence structures were built in phases from the 3rd century forward and the sheer size of the construction efforts in AD 737 are attributed to the emergence of a Danish king.{{sfnp|Michaelsen|2002|pp=122–123}} A [[Younger Futhark|new runic alphabet]] was first used around the same time and [[Ribe]], the oldest town of Denmark, was founded about AD 700.

=== Viking and Middle Ages ===
{{Main|Viking Age|Kalmar Union}}

[[File:Ladbyskibet.jpg|thumb|The [[Ladby ship]], the largest ship burial found in Denmark]]

From the 8th to the 10th century the population of the wider [[History of Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] region was called [[Vikings]] by non-Scandinavians. While they mostly lived off agriculture, fishing and trade, they were excellent sailors and would travel as far as Iceland, Greenland and Canada. They traded in all parts of Europe, down to Constantinople and beyond, but would also raid local settlements and set up colonies in far-flung places. The Danish Vikings were most actively raiding the eastern and southern [[British Isles]] and [[Western Europe]]. They settled in parts of [[England]] (known as the [[Danelaw]]) under King [[Sweyn Forkbeard]] in 1013, and in [[France]] where Danes and Norwegians were allowed to settle in what would become [[Normandy]] in exchange of allegiance to [[Robert I of France]] with [[Rollo]] as first ruler.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sweyn I {{!}} biography - king of Denmark and England |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sweyn-I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905104353/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sweyn-I |archive-date=2015-09-05 |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> Some [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[pence]] of this period have been found in Denmark.<ref name="Lund">*{{cite web|last=Lund |first=Niels |date=May 2003 |url=http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap6/6-2.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510174200/http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap6/6-2.asp |archive-date=10 May 2006 |title=Denmark – History – The Viking Age |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark]] |access-date=24 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Denmark was largely consolidated by the late 8th century and its rulers are consistently referred to in [[Frankish language|Frankish]] sources as kings (''reges''). Under the reign of [[Gudfred]] in 804 the Danish kingdom may have included all the [[Lands of Denmark|lands]] of Jutland, [[Scania]] and the Danish islands, excluding Bornholm.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA76|title=Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' c. 900–1200|first=Nora|last=Berend|date= 2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|via=Google Books|isbn=978-1-139-46836-7}}</ref>

[[File:Jellingsten stor 1.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Large stone containing a carved depiction of Jesus Christ|Larger of the two Jelling stones, raised by [[Harald Bluetooth]]]]

The extant Danish monarchy traces its roots back to [[Gorm the Old]], who established his reign in the early 10th century.{{sfnp|Stone|Bain|Booth|Parnell|2008|p=31}} As attested by the [[Jelling stones]], the Danes were [[Christianised]] around 965 by [[Harald Bluetooth]], the son of Gorm and [[Thyra]]. It is believed that Denmark became Christian for political reasons so as not to get invaded by the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. A rising Christian power in Europe, the Holy Roman Empire was an important trading partner for the Danes. As a deterrent against this threat, Harald built six [[fortresses]] around Denmark called [[Viking ring fortress|Trelleborg]] and built a further [[Danevirke]]. In the early 11th century, [[Canute the Great]] won and united Denmark, England, and [[Norway]] for almost 30 years with a Scandinavian army.<ref name="Lund" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitelock |first=Dorothy |title=Canute (I) {{!}} king of England, Denmark, and Norway |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Canute-I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117155542/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Canute-I |archive-date=2021-01-17 |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref>

Throughout the [[High Middle Ages|High]] and [[Late Middle Ages]], Denmark also included [[Skåneland]] (the areas of Scania, [[Halland]], and [[Blekinge]] in present-day southern Sweden) and Danish kings ruled [[Danish Estonia]], as well as the [[duchy|duchies]] of [[Schleswig]] and [[Holstein]]. Most of the latter two now form the state of [[Schleswig-Holstein]] in northern Germany.

In 1397, Denmark entered into a [[personal union]] known as the [[Kalmar Union]] with [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], united under Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark|Margaret I]].{{sfnp|Stone|Bain|Booth|Parnell|2008|p=33}}<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kalmar Union {{!}} Scandinavian history |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kalmar-Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612151945/https://www.britannica.com/place/Kalmar-Union |archive-date=2018-06-12 |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Folke |first=Hans |last2=Linton |first2=Michael I.A. |last3=Nokkentved |first3=Christian |last4=Anderson |first4=Robert T. |last5=Anderson |first5=Stanley Victor |title=Denmark {{!}} History, Geography, & Culture |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123074111/https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark |archive-date=2023-11-23 |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> The three countries were to be treated as equals in the union. However, even from the start, Margaret may not have been so idealistic; treating Denmark as the clear "senior" partner of the union.<ref name="Lauring">Lauring, Palle (1960) ''A History of the Kingdom of Denmark'', Host & Son Co.: Copenhagen, p. 108.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Norman |first=Lennart T. |title=Margaret I {{!}} queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822082522/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-I |archive-date=2022-08-22 |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> Thus, much of the next 125 years of [[History of Scandinavia|Scandinavian history]] revolves around this union, with Sweden breaking off and re-joining the Kalmar Union repeatedly. The issue was for practical purposes resolved on 17 June 1523, as [[List of Swedish monarchs|Swedish King]] [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] conquered the city of [[Stockholm]]. The [[Protestant Reformation]] spread to Scandinavia in the 1530s, and following the [[Count's Feud]] civil war, [[Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein|Denmark converted]] to [[Lutheranism]] in 1536. Later that year, Denmark entered into a new union with Norway.

=== Early modern history (1536–1849) ===
{{Main|Denmark–Norway|Danish overseas colonies}}{{More sources|section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Denmark-Norway in 1780.svg|thumb|Extent of the [[Denmark–Norway|Dano-Norwegian Realm]]. After the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to Sweden while Denmark kept the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Greenland]], and [[Iceland]].]]

After Sweden permanently [[History of Sweden (1523–1611)|broke away]] from the Kalmar Union, Denmark tried on several occasions to reassert control over its neighbour. King [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]] attacked Sweden in the 1611–1613 [[Kalmar War]] but failed to accomplish his main objective of forcing it to return to the union. The war led to no territorial changes, but Sweden was forced to pay a [[war reparations|war indemnity]] of 1 million silver [[riksdaler]] to Denmark, an amount known as the ''[[Treaty of Stettin (1570)|Älvsborg ransom]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smb.nu/svenskakrig/1611.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011111014/http://smb.nu/svenskakrig/1611.asp |archive-date=11 October 2007 |title=Kalmarkriget 1611–1613 |access-date=4 May 2007 |publisher=Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek |url-status=dead }}</ref> King Christian used this money to found several towns and fortresses, most notably [[Glückstadt]] (founded as a rival to [[Hamburg]]) and [[Oslo|Christiania]]. Inspired by the [[Dutch East India Company]], he founded a similar [[Danish East India Company|Danish company]] and planned to claim [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] as a colony, but the company only managed to acquire [[Tharangambadi|Tranquebar]] on India's [[Coromandel Coast]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/fort-dansborg-the-second-largest-after-kronborg-spotlights-the-danish-legacy/article67249632.ece |title=Fort Dansborg, the second largest after Kronborg, spotlights the Danish legacy |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 May 2025 |archive-date=9 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609062519/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/fort-dansborg-the-second-largest-after-kronborg-spotlights-the-danish-legacy/article67249632.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/danish-east-india-company |title=The Danish East India Company |publisher=History Today |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref> Denmark's large colonial aspirations included a few key [[trading posts]] in [[Africa]] and [[India]]. While Denmark's trading posts in India were of little note, it played an important role in the highly lucrative [[Atlantic slave trade]], through its trading outposts in [[Osu Castle|Fort Christiansborg]] in [[Osu, Accra|Osu]], [[Ghana]] through which 1.5 million slaves were traded.<ref name="guardian6nov2018">{{cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |title=Prince Charles says Britain's role in slave trade was an atrocity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/05/prince-charles-says-britains-part-in-transatlantic-slave-trade-was-atrocity |access-date=6 November 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105232718/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/05/prince-charles-says-britains-part-in-transatlantic-slave-trade-was-atrocity |archive-date=5 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/the-transatlantic-slave-trade/ |title=The Transatlantic Slave Trade |publisher=National Archives |access-date=22 May 2025 |date=14 March 2023}}</ref> While the Danish colonial empire was sustained by trade with other major powers, and [[plantation]]s – ultimately a lack of resources led to its stagnation.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=James Stuart |editor1-last=Olson |editor2-first=Robert |editor2-last=Shadle |year=1991 |title=Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-26257-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyqepNdgUWkC&pg=PA167|access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

In the [[Thirty Years' War]], Christian tried to become the leader of the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] states in Germany but suffered a crushing defeat at the [[Battle of Lutter]].{{sfnp|Parker|1984|p=78}} The result was that the Catholic army under [[Albrecht von Wallenstein]] was able to invade, occupy, and pillage Jutland, forcing Denmark [[Treaty of Lübeck|to withdraw from the war]].{{sfnp|Parker|1984|p=79}} Denmark managed to avoid territorial concessions, but King [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]]' intervention in Germany was seen as a sign that the military power of Sweden was on the rise while Denmark's influence in the region was declining. Swedish armies [[Torstenson War|invaded Jutland]] in 1643 and claimed Scania in 1644. In the 1645 [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brømsebro]], Denmark surrendered Halland, [[Gotland]], the last parts of Danish Estonia, and several provinces in Norway.

[[File:Stormen på København (F.C. Lund).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The [[Assault on Copenhagen (1659)|Assault]] on [[Copenhagen]] on 11 February 1659 during the [[Second Northern War]]. Danish defenders under King [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]] successfully repelled the forces of the [[Swedish Empire]]. Painting by [[Frederik Christian Lund]].]]

Seeing an opportunity to tear up the Treaty of Brømsebro, King [[Frederick III of Denmark]], in 1657, declared war on Sweden, the latter being deeply involved in the [[Second Northern War]] (1655–1660), and marched on [[Bremen-Verden]]. This led to a massive Danish defeat as the armies of King [[Charles X Gustav]] of Sweden conquered [[Jutland]] and, following the [[March Across the Belts|Swedish March across]] the frozen [[Danish Straits]], occupied [[Funen]] and much of [[Zealand]] before signing the [[Treaty of Roskilde|Peace of Roskilde]] in February 1658, which gave Sweden control of Scania, [[Blekinge]], [[Bohuslän]], [[Trøndelag]], and the island of [[Bornholm]]. Charles X Gustav quickly regretted not having ruined Denmark and in August 1658, he launched a [[Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)|second attack on Denmark]], conquered most of the Danish islands, and began a two-year-long siege of [[Copenhagen]]. King Frederick III actively led the defence of the city, rallying its citizens to take up arms, and [[Assault on Copenhagen (1659)|repelled the Swedish attacks]].{{sfnp|Isacson|2002|p=229}}{{sfnp|Englund|2000|p=610}} The siege ended following the death of Charles X Gustav in 1660.{{sfnp|Stone|Bain|Booth|Parnell|2008|p=35}} In the ensuing [[Treaty of Copenhagen (1660)|peace settlement]], Denmark managed to maintain its independence and regain control of Trøndelag and Bornholm.{{sfnp|Frost|2000|pp=180–183}} Attaining great popularity following the war, Frederick III used this to [[King's Law|disband the elective monarchy]] in favour of [[absolute monarchy]], which lasted until 1848 in Denmark.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ekman|first=Ernst|date=1957|title=The Danish Royal Law of 1665|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/237987|journal=The Journal of Modern History|volume=29|issue=2|pages=102–107|doi=10.1086/237987|s2cid=145652129|issn=0022-2801|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123102335/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/237987|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Denmark tried but failed to regain control of Scania in the [[Scanian War]] (1675–1679). After the [[Great Northern War]] (1700–21), Denmark managed to regain control of the parts of [[Schleswig]] and [[Holstein]] ruled by the house of [[Holstein-Gottorp]] in the 1720 [[Treaty of Frederiksborg]] and the 1773 [[Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo]], respectively. Denmark prospered greatly in the last decades of the 18th century due to its [[Country neutrality (international relations)|neutral status]] allowing it to trade with both sides in the many contemporary wars. In the [[Napoleonic Wars]], Denmark traded with both [[First French Empire|France]] and the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] and joined the [[Second League of Armed Neutrality|League of Armed Neutrality]] with [[Russian Empire|Russia]], Sweden, and [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=League of Armed Neutrality|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100056830|publisher=Oxford Reference|access-date=28 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130430/http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100056830|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> British fears that Denmark-Norway would ally with France led to two attacks against Danish targets in Copenhagen in [[Battle of Copenhagen (1801)|1801]] and [[Battle of Copenhagen (1807)|1807]]. These attacks resulted in the British capturing most of the Dano-Norwegian navy and led to the outbreak of the [[Gunboat War]]. In 1807 much of Copenhagen was burned down as a result of these bombardments, including Vor Frue Kirke, the main Danish cathedral. British control of the waterways between Denmark and Norway proved disastrous to the union's economy and in 1813 Denmark–Norway went bankrupt.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

The union was dissolved by the [[Treaty of Kiel]] in 1814; the Danish monarchy "irrevocably and forever" renounced claims to the Kingdom of Norway in favour of the Swedish king.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jenssen-Tusch|first=Georg Friedrich|title=Zur Regierungsgeschichte Friedrich VI. Königs von Dänemark, Herzogs von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg|page=166|year=1852|publisher=Verlag Schröder|language=de}}</ref> Denmark kept the possessions of [[Iceland]] (which retained the Danish monarchy until 1944), the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]], all of which had been governed by Norway for centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dörr|first=Oliver|title=Kompendium völkerrechtlicher Rechtsprechung : eine Auswahl für Studium und Praxis|date=2004|publisher=Mohr Siebeck|location=Tübingen|isbn=978-3-16-148311-0|page=101}}</ref> Apart from the Nordic colonies, Denmark continued to rule over [[Danish India]] from 1620 to 1869, the [[Danish Gold Coast]] (Ghana) from 1658 to 1850, and the [[Danish West Indies]] from 1671 to 1917.

=== Constitutional monarchy (1849–present) ===
[[File:Grundlovgivende rigsforsamling - Constantin Hansen full.jpg|thumb|The National Constitutional Assembly was convened by King [[Frederick VII of Denmark|Frederick VII]] in 1848 to adopt the [[Constitution of Denmark]].]]
A nascent Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s; after the European [[Revolutions of 1848]], Denmark peacefully became a [[constitutional monarchy]] on 5 June 1849. A new constitution established a [[Rigsdagen|two-chamber parliament]]. Denmark faced war against both [[Prussia]] and the [[Austrian Empire]] in what became known as the [[Second Schleswig War]], lasting from February to October 1864. Denmark was defeated and obliged to [[cession|cede]] [[Province of Schleswig-Holstein|Schleswig and Holstein]] to Prussia. This loss came as the latest in the long series of defeats and [[Danish Royal Enclaves|territorial]] losses that had begun in the 17th century. After these events, Denmark pursued a policy of neutrality in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Denmark |url=https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/history |access-date=24 May 2025 |website=Denmark.dk |language=en}}</ref>

[[Industrialisation]] came to Denmark in the second half of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tellier|first=Luc-Normand|title=Urban world history an economic and geographical perspective|date=2009|publisher=Presses de l'Université du Québec|location=Québec|isbn=978-2-7605-2209-1|page=457|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cXuCjDbxC1YC&pg=PA457|access-date=21 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412182836/https://books.google.com/books?id=cXuCjDbxC1YC&pg=PA457|archive-date=12 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[History of rail transport in Denmark|nation's first railways]] were constructed in the 1850s, and improved communications and overseas trade allowed industry to develop in spite of Denmark's lack of natural resources. [[Trade union]]s developed, starting in the 1870s. There was a considerable migration of people from the countryside to the cities, and Danish agriculture became centred on the export of dairy and meat products.

Denmark [[Denmark during World War I|maintained its neutral stance]] during [[World War I]]. After the defeat of Germany, the [[Treaty of Versailles|Versailles powers]] offered to return the region of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark. Fearing German [[irredentism]], Denmark refused to consider the return of the area without a [[plebiscite]]; the two [[Schleswig Plebiscites]] took place on 10 February and 14 March 1920, respectively. On 10 July 1920, Northern Schleswig was recovered by Denmark, thereby adding some 163,600 inhabitants and {{convert|3984|km2|sqmi}}. The country's first social democratic government took office in 1924.<ref name="Politico">{{cite web|title=Lost in translation: Epic goes to Denmark|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/06/epic-denmark-health-1510223|website=Politico|date=6 June 2019|access-date=10 June 2019|archive-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412163058/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/06/epic-denmark-health-1510223|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1939, Denmark signed a 10-year nonaggression pact with [[Nazi Germany]]. However, [[German invasion of Denmark (1940)|Germany invaded Denmark]] on 9 April 1940, and the Danish government quickly surrendered. Because roughly 10% of the German army's food supply depended on Danish agriculture, the occupation remained relatively cooperative compared to other European nations to ensure continued output. [[Denmark in World War II|World War II in Denmark]] was characterised by economic co-operation with Germany until 1943, when the Danish government refused further co-operation and [[Royal Danish Navy|its navy]] [[Operation Safari|scuttled most of its ships]] and sent many of its officers to Sweden, which was neutral. At that point the government fell. The [[Danish resistance movement|Danish resistance]] performed a [[Rescue of the Danish Jews|rescue operation]] that managed to evacuate several thousand [[History of the Jews in Denmark|Jews]] and their families to safety in Sweden before the Germans could send them to death camps. Some Danes supported [[Nazism]] by joining the [[National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark|Danish Nazi Party]] or volunteering to fight with Germany as part of the [[Frikorps Danmark]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rugg |first=Andy |title=Traitor Danes: most soldiers return heroes, but this lot came home total zeroes |url=http://cphpost.dk//culture/through-looking-glass/traitor-danes-most-soldiers-return-heroes-lot-came-home-total-zeroes |work=Copenhagen Post |access-date=30 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129130650/http://cphpost.dk/culture/through-looking-glass/traitor-danes-most-soldiers-return-heroes-lot-came-home-total-zeroes |archive-date=29 January 2013 }}</ref> Iceland severed ties with Denmark and [[Founding of the republic of Iceland|became an independent republic]] in 1944; [[Liberation of Denmark|Germany surrendered]] in May 1945. In 1948, the Faroe Islands gained [[home rule]]. In 1949, Denmark became a founding member of [[NATO]].

[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|Denmark became a member of the European Union in 1973 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]

Denmark was a founding member of the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA). During the 1960s, the EFTA countries were often referred to as the [[Outer Seven]], as opposed to the [[Inner Six]] of what was then the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |magazine=Time |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1973, along with Britain and Ireland, Denmark joined the European Economic Community (now the [[European Union]]) after a [[1972 Danish European Communities membership referendum|public referendum]]. The [[Maastricht Treaty]], which involved further European integration, [[1992 Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum|was rejected]] by the Danish people in 1992; it was only accepted after a [[1993 Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum|second referendum]] in 1993, which provided for [[Opt-outs in the European Union|four opt-outs]] from policies. The Danes rejected the euro as the national currency in [[2000 Danish euro referendum|a referendum in 2000]]. Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and was awarded [[self-determination]] in 2009. Neither the [[Faroe Islands and the European Union|Faroe Islands]] nor [[Greenland–European Union relations#Outside the EU|Greenland]] are members of the European Union, the Faroese having declined membership of the EEC in 1973 and Greenland in 1986, in both cases because of fisheries policies.

Constitutional change in 1953 led to a [[unicameralism|single-chamber]] parliament elected by proportional representation, female accession to the Danish throne, and Greenland becoming an integral part of Denmark. The [[centre-left]] [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] led a string of coalition governments for most of the second half of the 20th century, introducing the [[Nordic model|Nordic welfare model]]. The [[Venstre (Denmark)|Liberal Party]] and the [[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative People's Party]] have also led [[centre-right]] governments.

Since 2025 the Danish territory of [[Greenland]] has been the target of [[Greenland crisis|US hybrid warfare]] under [[Donald Trump]].<ref name=dab>{{cite news |title=Eksperter: USA fører hybridkrig mod Grønland|trans-title=Experts: The USA is waging hybrid warfare against Greenland|url=https://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/eksperter-er-ikke-i-tvivl-usa-forer-hybridkrig-i-gronland |access-date=9 January 2026 |work=[[Dagbladet Børsen]] |quote=Det er decideret hybrid krigsførelse, når amerikanerne forsøger at købe sig til et valgresultat i Grønland, vurderer to eksperter. Det lyder ganske problematisk: en allieret, der fører aktiv hybridkrig mod en anden allieret. Det er ikke desto mindre den virkelighed, Danmark og Grønland befinder sig i, når USA tager en bred vifte af metoder i brug for at lægge pres på Rigsfællesskabet.|trans-quote=It clearly amounts to hybrid warfare when the Americans try to buy their way to an election result in Greenland, two experts assess. It sounds quite problematic: an ally conducting active hybrid warfare against another ally. Nevertheless, this is the reality that Denmark and Greenland find themselves in when the United States employs a broad range of methods to exert pressure on the Realm.}}</ref> Mette Frederiksen said that "the Kingdom of Denmark—and thus Greenland—is a member of NATO and is therefore covered by the Alliance's [[North Atlantic Treaty#Article 5|collective security guarantee]] [...] I [...] strongly urge the United States to cease its threats against a historically close ally."<ref name=mefr>{{cite news |title=Denmark's prime minister says Trump is serious about Greenland's annexation |url=https://www.europeaninterest.eu/denmarks-prime-minister-says-trump-is-serious-about-greenlands-annexation/ |access-date=6 January 2026 |work=European Interest}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Denmark}}
{{See also|Geography of the Faroe Islands|Geography of Greenland}}

[[File:Satellite image of Denmark in July 2001.jpg|thumb|alt=Satellite image|A satellite image of Jutland and the Danish islands]]

Located in [[Northern Europe]], Denmark{{#tag:ref|The Kingdom of Denmark's territory in [[continental Europe]] is referred to as "[[wikt:Metropolitan|metropolitan]] Denmark",<ref name="Administrative divisions – Denmark">[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/administrative-divisions#da Administrative divisions – Denmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325023220/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/administrative-divisions#da |date=25 March 2021 }} [[The World Factbook]]. Access date: 16 September 2021</ref> "Denmark [[wikt:proper#Adjective|proper]]" ({{langx|da|egentlig Danmark}}), or simply "Denmark". In this article, usage of "Denmark" excludes the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]].|name="proper"|group="N"}} consists of the northern part of the [[Jutland]] peninsula and an [[archipelago]] of [[list of islands of Denmark|406 islands]].<ref name="islands" /> Of these, the largest island is [[Zealand]], on which the capital [[Copenhagen]] is situated, followed by the [[North Jutlandic Island]], [[Funen]], and [[Lolland]].<ref>[http://www.forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts%20and%20Figures/Pages/default.aspx "Facts and Figures] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630024751/http://forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts%20and%20Figures/Pages/default.aspx |date=30 June 2010 }}", Danish Defence, Defence Command Denmark. Retrieved 11 June 2010.</ref> The island of [[Bornholm]] is located some 150&nbsp;km east of the rest of the country, in the [[Baltic Sea]]. Many of the larger islands are connected by bridges; a [[Øresund Bridge|bridge-tunnel]] across the [[Øresund]] connects Zealand with Sweden; the [[Great Belt Fixed Link]] connects Funen with Zealand; and the [[Little Belt Bridge (1970)|Little Belt Bridge]] connects Jutland with Funen. [[Ferry|Ferries]] or [[small aircraft]] connect to the smaller islands. The four [[List of cities in Denmark by population|cities with populations over 100,000]] are the capital Copenhagen on Zealand; [[Aarhus]] and [[Aalborg]] in Jutland; and [[Odense]] on Funen.

[[File:Da-map.png|thumb|left|alt=A labelled map of Denmark|A map showing [[List of urban areas in Denmark by population|major urban areas]], islands and some of the connecting bridges]]

The metropolitan part occupies a total area of {{convert|42,943.9|km2|sqmi|lk=in|sigfig=5}}.<ref name="area">{{cite web |title=Area |url=https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/geografi-miljoe-og-energi/areal/areal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414212058/https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/geografi-miljoe-og-energi/areal/areal |archive-date=14 April 2019 |publisher=Statistics Denmark}}</ref> The area of inland water is {{convert|600|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Jensen|1999|page=10}} The size of the land area cannot be stated exactly since the ocean constantly erodes and adds material to the coastline, and because of human [[land reclamation]] projects (to counter erosion). [[Post-glacial rebound]] raises the land by a bit less than {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} per year in the north and east, extending the coast. A circle enclosing the same area as Denmark would be {{convert|234|km|mi|abbr=off}} in [[diameter]] with a [[circumference]] of {{convert|736|km|0|abbr=on}} (land area only: {{convert|232.33|km|mi|abbr=on}} and {{convert|730|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} respectively). It shares a border of {{convert|68|km| mi}} with [[Germany]] to the south and is otherwise surrounded by {{convert|8,750|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of tidal [[shoreline]] (including small [[bay]]s and [[inlet]]s).<ref name="Nature and Environment">{{cite web |url=http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,520337&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403235436/http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,520337&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date=3 April 2007 |title=Nature & Environment |access-date=3 February 2007 |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> No location in Denmark is farther from the coast than {{convert|52|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. On the south-west coast of Jutland, the tide is between {{convert|1|and|2|m|ft|2|abbr=on}}, and the tideline moves outward and inward on a {{convert|10|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} stretch.<ref>Nationalencyklopedin, (1990)</ref> Denmark's [[Borders of Denmark|territorial waters]] total {{convert|105,000|km2|0|abbr=off}}.

Denmark's northernmost point is [[Skagen]] point (the north beach of the Skaw) at 57° 45' 7" northern latitude; the southernmost is [[Gedser]] point (the southern tip of [[Falster]]) at 54° 33' 35" northern latitude; the westernmost point is [[Blåvandshuk]] at 8° 4' 22" eastern longitude; and the easternmost point is [[Østerskær]] at 15° 11' 55" eastern longitude. This is in the small [[Ertholmene]] archipelago {{convert|18|km|mi}} north-east of Bornholm. The distance from east to west is {{convert|452|km|mi|0}}, from north to south {{convert|368|km|mi|0}}.

[[File:Landscape seen from Ellemandsbjerg.jpg|thumb|[[Bay of Aarhus]] viewed from southern [[Djursland]]]]

The metropolitan part is flat with little elevation, having an average height [[above mean sea level|above sea level]] of {{convert|31|m|ft|0}}. The highest natural point is [[Møllehøj]], at {{convert|170.86|m|ft|2}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nyt højeste punkt i Danmark|url=http://www.gst.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2005/feb/hoejste-punkt/|publisher=[[Danish Geodata Agency]]|access-date=26 May 2014|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005236/http://www.gst.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2005/feb/hoejste-punkt/|archive-date=28 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Although this is by far the lowest high point in the Nordic countries and also less than half of the highest point in [[Götaland|Southern Sweden]], Denmark's general elevation in its interior is generally at a safe level from [[sea level rise|rising sea levels]]. [[Lammefjorden]], deeper than {{convert|-7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (near Audebo), is the lowest point. A sizeable portion of Denmark's [[terrain]] consists of rolling [[plain]]s whilst the coastline is sandy, with large [[dune]]s in northern Jutland. Although once extensively forested, today Denmark largely consists of [[arable land]]. It is drained by a [[List of rivers of Denmark|dozen or so streams]], and the most significant include the [[Gudenå]], [[Odense River|Odense]], [[Skjern River|Skjern]], [[Suså River|Suså]] and [[Vidå]]—a stream that flows along its southern border with Germany. The country has 1008 lakes, 16 have an area of more than {{convert|500|ha}}. Lake [[Arresø]], located northwest of Copenhagen, is the largest lake.{{sfn|Jensen|1999|page=10}}

The Kingdom of Denmark includes two overseas territories, both well to the west of Denmark: Greenland, the [[list of islands by area|world's largest island]], and the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. These territories are self-governing under their own parliaments (the [[Løgting]] and [[Inatsisartut]]) and form, together with continental Denmark, part of the [[Danish Realm]], a country.

=== Climate ===
Denmark has a [[Temperateness|temperate]] climate, characterised by cool to cold winters, with mean temperatures in January of {{convert|1.5|°C|°F|1}}, and mild summers, with a mean temperature in August of {{convert|17.2|°C|°F|1}}.<ref name="Denmark climate">{{cite web |url=http://www.dmi.dk/vejr/arkiver/normaler-og-ekstremer/klimanormaler-dk/vejrnormal/ |title=Climate Normals for Denmark |access-date=2 January 2015 |publisher=[[Danish Meteorological Institute]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103014624/http://www.dmi.dk/vejr/arkiver/normaler-og-ekstremer/klimanormaler-dk/vejrnormal// |archive-date=3 January 2015 |url-status=dead }} Figures, labelled in Danish: First plot is the whole country; Nedbør=Precipitation, Nedbørdage=Precipitation days (>1 mm), (Dag/Middel/Nat)temp.=(Daytime/Average/Nighttime) temperature, Solskinstimer=Hours of sunshine.</ref> The most extreme temperatures recorded in Denmark, since 1874 when recordings began, was {{convert|36.4|°C|°F|1}} in 1975 and {{convert|-31.2|°C|°F|1}} in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmi.dk/vejr/arkiver/normaler-og-ekstremer/vejrekstremer-dk/|title=Vejrekstremer i Danmark [Weather extremes in Denmark]|language=da|publisher=[[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (DMI)|date=6 October 2016|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019211924/https://www.dmi.dk/vejr/arkiver/normaler-og-ekstremer/vejrekstremer-dk/|archive-date=19 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Denmark has an average of 179 days per year with precipitation, on average receiving a total of {{convert|765|mm|in|0}} per year; autumn is the wettest season and spring the driest.<ref name="Denmark climate" /> The position between a continent and an ocean means that the weather is often unstable.<ref name="Denmark weather change">{{cite web |url=http://www.dmi.dk/vejr/til-lands/maaned-og-saeson/vejrkorset-efteraarsvejrets-fire-hjoerner/ |title=The weather cross – the four corners of autumn weather |access-date=17 September 2015 |publisher=[[Danish Meteorological Institute]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921003948/http://www.dmi.dk/vejr/til-lands/maaned-og-saeson/vejrkorset-efteraarsvejrets-fire-hjoerner/ |archive-date=21 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Because of Denmark's northern location, there are large seasonal variations in daylight: short days during the winter with sunrise around 8:45&nbsp;am and sunset 3:45&nbsp;pm (standard time), as well as long summer days with sunrise at 4:30&nbsp;am and sunset at 10&nbsp;pm ([[daylight saving time]]).<ref name="sunrise sunset">{{cite web|url=http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/kobenhavn.html|title=Copenhagen, Denmark&nbsp; – Sunrise, sunset, dawn and dusk times for the whole year|publisher=Gaisma|access-date=24 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702220228/http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/kobenhavn.html|archive-date=2 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In the middle of summer, it is light all night long.

=== Ecology ===
{{Further|List of forests in Denmark|List of mammals of Denmark|List of birds of Denmark}}
{{seealso|Flora of the Faroe Islands|Fauna of the Faroe Islands|Flora and fauna of Greenland}}

[[File:Grib skov.jpg|thumb|[[Fagus sylvatica|Beech trees]] are common throughout Denmark, especially in the sparse woodlands.]]

Denmark belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and can be subdivided into two [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Atlantic mixed forests]] and [[Baltic mixed forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C. |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=C. Michael |title=Ecoregions of Denmark |url=http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152021/ |publisher=Encyclopedia of Earth |access-date=26 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044145/http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152021/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Almost all of Denmark's [[primeval forest|primeval temperate forests]] have been destroyed or fragmented, chiefly for agricultural purposes during the last millennia.<ref name="Jensen1">{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Christian Lundmark |title=Forests and forestry in Denmark – Thousands of years of interaction between man and nature |url=http://www.nordicforestresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ForestandforestryinDenmark.pdf |publisher=Danish Ministry of the Environment Nature Agency |access-date=31 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715001546/http://www.nordicforestresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ForestandforestryinDenmark.pdf |archive-date=15 July 2016}}</ref> The deforestation has created large swaths of [[heathland]] and devastating [[Saltation (geology)|sand drifts]].<ref name="Jensen1" /> In spite of this, there are several larger [[second growth forest|second growth woodlands]] in the country and, in total, 12.9% of the land is now forested.<ref>{{cite web |title= Forest area (% of land area) |url= http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS |website= worldbank.org |publisher= The World Bank |access-date= 26 August 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150905234836/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS |archive-date= 5 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Picea abies|Norway spruce]] is the most widespread tree (2017); an important tree in the [[Christmas tree production in Denmark|Christmas tree production]]. Denmark holds a [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 0.5/10, ranking it 171st globally out of 172 countries—behind only [[San Marino]].<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M. |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |year=2020 |page=5978 |issn=2041-1723 |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |pmid=33293507 |pmc=7723057 |bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref>{{explain|reason=What does it mean? Is it good or bad? Please include a little eplanation|date=December 2020}}

[[Roe deer]] occupy the countryside in growing numbers, and large-antlered [[red deer]] can be found in the sparse woodlands of Jutland. Denmark is also home to smaller mammals, such as [[European polecat|polecats]], [[hare]]s and [[hedgehog]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Animals in Denmark|url=http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com/da-animals.html|website=listofcountriesoftheworld.com|access-date=31 May 2016|date=2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601121051/http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com/da-animals.html|archive-date=1 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Approximately 400 bird species inhabit Denmark and about 160 of those breed in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bird list of Denmark|url=http://www.netfugl.dk/dklist.php|publisher=Netfugl.dk|access-date=26 August 2015|quote=It involves all category A, B and C birds recorded in Denmark (according to SU/BOURC/AERC standard).|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905040347/http://www.netfugl.dk/dklist.php|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Large marine mammals include healthy populations of [[harbour porpoise]]s, growing numbers of [[pinniped]]s and occasional visits of whales, including [[blue whale]]s and [[orca]]s. [[Cod]], [[herring]] and [[plaice]] are abundant [[Fish as food|culinary fish]] in Danish waters and form the basis for [[Fishing industry in Denmark|a large fishing industry]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Byskov|first1=Søren|title=Theme: Herring, cod and other fish – 1001 Stories of Denmark|url=http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/theme/herring-cod-and-other-fish/article|publisher=The Heritage Agency of Denmark|access-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234622/http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/theme/herring-cod-and-other-fish/article|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Environment ===
[[File:European Environment Agency, Copenhagen.jpg|thumb|The [[European Environment Agency]] in Copenhagen]]

Denmark historically taken a progressive stance on [[environmental preservation]]: in 1971, it established a [[Ministry of Environment (Denmark)|Ministry of Environment]] and was the first country in the world to implement an [[environmental law]] in 1973.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NHxwtVy9MKMC&pg=PA323 The law of environmental damage: liability and reparation]. Marie-Louise Larsson.</ref> Land and [[water pollution]] are two of Denmark's most significant [[environmental issue]]s, although much of its household and industrial waste is now increasingly filtered and sometimes recycled. Denmark is a signatory to the [[Kyoto Protocol|Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol]] to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name="factbook">{{cite web|date=19 January 2012|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|title=Denmark|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=4 February 2012|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705032013/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, its national [[ecological footprint]] is 8.26 global hectares per person, which is very high compared to a world average of 1.7 in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010|url=http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/ecological_footprint_atlas_2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709225943/http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/ecological_footprint_atlas_2010/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2011|publisher=Global Footprint Network|access-date=26 August 2015|date=2010}}</ref> Contributing factors are an exceptionally high value for cropland and grazing land,<ref>WWF (2014): Living Planet Report.</ref> possibly due to substantially high meat production ({{convert|115.8|kg}} meat annually per capita) and economic size of the meat and dairy industries.<ref>AMI (2012); preliminary data for 2011</ref>

Notwithstanding its relatively high emissions, Denmark topped the list of the 2015 [[Climate Change Performance Index]] due to its implementation effective climate protection policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://germanwatch.org/en/download/10407.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209222711/http://germanwatch.org/en/download/10407.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2014|title=The Climate Change Performance Index: Results 2015|first1=Jan|last1=Burck|first2=Franziska|last2=Marten|first3=Christoph|last3=Bals|publisher=Germanwatch|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> The country has consistently placed first since 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 EPI Results |url=https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2020/component/epi |website=Environmental Performance Index |date=3 June 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621233539/https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2022/component/epi |url-status=live }}</ref> Denmark ranked 10th in the [[Environmental Performance Index]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index |url=https://epi.yale.edu/measure/2024/EPI |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710023935/https://epi.yale.edu/measure/2024/EPI |url-status=live }}</ref> which measures progress at mitigating [[climate change]], safeguarding [[Ecosystem|ecosystem vitality]], and promoting [[environmental health]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index – Denmark |url=https://epi.yale.edu/country/2024/DNK |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241015062921/https://epi.yale.edu/country/2024/DNK |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, Denmark joined Costa Rica to launch the "Beyond Oil and Gas alliance" for stopping use fossil fuels.<ref>{{cite news |title=Climate change: Whisper it cautiously... there's been progress in run up to COP26 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |access-date=10 October 2021 |agency=BBC |date=25 September 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921171344/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Danish government stopped issuing new licences for oil and gas extraction in December 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farand |first1=Chloé |date=4 December 2020 |title=Denmark to phase out oil and gas production by 2050 in "watershed" decision |url=https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/12/04/denmark-phase-oil-gas-production-2050-watershed-decision/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204115130/https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/12/04/denmark-phase-oil-gas-production-2050-watershed-decision/ |archive-date=4 December 2020 |access-date=29 December 2020 |agency=Climate Home News}}</ref>

Denmark's territories, Greenland and the [[Whaling in the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]], catch approximately 650 whales per year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2012/almost-saving-whales-the-ambiguity-of-success-at-the-international-whaling-commission-full-text/|title=Almost Saving Whales: The Ambiguity of Success at the International Whaling Commission [Full Text] – Ethics & International Affairs|date=29 March 2012|work=Ethics & International Affairs|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180348/https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2012/almost-saving-whales-the-ambiguity-of-success-at-the-international-whaling-commission-full-text/|archive-date=27 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/faroe-islands-slaughter-pilot-whales-sea-blood-red-north-atlantic-iceland-denmark-ritual-tradition-a7798436.html|title=Hundreds of whales slaughtered in Faroe Island's annual killing|date=20 June 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228000456/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/faroe-islands-slaughter-pilot-whales-sea-blood-red-north-atlantic-iceland-denmark-ritual-tradition-a7798436.html|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Greenland's quotas for the catch of whales are determined according to the advice of the [[International Whaling Commission]] (IWC), having quota decision-making powers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/News/2013/01/Whales|title=Greenland quotas for big whales|date=5 January 2013|work=Government of Greenland|access-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105062411/https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/News/2013/01/Whales|archive-date=5 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Government services and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Denmark}}
{{seealso|Politics of the Faroe Islands|Politics of Greenland}}

{{multiple image
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| caption1          = [[Frederik X]]<br /><small>[[Monarchy of Denmark|King]] </small>
| image2            = Mette Frederiksen by Christian Ursilva (2026).jpg
| caption2          = [[Mette Frederiksen]]<br /><small>[[Prime Minister of Denmark|Prime Minister]] </small>
| total_width       = 300
}}

Politics in Denmark operate under a framework laid out in the [[Constitution of Denmark]].{{#tag:ref|Denmark has a [[codified constitution]]. Changes to it require an absolute majority in two consecutive parliamentary terms and the approval of at least 40% of the electorate through a referendum.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tschentscher, Axel |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |title=The Constitution of Denmark – Section 88 |publisher=Servat.unibe.ch |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>|group="N"}} First written in 1849, it establishes a sovereign state in the form of a [[constitutional monarchy]], with a representative [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[parliamentary system]]. The [[Monarchy of Denmark|monarch]] officially retains [[Executive (government)|executive power]] and presides over the [[Danish Council of State|Council of State]] ([[privy council]]).<ref name=":0">[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref> In practice, the duties of the monarch are strictly representative and [[ceremonial]],<ref group="N">The Constitution refers to "the King" ({{langx|da|kongen}}), rather than the gender-neutral term "monarch". In light of the restriction of powers of the monarchy, this is best interpreted as referring to the government Cabinet.</ref><ref>[http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today The Monarchy today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215082552/http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today |date=15 February 2015 }} – ''The Danish Monarchy'' (kongehuset.dk). Access date: 16 June 2012</ref> such as the formal appointment and dismissal of the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Prime Minister]] and other Government ministers. The Monarch is not answerable for their actions, and their [[legal personality|person]] is [[sacrosanct]].<ref name=":0" /> [[Hereditary monarchy|Hereditary monarch]] [[King Frederik X]] has been head of state since 14 January 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bryant |first1=Miranda |title=Denmark's King Frederik X takes throne after Margrethe abdicates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/denmark-proclaims-king-frederik-queen-margrethe-abdicates |work=The Guardian |date=14 January 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221130224/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/denmark-proclaims-king-frederik-queen-margrethe-abdicates |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Politics of Denmark|Danish political system]], which emphasises broad [[Consensus decision-making|consensus]], is used by American [[Political science|political scientist]] [[Francis Fukuyama]] as a reference point for near-perfect [[governance]]; his phrase "getting to Denmark" refers to the country's status as a global model for stable social and political institutions.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Getting to Denmark |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/160623/getting-denmark-reclaiming-lutheran-social-democracy |magazine=The New Republic}}</ref>

=== Government ===
{{Main|Folketing|Cabinet of Denmark}}

{{See also|Løgting|Cabinet of the Faroe Islands|Inatsisartut|Cabinet of Greenland}}

[[File:Denmark disposable income.webp|thumb|upright=1.25|Denmark disposable income after tax, not including [[Value-added tax]] or [[Property tax]]]]

The Danish parliament is [[unicameral]] and called the Folketing ({{langx|da|Folketinget}}). It is the [[legislature]] of the Kingdom of Denmark, passing [[Act of Parliament|acts]] that apply in Denmark and, variably, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Folketing is also responsible for adopting the [[government budget|state's budgets]], approving the state's accounts, appointing and exercising control of the Government, and taking part in international co-operation. [[Bill (proposed law)|Bills]] may be initiated by the Government or by [[Member of parliament|members of parliament]]. All bills passed must be presented before the Council of State to receive [[Royal Assent]] within thirty days in order to become law.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Christiansborg (Matthias Schalk).jpg|thumb|left|[[Christiansborg Palace]] houses the Folketing, the [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Supreme Court]], and government offices.]]

Denmark is a [[representative democracy]] with [[universal suffrage]].{{#tag:ref|The [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], while acknowledging that democracy is difficult to measure, listed Denmark 5th on [[Democracy Index|its index of democracy]].<ref name="Democracy_Index">{{cite web|title=Democracy Index 2014|url=http://www.sudestada.com.uy/Content/Articles/421a313a-d58f-462e-9b24-2504a37f6b56/Democracy-index-2014.pdf|publisher=The Economist/Economist Intelligence Unit|access-date=23 August 2015|date=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201164818/http://www.sudestada.com.uy/Content/Articles/421a313a-d58f-462e-9b24-2504a37f6b56/Democracy-index-2014.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>|group="N"}} Membership of the Folketing is based on [[proportional representation]] of political parties,<ref name=":0" /> with a 2% electoral threshold. Denmark elects 175 members to the Folketing, with Greenland and the Faroe Islands electing an additional two members each—179 members in total.<ref>{{harvnb|Jørgensen|1995|p=16.}}</ref> Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the prime minister to ask the monarch to call for an election before the term has elapsed. On a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]], the Folketing may force a single minister or an entire government to resign.<ref name=":0" />

The Government of Denmark operates as a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet government]], where executive authority is exercised—formally, on behalf of the monarch—by the prime minister and other [[cabinet minister]]s, who head [[List of Danish government ministries|ministries]]. As the executive branch, the Cabinet is responsible for proposing bills and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of Denmark. The monarch usually, but not necessarily, requests the person most likely to command the [[confidence and supply|confidence]] majority in the Folketing to become prime minister; this is often the current leader of the largest [[political party]] or, more effectively, through a [[political alliance|coalition of parties]]. A single party generally does not have sufficient political power in terms of the number of seats to form a cabinet on its own; Denmark has often been ruled by [[coalition governments]], themselves usually [[minority government]]s dependent on non-government parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b.dk/din-mening/radikale-ved-historisk-skillevej|title=Radikale ved historisk skillevej|work=[[Berlingske Tidende]]|date=17 June 2007|access-date=17 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811132101/http://www.b.dk/din-mening/radikale-ved-historisk-skillevej|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the [[2022 Danish general election]] in November 2022, incumbent prime minister and [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democratic leader]] [[Mette Frederiksen]] in December 2022 formed the current [[Frederiksen II Cabinet]], a coalition government with the until then leading opposition party [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]] and the recently founded [[Moderates (Denmark)|Moderate party]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Danish PM picks right-leaning rivals as key ministers in new government |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/danish-pm-frederiksen-appoints-lokke-rasmussen-foreign-minister-new-government-2022-12-15/ |work=Reuters |date=15 December 2022 |language=en |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531004057/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/danish-pm-frederiksen-appoints-lokke-rasmussen-foreign-minister-new-government-2022-12-15/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Law and judicial system ===
{{Main|Law of Denmark|Courts of Denmark}}

{{See also|Crime in Denmark|Judiciary of Greenland}}

[[File:2024 Københavns Domhus (1).jpg|thumb|"With law shall land be built", preamble to the [[Codex Holmiensis|Code of Jutland]] above [[Copenhagen Court House]]. In 2023, the [[World Justice Project]] ranked Denmark no. 1 on their rule of law index.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2023 |title=WJP Rule of Law Index 2023 Global Press Release |url=https://worldjusticeproject.org/news/wjp-rule-law-index-2023-global-press-release |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=World Justice Project |language=en}}</ref>]]
Denmark has a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system with some references to [[Germanic law]]. Denmark resembles Norway and Sweden in never having developed a [[case-law]] like that of [[English law|England]] and the United States nor comprehensive [[Code (law)|codes]] like those of France and Germany. Much of its law is [[Custom (law)|customary]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Orfield|first1=Lester Bernhardt Orfield|title=The Growth of Scandinavian Law|date=2002|publisher=Lawbook Exchange|location=Union, N.J.|isbn=978-1-58477-180-7|page=14}}</ref>

The judicial system of Denmark is divided between courts with regular civil and [[criminal law|criminal]] jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Articles 62 and 64 of the Constitution (grundloven) ensure [[judicial independence]] from government and Parliament by providing that judges shall only be guided by the law, including acts, statutes and practice.<ref name=":0" /> The Kingdom of Denmark does not have a single unified judicial system – Denmark has one system, Greenland another, and the Faroe Islands a third.<ref>{{harvnb|Gammelgaard|Sørensen|1998|p=18}}</ref> However, decisions by the highest courts in Greenland and the Faroe Islands may be appealed to the Danish High Courts. The [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Danish Supreme Court]] is the highest civil and criminal court responsible for the administration of justice in the Kingdom.

=== Danish Realm ===
{{Main|Danish Realm}}

[[File:Kunoy.10.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The village of [[Kunoy (village)|Kunoy]] on [[Kunoy]] island, in the [[Faroe Islands]]. [[Kalsoy]] island is at right]]

The Kingdom of Denmark is a [[unitary state]] that comprises, in addition to metropolitan Denmark, two [[autonomous administrative division|autonomous territories]]<ref name="territory" /> in the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]]: the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]]. They have been integrated parts of the Danish Realm since the 18th century; however, due to their separate historical and cultural identities, these parts of the Realm have extensive political powers and have assumed [[legislature|legislative]] and administrative responsibility in a substantial number of fields.<ref>[http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html The working autonomies in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html |date=9 March 2008 }} – Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker (GFBV). Retrieved 13 March 2012.</ref> [[Home rule]] was granted to the Faroe Islands in 1948 and to Greenland in 1979, each having previously had the status of [[counties of Denmark|counties]].<ref name=stm>[http://www.stm.dk/_p_10988.html The unity of the Realm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120161948/http://www.stm.dk/_p_10988.html |date=20 January 2013 }} – Statsministeriet – stm.dk. Retrieved 13 March 2012.</ref>

The Faroe Islands and Greenland have their own home governments and parliaments and are effectively [[self-governance|self-governing]] in regards to domestic affairs apart from the judicial system and monetary policy. [[High Commissioner]]s (''{{lang|da|Rigsombudsmand}}'') act as representatives of the Danish government in the Faroese [[Løgting]] and in the [[Parliament of Greenland|Greenlandic Parliament]], but they cannot vote.<ref name=stm /> The Faroese home government is defined to be an equal partner with the Danish national government,<ref>{{cite web|title=Act on the Faroese authorities acquisition of affairs and fields|url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991|website=retsinformation.dk|access-date=11 June 2014|language=da|trans-title=Lov om de færøske myndigheders overtagelse af sager og sagsområder|date=24 June 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120224148/https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> while the [[Greenlandic Inuit|Greenlandic people]] are defined as a separate people with the right to [[self-determination]].<ref>[https://www.retsinformation.dk:443/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=125052 ''Lov om Grønlands Selvstyre''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106211314/https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=125052 |date=6 November 2018 }} {{in lang|da}}. Retsinformation.dk. "I erkendelse af, at det grønlandske folk er et folk i henhold til folkeretten med ret til selvbestemmelse, bygger loven på et ønske om at fremme ligeværdighed og gensidig respekt i partnerskabet mellem Danmark og Grønland."</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Autonomous territory
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population|Population]] {{small|(2020)}}
! Total area
! [[Capital city|Capital]]
! [[List of legislatures by country|Local parliament]]
! Premier
|-
| {{flag|Faroe Islands}} {{small|(''{{lang|da|Færøerne}}'', ''{{lang|fo|Føroyar}}'')}}
| 52,110<ref name="Faroer pop">{{cite web|title=Faroe Islands Population|url=http://citypopulation.de/en/faroe/cities/|publisher=Hagstova Føroya|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=15 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515175245/http://citypopulation.de/en/faroe/cities/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|1,399|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=5}}
| {{coat of arms|Tórshavn}}
| ''[[Løgting]]''
| [[Aksel V. Johannesen]]
|-
| {{flag|Greenland}} {{small|(''{{lang|da|Grønland}}'', ''{{lang|kl|Kalaallit Nunaat}}'')}}
| 56,081<ref name="Greenland pop">{{cite web|title=2020 Population|url=http://citypopulation.de/en/greenland/|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505153812/http://www.citypopulation.de/en/greenland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|2,166,086|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=6}}
| {{coat of arms|Nuuk}}
| ''[[Inatsisartut]]''
| [[Múte Bourup Egede]]
|}

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Denmark|Municipalities of Denmark}}

{{seealso|Municipalities of the Faroe Islands|Administrative divisions of Greenland|NUTS statistical regions of Denmark}}
<!--This section only details divisions with an administrate purpose-->
{{Danish regions|float=right}}

Denmark, with a total area of {{convert|43,094|km2|sqmi|lk=in|sigfig=5}}, is divided into five administrative regions ({{langx|da|regioner}}). The regions are further subdivided into [[List of municipalities of Denmark|98 municipalities]] (''{{lang|da|kommuner}}''). The easternmost land in Denmark, the [[Ertholmene]] archipelago, with an area of 39 hectares (0.16 sq mi), is neither part of a municipality nor a region but belongs to the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonas |last=Michael Kjær |title=Christiansø betaler ikke sundhedsbidrag |date=15 November 2006 |url=http://www.dr.dk/Regioner/Bornholm/Nyheder/Christiansoe/2006/11/15160130.htm |work=dr.dk |access-date=12 August 2007 |language=da |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011075640/http://dr.dk/Regioner/Bornholm/Nyheder/Christiansoe/2006/11/15160130.htm |archive-date=11 October 2007 }}</ref> The [[provinces of Denmark]] are statistical divisions of Denmark, positioned between the [[Regions of Denmark|administrative regions]] and [[municipalities of Denmark|municipalities]]. They are not administrative divisions, nor subject for any kind of political elections, but are mainly for statistical use.

The regions were created on [[2005 Danish local elections|1 January 2007]] to replace the 16 [[Counties of Denmark|former counties]]. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, reducing the number from 271 to 98.<ref name="nuts">{{cite web | title=Regioner, landsdele og kommuner, v1:2007- | website=Danmarks Statistik | url=https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/dokumentation/nomenklaturer/nuts | language=da | access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref> Most municipalities have a population of at least 20,000 to give them financial and professional sustainability, although a few exceptions were made to this rule.<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/Denmark.html Denmark: Regions, Municipalities, Cities & Major Urban Areas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408144050/http://www.citypopulation.de/Denmark.html |date=8 April 2012 }} – Statistics and Maps on ''City Population''.</ref> The administrative divisions are led by directly elected councils, elected proportionally every four years; the most recent [[2025 Danish local elections|Danish local elections]] were held on 18 November 2025. Other regional structures use the municipal boundaries as a layout, including the [[Police of Denmark|police districts]], the [[courts of Denmark|court districts]] and the [[Ward (country subdivision)|electoral wards]].

==== Regions ====
The governing bodies of the regions are the [[local government|regional councils]], each with forty-one councillors elected for four-year terms. The councils are headed by regional district chairmen (''{{lang|da|regionsrådsformand}}''), who are elected by the council. The areas of responsibility for the regional councils are the [[health care in Denmark|national health service]], [[social services]] and [[regional development]].<ref name="brief">{{cite book|title=The Danish Regions – in Brief|date=2007|publisher=Danske Regioner|location=Copenhagen|isbn=978-87-7723-471-2|edition=3rd rev.}}</ref><ref name=regioner>{{cite web|title=Regional Tasks in Denmark|url=http://www.regioner.dk/in+english/regional+denmark/regional+tasks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510023358/http://www.regioner.dk/in+english/regional+denmark/regional+tasks|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2014|publisher=Danske Regioner|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> Unlike the counties they replaced, the regions are not allowed to levy taxes and the health service is partly financed by a national health care contribution until 2018 (''{{lang|da|sundhedsbidrag}}''), partly by funds from both government and municipalities.<ref name=taxation1>{{cite web|title=The Danish Tax System|url=http://ias.au.dk/taxation/the-danish-tax-system/|publisher=[[Aarhus University]]|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821030836/http://ias.au.dk/taxation/the-danish-tax-system/|archive-date=21 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1 January 2019 this contribution will be abolished, as it is being replaced by higher income tax instead.

The [[area]] and populations of the regions vary widely; for example, the [[Capital Region of Denmark|Capital Region]] has a population three times larger than that of [[North Denmark Region]]. Under the county system certain densely populated municipalities, such as [[Copenhagen Municipality]] and [[Frederiksberg Municipality|Frederiksberg]], had been given a status equivalent to that of counties, making them first-level administrative divisions. These ''[[sui generis]]'' municipalities were incorporated into the new regions under the 2007 reforms.

On 1 January 2027, the Capital Region and [[Region Zealand]] will be merged to form the [[Region of Eastern Denmark]].<ref name=about>{{Cite web |title=About the Region of Eastern Denmark |url=https://www.regionh.dk/english/politics/elections-for-the-region-of-eastern-denmark/pages/about-the-region-of-eastern-denmark.aspx |access-date=26 September 2025 |publisher=Capital Region of Denmark}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Danish language|Danish]] name !! English name !! [[Administrative centre|Admin. centre]] !! Largest city<br />(populous)|| Population<br />(April 2021) !! Total area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|| {{lang|da|Hovedstaden}} || [[Capital Region of Denmark]] || [[Hillerød]] || [[Copenhagen]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,856,061 || style="text-align:right;"| 2,568.29
|-
|| {{lang|da|Midtjylland}} || [[Central Denmark Region]] || [[Viborg, Denmark|Viborg]] || [[Aarhus]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,333,245 || style="text-align:right;"| 13,095.80
|-
|| {{lang|da|Nordjylland}} || [[North Denmark Region]] || [[Aalborg]] || [[Aalborg]] || style="text-align:right;"| 590,322 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,907.09
|-
|| {{lang|da|Sjælland}} || [[Region Zealand]] || [[Sorø]] || [[Roskilde]] || style="text-align:right;"| 839,619 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,268.75
|-
|| {{lang|da|Syddanmark}} || [[Region of Southern Denmark]] || [[Vejle]] || [[Odense]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,224,100 || style="text-align:right;"| 12,132.21
|-
| colspan=6 |Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20180208230627/http://www.noegletal.dk/ Regional and municipal key figures]
|}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Denmark}}

{{seealso||Foreign relations of the Faroe Islands|Foreign relations of Greenland}}

[[File:20211103 Nordiska Radets session Kopenhamn 808A9452 (51654525096).jpg|thumb|Danish prime minister [[Mette Frederiksen]] (second from left) with foreign counterparts at the [[Nordic Council]] in Copenhagen, 2021]]

Denmark wields considerable influence in Northern Europe and is a [[middle power]] in international affairs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Behringer |first1=Ronald M. |title=Middle Power Leadership on the Human Security Agenda |journal=Cooperation and Conflict |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=305–342 |date=September 2005 |s2cid=144129970 |url=http://cac.sagepub.com/content/40/3/305.abstract |access-date=1 May 2016|doi=10.1177/0010836705055068 |url-status=live |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106114255/http://cac.sagepub.com/content/40/3/305.abstract|issn = 0010-8367 }}</ref> In recent years, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have been guaranteed a say in foreign policy issues such as fishing, [[whaling]], and geopolitical concerns. The foreign policy of Denmark is substantially influenced by [[Denmark and the European Union|its membership]] of the [[European Union]] (EU); Denmark including Greenland joined the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC), the EU's predecessor, in 1973.<ref group="N">The Faroese declined membership in 1973; Greenland [[withdrawal from the European Union|chose to leave]] the EEC in 1985, following [[1982 Greenlandic European Economic Community membership referendum|a referendum]].</ref> Denmark held the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] on seven occasions, most recently from January to June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danish Presidency of the European Union 2012 |url=http://eu2012.dk/en|access-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103093056/http://eu2012.dk/en|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2012 |publisher=European Union}}</ref> Following World War II, Denmark ended its two-hundred-year-long policy of [[Country neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]]. It has been a founding member of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) since 1949, and membership remains highly popular.<ref>{{cite web |title=US Department of State: Denmark |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3167.htm |author=Government of the United States |access-date=25 May 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320100909/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3167.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

As a member of [[Development Assistance Committee]] (DAC), Denmark has for a long time been among the countries of the world contributing the largest percentage of gross national income to [[development aid]]. In 2015, Denmark contributed 0.85% of its [[gross national income]] (GNI) to foreign aid and was one of only six countries meeting the longstanding UN target of 0.7% of GNI.<ref group="N">As measured in [[official development assistance]] (ODA). Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom exceeded the United Nations' ODA target of 0.7% of GNI.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Preliminary ODA Figures|url=http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ODA-2015-detailed-summary.pdf|publisher=OECD|access-date=1 May 2016|location=Paris|date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508134014/http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ODA-2015-detailed-summary.pdf|archive-date=8 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The country participates in both bilateral and multilateral aid, with the aid usually administered by the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. The organisational name of [[Danish International Development Agency]] (DANIDA) is often used, in particular when operating bilateral aid. According to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]], Denmark is the 8th most peaceful country in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf |access-date=11 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819091540/https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{See also|Danish Defence|Military history of Denmark}}

[[File:Danish Military Police.JPG|thumb|Danish Military Police conducting advanced law-enforcement training]]

Denmark's [[armed forces]] are known as the [[Danish Defence]] ({{langx|da|Forsvaret}}). The Minister of Defence is [[commander-in-chief]] of the Danish Defence, and serves as chief [[diplomacy|diplomatic]] official abroad. During peacetime, the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]] employs around 33,000 people in total. The main military branches employ almost 27,000: 15,460 in the [[Royal Danish Army]], 5,300 in the [[Royal Danish Navy]] and 6,050 in the [[Royal Danish Air Force]] (all including conscripts).{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} The [[Danish Emergency Management Agency]] employs 2,000 (including conscripts), and about 4,000 are in non-branch-specific services like the [[Defence Command (Denmark)|Danish Defence Command]] and the [[Danish Defence Intelligence Service]]. Furthermore, around 44,500 serve as volunteers in the [[Home Guard (Denmark)|Danish Home Guard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hjemmeværnet » Se Karrieremuligheder, Job & Løn |url=https://karriere.forsvaret.dk/karriereveje/militar-karriere/karriere-i-hjemmevarnet/ |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=Forsvaret |language=da |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018172434/https://karriere.forsvaret.dk/karriereveje/militar-karriere/karriere-i-hjemmevarnet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Denmark is a long-time supporter of international [[peacekeeping]], but since the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]] in 1999 and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] in 2001, Denmark has also found a new role as a warring nation, participating actively in several wars and invasions. This relatively new situation has stirred some internal critique, but the Danish population has generally been very supportive, in particular of the War in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riko.nu/gunnar-olesen-danmark-som-krigsnation-en-parentes-der-bor-lukkes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215191400/http://riko.nu/gunnar-olesen-danmark-som-krigsnation-en-parentes-der-bor-lukkes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2016|title=Denmark as a warring nation: A bracket that should be closed |first=Gunnar |last=Olesen |publisher=The council for international conflict resolution (RIKO) |date=7 September 2011 |language=da|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.information.dk/236879 |title=Danmark er en krisnation |first=Lasse |last=Lavrsen |publisher=Information |date=19 June 2010 |language=da |access-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225044756/http://www.information.dk/236879 |archive-date=25 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Danish Defence has around 1,400<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forsvaret.dk/FMN/Verdenskort/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227125607/http://forsvaret.dk/FMN/Verdenskort/ |archive-date=27 December 2007 |title=Forsvarsministerens Verdenskort |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Denmark |date=27 December 2007 |access-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> staff in international missions, not including standing contributions to [[Standing NRF Mine Countermeasures Group 1|NATO SNMCMG1]]. Danish forces were heavily engaged in the former Yugoslavia in the UN Protection Force ([[UNPROFOR]]), with [[IFOR]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Bosnia: What Every American Should Know |url=https://archive.org/details/bosniawhateverya00clar |url-access=registration |last=Clark |first=A.L.|year=1996 |publisher=Berkley Books |location=New York}}</ref> and now [[SFOR]].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bosnia-Herzegovina.htm |title=Bosnia-Hertsegovinia: The U.S. Army's Role in Peace Enforcement Operations 1995–2004 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |id=CMH Pub 70-97-1 |first=R. Cody |last=Phillips |location=Washington, D.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209001303/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bosnia-Herzegovina.htm |archive-date=9 December 2013 }}</ref> Between 2003 and 2007, there were approximately 450 Danish soldiers in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/02/200852514261678446.html |title=Denmark follows UK Iraq pullout |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=20 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211081916/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/02/200852514261678446.html |archive-date=11 December 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Denmark also strongly supported [[Operation Enduring Freedom|American operations]] in [[Afghanistan]] and has contributed both monetarily and materially to the [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2009/02/15/165853.htm |title=Danmarks Radio – Danmark mister flest soldater i Afghanistan |publisher=Dr.dk |date=15 February 2009 |access-date=5 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219224336/http://dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2009/02/15/165853.htm |archive-date=19 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> These initiatives are often described by the authorities as part of a new "active foreign policy" of Denmark.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

=== Postal service ===
{{see also|Tusass|Post Danmark|PostNord Denmark}}

Denmark's postal service was known as [[Post Danmark]]. It merged with Sweden's postal service organisation to form [[PostNord Danmark]]. After 31 December 2025, PostNord Danmark ceased all delivery of paper letter envelopes to encourage the use of [[email|electronic mailing]] in Denmark, reduce the costs of recycling products derived from trees in Denmark, focus mostly on delivering parcels, and make its delivery service more efficient throughout the country of Denmark.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Nierenberg |first1=Amelia |last2=Tekeli |first2=Maya |date=30 December 2025 |title=PostNord, Denmark's Main Postal Carrier, Ends Letter Delivery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/world/europe/denmark-letter-delivery-postnord-mailboxes.html |access-date=8 January 2026 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Since June 2025, approximately 1,500 mailboxes have been eliminated in Denmark. It is the first country in the world to end the delivery of paper letter envelopes within the national postal system. Greenland's postal delivery system is separate from Denmark's.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Miranda |date=21 December 2025 |title=Danish postal service to stop delivering letters after 400 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/21/denmark-postnord-postal-delivery-letters-society |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A third of employees working for PostNord Danmark or 1,500 workers will be unemployed in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last=Menini |first=Bernardo Basilici |date=6 March 2025 |title=PostNord quits letter delivery and 1,500 employees will be fired |url=https://cphpost.dk/2025-03-06/business-education/business-business-education/postnord-quits-letter-delivery-and-1500-employees-will-be-fired/ |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=The Copenhagen Post |archive-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713201948/https://cphpost.dk/2025-03-06/business-education/business-business-education/postnord-quits-letter-delivery-and-1500-employees-will-be-fired/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{further|Economy of Denmark|List of companies of Denmark|List of largest Danish companies}}
{{seealso|Economy of the Faroe Islands|Economy of Greenland}}

[[File:Lego by Christian Ursilva (2025).jpg|thumb|[[The Lego Group|Lego]], world's largest toy company by revenue, headquartered in [[Billund, Denmark|Billund]]]]

Denmark has a [[developed economy|developed]] [[mixed economy]] that is classed as a [[World Bank high-income economy|high-income economy]] by the [[World Bank]].<ref>[http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#High_income Country and Lending Groups.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702131322/http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#High_income |date=2 July 2014 }} World Bank. Accessed on 14 March 2016.</ref> In 2022, it ranked 8th in the world in terms of [[List of countries by GNI (PPP) per capita|gross national income (PPP) per capita]] and 10th in [[List of countries by GNI (nominal, Atlas method) per capita|nominal GNI per capita]].<ref name=wb>{{Cite web |url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GNIPC.pdf |title=Gross national income per capita 2017, Atlas method and PPP. World Development Indicators database, World Bank, 21 September 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018. |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912071238/http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GNIpc.pdf |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Denmark's economy stands out as one of the most free in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]] and the [[Economic Freedom of the World]].<ref>{{unfit|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170916153902/http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking "Country Ratings"]}}, 2012 Index of Economic Freedom. Retrieved 12 January 2012.</ref><ref name="2011-09-20_fraserinstitute">{{cite web | url = http://www.freetheworld.com/2011/reports/world/EFW2011_complete.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110926213117/http://www.freetheworld.com/2011/reports/world/EFW2011_complete.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date = 26 September 2011 | title = Economic Freedom of the World: 2011 Annual Report Complete Publication (2.7 MB) | website = [[freetheworld.com]] | publisher = [[Fraser Institute]] | year = 2011 | access-date =20 September 2011 }}</ref> It is the 10th most competitive economy in the world, and 7th in Europe and North America, according to the [[World Economic Forum]] in its ''Global Competitiveness Report 2019''.<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-report-2018/competitiveness-rankings/ |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2018 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208123549/http://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-report-2018/competitiveness-rankings/ |archive-date=8 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Denmark has the fourth highest ratio of [[tertiary education|tertiary degree]] holders in the world.<ref>[http://www.uis.unesco.org/Library/Documents/ged09-en.pdf UNESCO 2009 Global Education Digest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128145810/http://www.uis.unesco.org/Library/Documents/ged09-en.pdf |date=28 November 2011 }}, Shared fourth with Finland at a 30.3% ratio. Graph on p. 28, table on p. 194.</ref> The country ranks highest in the world for [[labor rights|workers' rights]].<ref>Kevin Short (28 May 2014). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/28/worst-countries-workers_n_5389679.html The Worst Places On The Planet To Be A Worker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528214143/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/28/worst-countries-workers_n_5389679.html |date=28 May 2014 }}. ''[[The Huffington Post]].'' Retrieved 28 May 2014.</ref> GDP per hour worked was the 16th highest in 2022. The country has a market income inequality close to the [[OECD]] average,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/eco/public-finance/TacklingincomeinequalityTheroleoftaxesandtransfers.pdf |title=Tackling income inequality. The role of taxes and transfers. |first1=Isabelle|last1=Joumard|first2=Mauro|last2=Pisu|first3=Debbie|last3=Bloch |publisher=OECD |date=2012 |access-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228060612/http://www.oecd.org/eco/public-finance/TacklingincomeinequalityTheroleoftaxesandtransfers.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/new_papers_4.pdf |title=Sources and impact of rising inequality in Denmark |first1=Ioana|last1=Neamtu|first2=Niels|last2=Westergaard-Nielsen|date=March 2013 |access-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211011217/http://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/new_papers_4.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> but after taxes and public cash transfers the income inequality is [[List of countries by income equality|considerably lower]]. According to [[Eurostat]], Denmark's [[Gini coefficient]] for disposable income was the 7th-lowest among EU countries in 2017.<ref name=eurostat>{{Cite web |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey. Eurostat, last data update 20 November 2018, retrieved 6 December 2018. |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122431/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the [[International Monetary Fund]], Denmark has [[List of minimum wages by country|the world's highest minimum wage]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/02/weodata/index.aspx |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2010 Edition |publisher=IMF |date=6 October 2010 |access-date=5 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222101150/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/02/weodata/index.aspx |archive-date=22 February 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> As Denmark has no minimum wage legislation, the high wage floor has been attributed to the power of [[trade union]]s. For example, as the result of a collective bargaining agreement between the [[Fagligt Fælles Forbund|3F trade union]] and the employers group [[:da:Horesta|Horesta]], workers at [[McDonald's]] and other [[fast food chain]]s make the equivalent of [[United States dollar|US$]]20 an hour, which is more than double what their counterparts earn in the United States, and have access to paid vacation, [[parental leave]] and a pension plan.<ref>Liz Alderman and Steven Greenhouse (27 October 2014). [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/business/international/living-wages-served-in-denmark-fast-food-restaurants.html Living Wages, Rarity for U.S. Fast-Food Workers, Served Up in Denmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028002802/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/business/international/living-wages-served-in-denmark-fast-food-restaurants.html |date=28 October 2014 }}. ''[[The New York Times]].'' Retrieved 28 October 2014.</ref> Union density in 2015 was 68%.<ref>On Sweden and Denmark, see Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp. 292)</ref>

Once a predominantly [[agriculture|agricultural]] country on account of its [[arable land|arable]] landscape, since 1945 Denmark has greatly expanded its [[industrial base]] and [[service sector]]. By 2017 services contributed circa 75% of GDP, manufacturing about 15% and agriculture less than 2%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statistikbanken.dk/nabp10 |title=StatBank Denmark, Table NABP10: 1-2.1.1 Production and generation of income (10a3-grouping) by transaction, industry and price unit. Retrieved on December 6, 2018. |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117022122/http://statistikbanken.dk/NABP10 |archive-date=17 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Major industries include [[wind turbine]]s, [[pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceuticals]], [[medical equipment]], [[machinery]] and transportation equipment, [[food processing]], and [[construction]]. Circa 60% of the total export value is due to export of goods, and the remaining 40% is from service exports, mainly sea transport. The country's main export goods are: wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, furniture and design.<ref name="factbook2">{{cite web|date=3 December 2018|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|title=Denmark|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705032013/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has for a number of years had a [[balance of payments]] surplus which has transformed the country from a net debitor to a net creditor country. By 1 July 2018, the [[net international investment position]] (or [[net foreign assets]]) of Denmark was equal to 64.6% of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/-/TIPSII40 |title=Eurostat: Net international investment position – quarterly data, % of GDP. Last update 24 October 2018, retrieved December 6 2018. |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221506/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/-/TIPSII40 |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Svin ved Tarm, Jylland aug 2015 (20871345365).jpg|thumb|Denmark is a major producer and exporter of [[pork]] products.<!--http://www.worldstopexports.com/pork-exports-by-country/ no longer the largest exporter in the EU as of 2019.<ref>[http://www.cecmanitoba.ca/resource/hearings/22/21.pdf ''An Overview of Danish Pork Industry: Integration and Structure''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065103/http://www.cecmanitoba.ca/resource/hearings/22/21.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} by Karen Hamann – The Institute for Food Studies & Agroindustrial Development. Access date: 23 July 2012.</ref>-->]]
Denmark is part of the [[European Union]]'s [[European Single Market|internal market]], which represents more than 508 million consumers. Several domestic commercial policies are determined by agreements among European Union (EU) members and by EU legislation. Support for [[free trade]] is high among the Danish public; in a 2016 poll 57% of respondents saw globalisation as an opportunity whereas 18% viewed it as a threat.<ref>{{in lang|da}} [https://finans.dk/finans/okonomi/ECE9155832/danskerne-og-lo-elsker-globalisering/?ctxref=ext Danskerne og LO elsker globalisering. Newspaper article 17 November 2016 on finans.dk. Retrieved 6 December 2018.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206192549/https://finans.dk/finans/okonomi/ECE9155832/danskerne-og-lo-elsker-globalisering/?ctxref=ext |date=6 December 2018 }}</ref> 70% of trade flows are inside the European Union. {{As of|2017}}, Denmark's largest export partners are Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name="factbook" />

Denmark's currency, the ''[[Danish krone|krone]]'' (DKK), is [[Fixed exchange rate|pegged]] at approximately 7.46 kroner per euro through the [[European Exchange Rate Mechanism|ERM II]]. Although a [[2000 Danish euro referendum|September 2000 referendum]] rejected adopting the [[euro]],<ref name=denmarkandtheeuro>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalbanken.dk/DNUK/Euro.nsf/side/Denmark_and_the_euro!OpenDocument |title=Denmark and the euro |access-date=3 February 2007 |date=17 November 2006 |publisher=[[Danmarks Nationalbank]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116210231/http://nationalbanken.dk/DNUK/Euro.nsf/side/Denmark_and_the_euro!OpenDocument |archive-date=16 November 2006 }}</ref> the country follows the policies set forth in the [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union]] (EMU) and meets the economic [[Euro convergence criteria|convergence criteria]] needed to adopt the euro. The majority of the political parties in the Folketing support joining the EMU, but since 2010 opinion polls have consistently shown a clear majority against adopting the euro. In March 2018, 29% of respondents from Denmark in a [[Eurobarometer]] opinion poll stated that they were in favour of the EMU and the euro, whereas 65% were against it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2180|title=Standard Eurobarometer 89 – Spring 2018 – Factsheets Denmark|publisher=Eurobarometer|date=June 2018|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116220555/https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2180|archive-date=16 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The exact same poll conducted in November 2023, was almost unchanged with 31% in favour and 63% against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3053|title=Standard Eurobarometer 100 – Autumn 2023 – Country Factsheets in English – Denmark|publisher=Eurobarometer|date=December 2023|access-date=7 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305111429/https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3053|archive-date=5 March 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ranked by turnover in Denmark, the largest Danish companies are: [[A.P. Møller-Mærsk]] (international shipping), [[Novo Nordisk]] (pharmaceuticals), [[ISS A/S]] (facility services), [[Vestas]] ([[wind turbine]]s), [[Arla Foods]] (dairy), [[DSV (company)|DSV]] (transport), [[Carlsberg Group]] (beer), [[Salling Group]] (retail), [[Ørsted (company)|Ørsted A/S]] (power), [[Danske Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The largest companies by turnover in Denmark|url=http://www.largestcompanies.com/toplists/denmark/largest-companies-by-turnover|website=largestcompanies.com|publisher=Nordic Netproducts AB|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106204016/http://www.largestcompanies.com/toplists/denmark/largest-companies-by-turnover|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Danish government focused into methods to increase [[taxes]] on [[energy]] dealers in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 May 2023|title=Denmark mulls higher taxes for energy traders|url=https://www.montelnews.com/news/1497581/denmark-mulls-higher-taxes-for-energy-traders|access-date=5 May 2023|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120104957/https://www.montelnews.com/news/1497581/denmark-mulls-higher-taxes-for-energy-traders|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Flexicurity|Taxation in Denmark|Taxation in the Faroe Islands|Taxation in Greenland}}

Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the Danish economy is characterised by extensive government [[welfare state|welfare provisions]]. Denmark has a [[corporate tax]] rate of 22% and a special time-limited tax regime for expatriates.<ref>[http://www.investindk.com/Establishing-a-business-in-Denmark Business Environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221130914/http://www.investindk.com/Establishing-a-business-in-Denmark |date=21 February 2012 }}, Invest in Denmark</ref> The Danish taxation system is broad based, with a 25% [[value-added tax]], in addition to excise taxes, income taxes and other fees. The overall level of taxation (sum of all taxes, as a percentage of GDP) was 46% in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statistikbanken.dk/sktryk |title=StatBank Denmark, SKTRYK: Tax level by national account groups. Retrieved December 6 2018. |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073944/http://statistikbanken.dk/sktryk |archive-date=25 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tax structure of Denmark (the relative weight of different taxes) differs from the OECD average, as the Danish tax system in 2015 was characterised by substantially higher revenues from taxes on personal income and a lower proportion of revenues from taxes on corporate income and gains and property taxes than in OECD generally, whereas no revenues at all derive from social security contributions. The proportion deriving from payroll taxes, VAT, and other taxes on goods and services correspond to the OECD average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-statistics-denmark.pdf |title=OECD Revenue Statistics 2018 – Denmark. Retrieved 18 December 2018. |access-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202458/http://www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-statistics-denmark.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2022}}, 6.5% of the population was reported to live below the [[poverty line]], when adjusted for taxes and transfers. Denmark had the 2nd lowest relative poverty rate in the [[OECD]] after Czech Republic, below the 11.4% OECD average. The 6% of the population reporting that they could not afford to buy sufficient food was less than half of the OECD average.<ref name="OECD1">{{cite web|title=Society at a Glance 2014 Highlights: Denmark OECD Social Indicators|url=http://www.oecd.org/denmark/OECD-SocietyAtaGlance2014-Highlights-Denmark.pdf|publisher=OECD|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121312/http://www.oecd.org/denmark/OECD-SocietyAtaGlance2014-Highlights-Denmark.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Labour market ===
Like other Nordic countries, Denmark has adopted the [[Nordic Model]], which combines [[free market]] capitalism with a comprehensive [[welfare state]] and strong [[worker protection]].<ref name="Nordic Model">{{cite web |url=http://www.iea.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/files/Sweden%20Paper.pdf |title=The surprising ingredients of Swedish success – free markets and social cohesion |date=25 June 2013 |publisher=[[Institute of Economic Affairs]] |access-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102084545/http://www.iea.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/files/Sweden%20Paper.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of its acclaimed "[[flexicurity]]" model, Denmark has the freest [[labour economics|labour market]] in Europe, according to the World Bank. Employers can hire and fire whenever they want (flexibility), and between jobs, [[unemployment]] compensation is relatively high (security). According to OECD, initial as well as long-term net replacement rates for unemployed persons were 65% of previous net income in 2016, against an OECD average of 53%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/els/benefits-and-wages.htm |title=Tax and Benefit Systems: OECD Indicators. Benefit generosity. Data retrieved 18 December 2018. |access-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227040716/http://www.oecd.org/els/benefits-and-wages.htm |archive-date=27 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> No restrictions apply regarding overtime work, which allows companies to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investindk.com/Why-Denmark/10-good-reasons |title=10 Good Reasons to Invest in Denmark |publisher=Investindk.com |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216124310/http://www.investindk.com/Why-Denmark/10-good-reasons |archive-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> With an employment rate in 2017 of 74.2% for people aged 15–64-years, Denmark ranks 9th highest among the OECD countries, and above the OECD average of 67.8%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=LFS_SEXAGE_I_R |title=LFS by sex and age – indicators. OECD Statistics, data retrieved 18 December 2018. |access-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217130806/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=LFS_SEXAGE_I_R |archive-date=17 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The unemployment rate was 5.7% in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/lfs/data/database |title=Eurostat Employment and Unemployment Database, Table une_rt_a. Unemployment by sex and age – annual average. Last update 31 October 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018. |access-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223155807/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/lfs/data/database |archive-date=23 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> which is considered close to or below its structural level.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/2018-european-semester-convergence-programme-denmark_en.pdf |title=The Danish Government: Denmark's Convergence Programme 2018, p. 8. Publication date April 2018, retrieved 18 December 2018. |access-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226233059/https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/2018-european-semester-convergence-programme-denmark_en.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Danish workers work on average 1,394 hours per year, which is 22% lower than the OECD average of 1,746 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hours worked |url=https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/hours-worked.html |access-date=7 October 2025 |website=OECD |language=en}}</ref> The job satisfaction is high in Denmark. Among Danes, 94% are satisfied with their work conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andersen |first=Steen |date=6 October 2024 |title=Work-Life Balance in Denmark – All you need to know |url=https://thedanishdream.com/working/work-life-balance/work-life-balance-in-denmark/ |access-date=7 October 2025 |language=en-US |archive-date=2 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251202084844/https://thedanishdream.com/working/work-life-balance/work-life-balance-in-denmark/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Danish work-life balance is generally considered to be among the best in the world and also a key contributor to Denmark's consistently high rank in the World Happiness Index.

The level of [[unemployment benefits]] is dependent on former employment and normally on membership of an unemployment fund, which is usually closely connected to a trade union, and previous payment of contributions. Circa 65% of the financing comes from earmarked member contributions, whereas the remaining third originates from the central government and hence from general taxation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.information.dk/indland/2018/10/ny-undersoegelse-dag-statens-udgifter-dagpenge-tre-gange-mindre-1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227040753/https://www.information.dk/indland/2018/10/ny-undersoegelse-dag-statens-udgifter-dagpenge-tre-gange-mindre-1995|url-status=dead|title=Ny undersøgelse: I dag er statens udgifter til dagpenge tre gange mindre end i 1995 &#124; Information|archive-date=27 December 2018}}</ref>

===Business===
Establishing a business in Denmark can be undertaken in a matter of hours and at very low costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investindk.com/Why-Denmark |title=The world's best business environment |publisher=Investindk.com |access-date=5 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701080756/http://www.investindk.com/Why-Denmark |archive-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Danish government operates a "Danish Business Authority", and launched a series of initiatives in 2012 aiming to simplify business rules, making it easier to run a business without jeopardising the intended goals of relevant legislation.<ref>Danish Business Authority, [https://danishbusinessauthority.dk/better-business-regulation Better business regulation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901050203/https://danishbusinessauthority.dk/better-business-regulation |date=1 September 2024 }}, accessed on 1 September 2024</ref>

=== Science and technology ===
{{See also|Internet in Denmark}}
[[File:Denmark Confirms Participation in E-ELT.jpg|thumb|With an investment of 8.5 million euros over the ten-year construction period, Denmark confirms participation in [[E-ELT]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Denmark Confirms Participation in E-ELT |url=http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann13033/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416044926/http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann13033/ |archive-date=16 April 2013 |access-date=17 April 2013 |newspaper=ESO Announmentes}}</ref>]]
Denmark has a long tradition of scientific and technological invention and engagement, and has been involved internationally from the start of the [[Scientific Revolution]]. In current times, Denmark is participating in many high-profile international science and technology projects, including [[CERN]], [[ITER]], [[ESA]], [[International Space Station|ISS]] and [[E-ELT]]. Denmark was ranked 9th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GII Innovation Ecosystems & Data Explorer 2025 |url=https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/denmark |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=WIPO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2025/en/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2025: Innovation at a Crossroads |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |publisher=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2025 |isbn=978-92-805-3797-0 |page=19 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.58864 |access-date=17 October 2025 |archive-date=12 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012035001/https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2025/en/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 20th century, Danes have also been innovative in several fields of the technology sector. Danish companies have been influential in the shipping industry with the design of the largest and most energy efficient container ships in the world, the [[Maersk Triple E class]], and Danish engineers have contributed to the design of [[MAN Diesel]] engines. In the software and electronic field, Denmark contributed to design and manufacturing of [[Nordic Mobile Telephone]]s, and the now-defunct Danish company [[DanCall]] was among the first to develop [[GSM]] mobile phones.

[[Life science]] is a key sector with extensive research and development activities. Danish engineers are world-leading in providing [[diabetes]] care equipment and medication products from Novo Nordisk and, since 2000, the Danish [[biotech]] company [[Novozymes]], the world market leader in enzymes for first generation starch-based [[bioethanol]], has pioneered development of enzymes for converting waste to [[cellulosic ethanol]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&Itemid=132&id=3101|title=Novozymes, the world's leading provider of enzymes to the biofuels industry|work=Canadian Biomass Magazine|access-date=7 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010095027/http://www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&Itemid=132&id=3101|archive-date=10 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Medicon Valley]]'', spanning the [[Øresund Region]] between Zealand and Sweden, is one of Europe's largest life science [[business cluster|clusters]].

Danish-born computer scientists and software engineers have taken leading roles in some of the world's programming languages: [[Anders Hejlsberg]] ([[Turbo Pascal]], [[Delphi (programming language)|Delphi]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]); [[Rasmus Lerdorf]] ([[PHP]]); [[Bjarne Stroustrup]] ([[C++]]); [[David Heinemeier Hansson]] ([[Ruby on Rails]]); [[Lars Bak (computer programmer)|Lars Bak]], a pioneer in virtual machines ([[V8 (JavaScript engine)|V8]], [[Java virtual machine|Java VM]], [[Dart (programming language)|Dart]]). Physicist [[Lene Vestergaard Hau]] is the first person to stop light, leading to advances in [[quantum computing]], [[nanoscale engineering]], and [[linear optics]].

=== Energy ===
{{Main|Energy in Denmark}}

{{See also|Energy in the Faroe Islands|Energy in Greenland}}
[[File:DanishWindTurbines.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Middelgrunden wind farm|Middelgrunden]], an offshore wind farm near Copenhagen]]

Denmark has considerably large deposits of oil and natural gas in the [[North Sea]] and ranks as number 32 in the world among net exporters of [[Petroleum|crude oil]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=DA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304094837/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=DA |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=EIA – International Energy Data and Analysis for Denmark |publisher=Tonto.eia.doe.gov |date=15 May 2009 |access-date=29 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was producing 259,980 barrels of crude oil a day in 2009.<ref>[http://www.indexmundi.com/energy.aspx?country=dk Denmark Crude Oil Production and Consumption by Year (Thousand Barrels per Day)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204011430/http://www.indexmundi.com/energy.aspx?country=dk |date=4 December 2011 }} – indexmundi.</ref> Denmark is a long-time leader in [[wind power]]: In 2015 [[wind turbine]]s provided 42.1% of the total electricity consumption.<ref>[http://cphpost.dk/news/business/wind-energy-in-denmark-breaking-world-records.html Wind energy in Denmark breaking world records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119022407/http://cphpost.dk/news/business/wind-energy-in-denmark-breaking-world-records.html |date=19 January 2016 }} The Copenhagen Post, Retrieved 17 January 2016.</ref> {{As of|2011|05|alt=In May 2011}} Denmark derived 3.1% of its gross domestic product from renewable (clean) energy technology and energy efficiency, or around €6.5&nbsp;billion ($9.4&nbsp;billion).<ref>[http://news.yourolivebranch.org/2011/05/10/denmark-invests-the-most-in-clean-energy-per-gdp/ Denmark Invests the Most in Clean Energy per GDP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516123405/http://news.yourolivebranch.org/2011/05/10/denmark-invests-the-most-in-clean-energy-per-gdp/ |date=16 May 2012 }} – yourolivebranch.org. Retrieved 3 January 2012</ref> Denmark is connected by [[electric transmission lines]] to other European countries.

[[Electricity sector in Denmark|Denmark's electricity sector]] has integrated energy sources such as wind power into the national grid. Denmark now aims to focus on intelligent battery systems ([[Vehicle-to-grid|V2G]]) and [[Electric vehicle|plug-in vehicles]] in the transport sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energymap.dk/Technology-Areas/Intelligent-Energy/Plug-in-and-Electrical-Vehicles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719122621/http://www.energymap.dk/Technology-Areas/Intelligent-Energy/Plug-in-and-Electrical-Vehicles |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=Plug-in and Electrical Vehicles |publisher=EnergyMap.dk |access-date=10 October 2009}}</ref> The country is a member nation of the [[International Renewable Energy Agency]] (IRENA).<ref name="IRENAstates">{{cite news|title=Global support for International Renewable Energy Agency growing fast|url=http://www.irena.org/Menu/index.aspx?PriMenuID=13&mnu=Pri|date=10 September 2014|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=IRENA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924015929/http://www.irena.org/menu/index.aspx?mnu=Pri&PriMenuID=13|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Denmark exported roughly 460 million [[Gigajoule|GJ]] of energy in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/emner/geografi-miljoe-og-energi/groent-nationalregnskab/energi-og-emissioner|title=Energi og emissioner|website=www.dst.dk|language=da|access-date=12 April 2020|archive-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412122714/https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/emner/geografi-miljoe-og-energi/groent-nationalregnskab/energi-og-emissioner|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Denmark}}

{{See also|Transport in the Faroe Islands|Transport in Greenland}}
[[File:Denmark passenger and freight railway network.png|thumb|Denmark railway network]]
[[File:Copenhagen airport from air.jpg|thumb|[[Copenhagen Airport]] is the largest airport in Scandinavia and the [[List of the busiest airports in Europe|15th-busiest in Europe]].<ref name="cph" />]]
Significant investment has been made in building road and rail links between regions in Denmark, most notably the [[Great Belt Fixed Link]], which connects [[Zealand]] and [[Funen]]. It is now possible to drive from [[Frederikshavn]] in northern [[Jutland]] to [[Copenhagen]] on eastern Zealand without leaving the motorway. The main railway operator is [[DSB (railway company)|DSB]] for passenger services and [[DB Cargo]] for freight trains. The railway tracks are maintained by [[Banedanmark]]. The North Sea and the Baltic Sea are intertwined by various, international ferry links. Construction of the [[Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link]], connecting Denmark and Germany with a second link, Started in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Menteth|first=Thames|date=13 May 2022|title=Construction of Fehmarnbelt tunnel portal begins in Denmark|url=https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/construction-of-fehmarnbelt-tunnel-portal-begins-in-denmark-13-05-2022/|access-date=4 December 2022|website=Ground Engineering (GE)|language=en|archive-date=19 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519023729/https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/construction-of-fehmarnbelt-tunnel-portal-begins-in-denmark-13-05-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref> Copenhagen has a [[rapid transit]] system, the [[Copenhagen Metro]], and an extensive electrified suburban railway network, the [[S-train]]. In the four largest cities – Copenhagen, [[Aarhus]], [[Odense]], [[Aalborg]] – [[light rail]] systems are planned to be in operation around 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ring 3 summary report |url=http://www.ringtre.dk/fileadmin/filer/freesites/ringtre/filer/Letbane/Dokumenter/Resume_UK_final03.pdf |access-date=12 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131909/http://www.ringtre.dk/fileadmin/filer/freesites/ringtre/filer/Letbane/Dokumenter/Resume_UK_final03.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref>

[[Cycling in Denmark]] is a very common form of transport, particularly for the young and for city dwellers. With a network of bicycle routes extending more than 12,000&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitdenmark.dk/danmark/da-dk/menu/turist/inspiration/aktivferie/cykel/cykel-ruter-og-regioner.htm |title=Cykelruter og regioner |publisher=Visitdenmark.com |language=da |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315171238/http://www.visitdenmark.dk/danmark/da-dk/menu/turist/inspiration/aktivferie/cykel/cykel-ruter-og-regioner.htm |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref> and an estimated 7,000&nbsp;km<ref name="vcta">{{cite web |url=http://www.vcta.dk/OmVCTA.aspx |title=Vi cykler til arbejde 2011 |access-date=16 August 2011 |publisher=[[Dansk Cyklist Forbund]] |language=da |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724113337/http://www.vcta.dk/OmVCTA.aspx |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> of [[Segregated cycle facilities|segregated dedicated bicycle paths and lanes]], Denmark has a solid [[cycling infrastructure|bicycle infrastructure]].

Private vehicles are increasingly used as a means of transport. Because of the [[car taxation|high registration tax]] (150%), [[VAT]] (25%), and one of the world's highest income tax rates, new cars are very expensive. The purpose of the tax is to discourage car ownership.
In 2007, an attempt was made by the government to favour environmentally friendly cars by slightly reducing taxes on high mileage vehicles. However, this has had little effect, and in 2008 Denmark experienced an increase in the import of fuel inefficient old cars,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tyske miljøzoner sender gamle biler til Danmark |date=9 January 2009 |url=http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE626918/tyske-miljoezoner-sender-gamle-biler-til-danmark/ |work=Politiken.dk |access-date=29 November 2010 |language=da |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430200435/http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE626918/tyske-miljoezoner-sender-gamle-biler-til-danmark/ |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> as the cost for older cars—including taxes—keeps them within the budget of many Danes.
{{As of|2011}}, the average car age is 9.2 years.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Transport |title=Statistical Yearbook 2012 |publisher=dst.dk |chapter-url=http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/16251/13tra.pdf |access-date=3 September 2012 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519023727/http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/16251/13tra.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

With Norway and Sweden, Denmark is part of the [[Scandinavian Airlines]] [[flag carrier]]. [[Copenhagen Airport]] is Scandinavia's busiest passenger airport, handling almost 30 million passengers in 2024.<ref name="cph">{{cite web |title=Group Annual Report 2024 |url=https://www.cph.dk/494193/globalassets/8.-om-cph/04_investor/arsrapporter/2024/copenhagen_airports_as_group_annual_report_2024.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616072050/http://www.cph.dk/globalassets/om-cph/investor/publikationer/arsraporter_uk/cph_uk_ar_report_2015_03_18_final.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2015 |access-date=27 March 2025 |website=cph.dk |publisher=Copenhagen Airports A/S}}</ref> Other notable airports are [[Billund Airport]], [[Aalborg Airport]], and [[Aarhus Airport]].

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Denmark}}

{{See also|Demographics of the Faroe Islands|Demographics of Greenland|List of urban areas in Denmark by population|List of cities and towns in Denmark}}
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Population by ancestry (Q2 2020):<ref name="pop1" />
| label1 = People of Danish origin (including ''Faroese'' and ''Greenlandic'')
| value1 = 86.10
| color1 = DarkBlue
| label2 = Immigrant
| value2 = 10.56
| color2 = DarkGray
| label3 = Descendant of an immigrant
| value3 = 3.34
| color3 = MediumBlue
}}

=== Population ===
In May 2025, the population of Denmark, as registered by [[Statistics Denmark]], was 6 million.<ref name="pop1" /> Denmark has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the [[Population pyramid|average age of 42.2 years]],<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|title=World Factbook Europe : Denmark |work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018|access-date=23 January 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705032013/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|url-status=dead}}</ref> with 0.99 males per female. Despite a low [[birth rate]] of 11.3 births per 1000 population, the population is growing at an average annual rate of 0.44%<ref name="factbook2" /> because of net immigration and increasing [[longevity]]. The [[World Happiness Report]] frequently ranks Denmark's population as the happiest in the world.<ref name="happiness">{{cite web|editor1-last=Helliwell |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Layard |editor2-first=Richard |editor3-last=Sachs |editor3-first=Jeffrey |editor3-link=Jeffrey Sachs |title=World Happiness Report 2016 |url=http://5c28efcb768db11c7204-4ffd2ff276d22135df4d1a53ae141422.r82.cf5.rackcdn.com/HR-V1_web.pdf |publisher=Sustainable Development Solutions Network |access-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318091325/http://5c28efcb768db11c7204-4ffd2ff276d22135df4d1a53ae141422.r82.cf5.rackcdn.com/HR-V1_web.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=Earth_Institute_2013>Helliwell, John; Layard, Richard; Sachs, Jeffrey [http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/Sachs%20Writing/2012/World%20Happiness%20Report.pdf World Happiness Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902171441/http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/Sachs%20Writing/2012/World%20Happiness%20Report.pdf |date=2 September 2013 }}. ''[[The Earth Institute]]'' at [[Columbia University]], p. 8. See also: [http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/09/WorldHappinessReport2013_online.pdf World Happiness Report 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215838/http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/09/WorldHappinessReport2013_online.pdf |date=4 October 2013 }}, p. 23.; [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/denmark-happiest-country_n_4070761.html Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country. You'll Never Guess Why.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023134428/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/denmark-happiest-country_n_4070761.html |date=23 October 2013 }} ''[[Huffington Post]].'' 22 October 2013.</ref><ref name="BruceStokes">Stokes, Buce (8 June 2011). [https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/06/the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/240103/ The Happiest Countries in the World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425034007/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/06/the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/240103/ |date=25 April 2017 }}. ''[[The Atlantic]].'' Retrieved 20 September 2013</ref> This has been attributed to the country's highly regarded education and [[Health care in Denmark|health care]] systems,<ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denmark-is-the-worlds-happiest-country--official-410075.html |title=Denmark is the world's happiest country – official – Europe, World |work=The Independent |location=London |date=1 August 2006 |access-date=5 May 2009 |first=Jerome |last=Taylor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309234926/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denmark-is-the-worlds-happiest-country--official-410075.html |archive-date=9 March 2009 }}</ref> and its low level of [[income inequality]].<ref name=eurogini>{{cite web|title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income (source: SILC)|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12|publisher=Eurostat Data Explorer|access-date=4 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045123/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> People in Denmark feel responsible for [[social welfare]]. The rate of taxation is among the world's highest and can be half a Dane's income but they get most healthcare free, university tuition is also free and students get grants, there is subsidised [[child care]] and [[Pensions in Denmark|old people get pensions]] and care helpers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/top-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world-2023.html |title=Finland is the No. 1 happiest country in the world for the sixth year in a row |website=[[CNBC]] |date=21 March 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204110537/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/top-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world-2023.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Denmark is a historically [[Homogeneity (statistics)|homogeneous]] nation.<ref name="Thomas2016">{{cite book|first=Alastair H.|last=Thomas|title=Historical Dictionary of Denmark|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aPq6DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11|year=2016|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-6465-6|page=11|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117030654/https://books.google.com/books?id=aPq6DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11|url-status=live}}</ref> However, as with its Scandinavian neighbours, Denmark has recently transformed from a nation of [[net migration|net emigration]], up until World War II, to a nation of net immigration. Today, [[residence permit]]s are issued mostly to immigrants from other EU countries (54% of all non-Scandinavian immigrants in 2017). Another 31% of residence permits were study- or work-related, 4% were issued to [[asylum seeker]]s and 10% to persons who arrive as family dependants.<ref>{{cite web|title=VAN8A: Immigrations (year) by citizenship, sex and residence permit|url=http://www.statbank.dk/VAN8A|publisher=[[Statistics Denmark]]|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012172855/http://www.statbank.dk/VAN8A|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Overall, the net migration rate in 2017 was 2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population, somewhat lower than the United Kingdom and the other Nordic countries.<ref name="factbook2" /><ref>For comparisons and developments see: {{cite web |url=http://esa.un.org/miggmgprofiles/indicators/files/Denmark.pdf|title=Denmark – Migration Profiles |publisher=UNICEF |date=2013 |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194636/http://esa.un.org/miggmgprofiles/indicators/files/Denmark.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Statistics on migration only includes people changing citizenship and does not always provide a realistic picture of migration pressure. In Denmark, 5% of the population were non-citizens in 2005, which is a relatively high figure. See {{cite report |url=https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/events/coordination/4/docs/P12_OECD.pdf |title=Counting Immigrant and Expatriates in OECD Countries: A New Perspective|publisher=OECD|pages=119–120 |date=21 October 2005 |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415081147/http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/events/coordination/4/docs/P12_OECD.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=live}} for example.</ref>

There are no official statistics on [[ethnic group]]s, but according to 2020 figures from Statistics Denmark, 86.1% of the population in Denmark was of [[Danes|Danish]] descent (including ''[[Faroese Dane|Faroese]]'' and ''[[Greenlandic people in Denmark|Greenlandic]]''), defined as having at least one parent who was born in the [[Realm of Denmark|Kingdom of Denmark]] and holds [[Danish nationality law|Danish nationality]].<ref name="pop1">{{cite web |title=Population at the first day of the quarter by municipality, sex, age, marital status, ancestry, country of origin and citizenship |url=http://www.statbank.dk/FOLK1c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222013330/https://www.statbank.dk/FOLK1C |archive-date=22 December 2022 |access-date=28 March 2025 |publisher=[[Statistics Denmark]] |quote=}}</ref><ref group=N name="denonly group=N">This data is for Denmark [[wikt:proper#Adjective|proper]] only. For data relevant to [[Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]] see their respective articles.</ref> The remaining 13.89% were of foreign background, defined as immigrants or descendants of recent immigrants. With the same definition, the most common countries of origin were [[Demographics of Turkey|Turkey]], [[Polish people|Poland]], [[Syrians|Syria]], [[Germans|Germany]], [[Iraqis|Iraq]], [[Romanians|Romania]], [[Lebanon]], [[Pakistanis|Pakistan]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[Somalis|Somalia]].<ref name="pop1" /> Minorities in Denmark include [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Poles (people)|Poles]], [[Syria]]ns, Germans, Iraqis, Romanians and people from former [[Yugoslavia]]. There are also other Asian and African populations in the country. Small numbers of [[Romani people]] and [[Hungarians]] live in Denmark. There is also a small [[Jews|Jewish]] population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minorityrights.org/country/denmark/|title=Denmark – World Directory of Minorities & Indigenous Peoples|date=2 November 2023|access-date=4 January 2024|archive-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228000205/https://minorityrights.org/country/denmark/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Greenlandic Inuit|Inuit]] are Indigenous to Greenland in the Kingdom and have traditionally inhabited Greenland and the northern parts of Canada and Alaska in the [[Arctic]]. From the 18th century up to the 1970s, the Danish government (Dano-Norwegian until 1814) tried to assimilate the Greenlandic Inuit, encouraging them to adopt the majority language and culture. Because of this "Danization process", some persons of Inuit ancestry now identify their mother tongue as Danish.

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Denmark}}

{{See also|Languages of the Faroe Islands|Languages of Greenland|Minority languages of Denmark}}
[[Danish language|Danish]] is the ''de facto'' [[national language]] of Denmark. [[Faroese language|Faroese]] and [[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]] are the official languages of the Faroe Islands and Greenland respectively. [[German language|German]] is a recognised [[minority language]] in the area of the former [[South Jutland County]] (now part of the [[Region of Southern Denmark]]), which was part of the German Empire prior to the [[Treaty of Versailles]].<ref name="Ethnologue">{{cite book |editor1-first=M. Paul |editor1-last=Lewis |year=2009 |title=Ethnologue: Languages of the World |edition=16th |publisher=SIL International. |location=Dallas, Texas |isbn=978-1-55671-216-6 |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/ |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227170852/http://www.ethnologue.com/ |archive-date=27 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Danish and Faroese belong to the [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] (Nordic) branch of the [[Indo-European languages]], along with [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]. There is some degree of [[North Germanic languages#Mutual intelligibility|mutual intelligibility between Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish]]. Danish is more distantly related to German, which is a [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic]] language. Greenlandic or "Kalaallisut" is an [[Inuit languages|Inuit language]], and is entirely unrelated to Danish,<ref name="language">{{cite web|title=Language|url=http://www.norden.org/en/the-nordic-region/language|publisher=The Nordic Council|access-date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721051426/http://www.norden.org/en/the-nordic-region/language|archive-date=21 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> although it has adopted many Danish [[loanword]]s including the words for numbers.

A large majority of Danes (87%) speak [[English language|English]] at a conversational level. German is the second most widely spoken foreign language, with 49% reporting conversational proficiency.<ref name="EU-Lang">{{Cite book |last=European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication |title=Special Eurobarometer survey "Europeans and their languages" |date=2024 |publisher=Publications Office |url=https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2979 |access-date=22 October 2025 |doi=10.2766/28257 |isbn=978-92-68-12045-3 |archive-date=28 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528002002/https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2979 |url-status=live }}</ref> Denmark had 25,900 [[first language|native speakers]] of German in 2007 (mostly in the South Jutland area).<ref name="Ethnologue" />

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Denmark}}

{{seealso|Religion in the Faroe Islands|Religion in Greenland}}

[[File:Roskilde Cathedral aerial.jpg|thumb|[[Roskilde Cathedral]] has been the [[burial]] place of Danish royalty since the 15th century. In 1995 it became a [[World Heritage Site]].]]

{{Pie chart
| caption = Religion in Denmark ([[The World Factbook]] 2024)<ref name="auto"/>
| label1 = [[Lutheran Christianity in Denmark|Lutheranism]] [[file:Christian cross.svg|20x20px]]
| value1 = 71.4
| color1 = #BA55D3
| label2 = [[Islam in Denmark|Islam]] [[file:Star and Crescent.svg|20x20px]]
| value2 = 4.3
| color2 = Green
| label3 = [[Religion in Denmark|Other]] / [[Irreligion|none]]
| value3 = 24.3
| color3 = Lightgray
}}

[[Christianity in Denmark|Christianity]] is the dominant religion in Denmark. As of 2026, 70%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population at the first day of the quarter by parish and member of the National Church – StatBank Denmark – data and statistics |url=https://www.statbank.dk/statbank5a/selectvarval/define.asp?PLanguage=1&subword=tabsel&MainTable=KM1&PXSId=237622&tablestyle=&ST=SD&buttons=0 |access-date=11 May 2026 |website=www.statbank.dk |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live }}</ref> of the population of Denmark were members of the [[Church of Denmark]] ({{lang|da|Den Danske Folkekirke}}), the [[state religion|officially established]] church, which is [[Protestant]] in classification and [[Lutheran]] in orientation.<ref name=":0" /><ref group="N">The Church of Denmark is the established church (or state religion) in Denmark and Greenland; the [[Church of the Faroe Islands]] became an independent body in 2007.</ref> The membership percentage has been in steady decline since the 1970s, mainly as fewer newborns are being [[Baptism|baptised]] into it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thomsen Højsgaard|first=Morten|url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/derfor-forlader-flere-folk-kirken|title=Derfor mister kirken mere af folket|date=21 February 2018|work=Kristeligt Dagblad|access-date=5 April 2020|language=da|archive-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004165923/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/derfor-forlader-flere-folk-kirken|url-status=live}}</ref> Only 3% of the population regularly attend Sunday services<ref name="report 2009">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127307.htm|title=Denmark – Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor|year=2009|work=International Religious Freedom Report 2009|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=23 August 2012|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026213419/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127307.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/13117/religion-europe-trust-filling-pews.aspx|title=Religion in Europe: Trust Not Filling the Pews|last=Manchin|first=Robert|date=21 September 2004|work=Gallup Poll|publisher=[[Gallup (company)|Gallup]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120155549/http://www.gallup.com/poll/13117/religion-europe-trust-filling-pews.aspx |archive-date=20 January 2013|access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref> and only 19% of Danes consider religion to be an important part of their life.<ref name="gallup-religiosity-poor-nations">{{cite web|last1=Crabtree|first1=Steve|title=Religiosity Highest in World's Poorest Nations|date=31 August 2010 |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/142727/religiosity-highest-world-poorest-nations.aspx|publisher=Gallup|access-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823202612/http://www.gallup.com/poll/142727/religiosity-highest-world-poorest-nations.aspx|archive-date=23 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Constitution of Denmark|Constitution]] states that the sovereign be [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]], though the rest of the population is [[Religious pluralism|free to adhere to other faiths]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=FoR>[http://www.km.dk/fileadmin/share/Trossamfund/Freedom_of_religion.pdf Freedom of religion and religious communities in Denmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205165930/http://www.km.dk/fileadmin/share/Trossamfund/Freedom_of_religion.pdf |date=5 February 2012 }} – The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs – May 2006</ref> In 1682 the state granted limited recognition to three religious groups dissenting from the Established Church: [[Roman Catholicism in Denmark|Roman Catholicism]], [[Reformed Synod of Denmark|the Reformed Church]] and [[History of the Jews in Denmark|Judaism]], although conversion to these groups from the Church of Denmark remained illegal initially. Until the 1970s, the state formally recognised "religious societies" by [[royal decree]]. Today, religious groups do not need official government recognition; they can be granted the right to perform weddings and other ceremonies without this recognition.<ref name=FoR /> [[Islam in Denmark|Denmark's Muslims]] make up approximately 4.4% of the population<ref name=jac2020>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tjekdet.dk/hvor-mange-muslimer-er-der-i-danmark|title=Hvor mange muslimer er der i Danmark?|work=tjekdet.dk|access-date=14 November 2020|language=da-DK|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127073817/https://www.tjekdet.dk/hvor-mange-muslimer-er-der-i-danmark|url-status=live}}</ref> and form the country's second largest religious community and largest [[minority religion]].<ref name=jac2018>{{Cite news|url=https://www.religion.dk/religionsanalysen/hvor-mange-indvandrer-lever-i-danmark|title=Hvor mange muslimer bor der i Danmark?|work=religion.dk|access-date=8 February 2018|language=da-DK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209134230/https://www.religion.dk/religionsanalysen/hvor-mange-indvandrer-lever-i-danmark|archive-date=9 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Danish Foreign Ministry]] estimates that other [[Religious denomination|religious groups]] comprise less than 1% of the population individually and approximately 2% when taken all together.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap1/1-14.asp |title=Religion in Denmark |access-date=8 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208030036/http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/Denmark/kap1/1-14.asp |archive-date=8 February 2006 }} – From the [[Danish Foreign Ministry]]. Archive retrieved on 3 January 2012.</ref> Just under 20% of the Danish population identifies as [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Næsten hver femte dansker kalder sig ateist|work=[[Berlingske Tidende]]|date=7 October 2013|url=http://www.b.dk/nationalt/naesten-hver-femte-dansker-kalder-sig-ateist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009032921/http://www.b.dk/nationalt/naesten-hver-femte-dansker-kalder-sig-ateist|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2013|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref>

According to a 2010 [[Eurobarometer]] poll,<ref>{{cite report|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |series=Eurobarometer 73.1 |title=Biotechnology |page=204 |date=October 2010|orig-year=Fieldwork: Jan–Feb 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010}}</ref> 28% of Danish nationals polled responded that they "believe there is a [[God]]", 47% responded that they "believe there is some sort of [[Spirit (animating force)|spirit or life force]]" and 24% responded that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force". Another poll, carried out in 2009, found that 25% of Danes believe [[Jesus]] is the [[God the Son|son of God]], and 18% believe he is the [[Redeemer (Christianity)|saviour of the world]].<ref>{{cite web |quote=Poll performed in December 2009 among 1114 Danes between ages 18 and 74 |url=http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/350709:Kirke---tro--Hver-fjerde-dansker-tror-paa-Jesus |title=Hver fjerde dansker tror på Jesus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225060504/http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/350709:Kirke---tro--Hver-fjerde-dansker-tror-paa-Jesus |archive-date=25 December 2009 |trans-title=One in four Danes believe in Jesus |author=Tobias Stern Johansen |website=Kristeligt Dagblad |date=23 December 2009 |language=da}}</ref>

In its 2024 [[Freedom in the World]] report, [[Freedom House]] rated the country 4 out of 4 for [[religious freedom]].<ref name=FreedomintheWorld2024>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/denmark/freedom-world/2024|title=Denmark: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report|website=Freedom House}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Denmark}}

{{seealso|Education in the Faroe Islands|Education in Greenland}}

[[File:Københavns universitet lektionskatalog 1537.jpg|thumb|upright|The oldest surviving Danish lecture plan dated 1537 from the [[University of Copenhagen]]]]

All educational programmes in Denmark are regulated by the [[Education Minister of Denmark|Ministry of Education]] and administered by local municipalities. ''[[Danish Folkeskole Education|Folkeskole]]'' covers the entire period of compulsory education, encompassing [[primary school|primary]] and lower [[secondary school|secondary education]].<ref name="edu">{{cite web|title=Overview of the Danish Education System|url=http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Overview-of-the-Danish-Education-System|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111062215/http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Overview-of-the-Danish-Education-System|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2012|publisher=Danish Ministry for Children, Education and Gender Equality|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Most children attend ''folkeskole'' for 10 years, from the ages of 6 to 16. There are no final examinations, but pupils can choose to sit an exam when finishing [[ninth grade]] (14–15 years old). The test is obligatory if further education is to be attended. Alternatively pupils can attend an [[independent school]] ({{lang|da|friskole}}), or a private school ({{lang|da|privatskole}}), such as [[Christian school]]s or [[Waldorf education|Waldorf schools]].

Following graduation from compulsory education, there are several continuing educational opportunities; the [[Gymnasium (Denmark)|Gymnasium (STX)]] attaches importance in teaching a mix of humanities and science, [[Higher Technical Examination Programme (HTX)]] focuses on scientific subjects and the [[Higher Commercial Examination Programme]] emphasises on subjects in economics. [[Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)]] is similar to ''Gymnasium (STX)'', but is one year shorter. For specific professions, there is [[Vocational secondary education in Denmark|vocational education]], training young people for work in specific [[trade (occupation)|trades]] by a combination of teaching and [[apprenticeship]].

The government records upper secondary school completion rates of 83% and [[tertiary education|tertiary]] enrolment and completion rates of 45% in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Education Policy Outlook: Denmark |url=https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2020/12/education-policy-outlook-in-denmark_c225a424/3288629c-en.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017183723/https://www.oecd.org/edu/EDUCATION%20POLICY%20OUTLOOK%20DENMARK_EN.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2016 |access-date=29 March 2025 |publisher=OECD |page=6}}</ref> All [[university]] and college (tertiary) education in Denmark is free of charges; there are no tuition fees to enrol in courses. Students aged 18 or above may apply for state educational support grants, known as ''[[Student loans in Denmark|Statens Uddannelsesstøtte]] (SU)'', which provides fixed financial support, disbursed monthly.<ref>Rick Noack (4 February 2015). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/04/why-danish-students-are-paid-to-go-to-college/ Why Danish students are paid to go to college] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524062503/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/04/why-danish-students-are-paid-to-go-to-college/ |date=24 May 2015 }}. ''[[The Washington Post]].'' Retrieved 5 February 2015.</ref> Danish universities offer international students a range of opportunities for obtaining an internationally recognised qualification in Denmark. Many programmes may be taught in the [[English language]], the academic [[lingua franca]], in [[bachelor's degree]]s, [[master's degree]]s, [[doctorate]]s and [[student exchange program]]mes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://studyindenmark.dk/ |title=Study in Denmark, official government website on international higher education in Denmark |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510042940/http://studyindenmark.dk/ |archive-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{See also|Health care in Denmark}}
[[File:Rigshospitalet_20130427_0004F_(8739514693).jpg|thumb|[[Rigshospitalet]] in Copenhagen, the most specialised hospital in Denmark, receiving over 350,000 unique patients a year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Om hospitalet |url=https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/om-hospitalet/Sider/default.aspx |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=www.rigshospitalet.dk |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103131739/https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/om-hospitalet/Sider/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
{{As of|2022}}, Denmark has a [[life expectancy]] of 81.3 years at birth (79.5 for men, 83.2 for women), up from 80.6 years in 2015.<ref name="WHO">{{cite web |date= |title=Life expectancy |url=https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/monitors/health-systems-monitor/countries-hspm/hspm/denmark-2024/introduction |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016022444/http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.688?lang=en |archive-date=16 October 2014 |access-date=28 March 2025 |publisher=World Health Organization}}</ref> This [[List of countries by life expectancy|ranks it]] 26th among 193 nations, behind the other [[Nordic countries]]. The ''National Institute of Public Health'' of the [[University of Southern Denmark]] has calculated 19 major risk factors among Danes that contribute to a lowering of the life expectancy; this includes smoking, alcohol, [[drug abuse]] and [[Sedentary lifestyle|physical inactivity]].<ref name="health report">{{cite book|last=Brønnum-Hansen|first=Knud Juel, Jan Sørensen, Henrik|title=Risk factors and public health in Denmark – Summary report|date=2007|publisher=National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark|location=København|isbn=978-87-7899-123-2|url=http://www.si-folkesundhed.dk/upload/2745_-_risk_factors_and_public_health_in_denmark.pdf|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222143524/http://www.si-folkesundhed.dk/upload/2745_-_risk_factors_and_public_health_in_denmark.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the [[Obesity by country|obesity rate]] is lower than in North America and most other European countries,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html |title=Obesity – Adult prevalence |publisher=CIA Factbook |access-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010185132/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html |archive-date=10 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the large number of [[overweight]] Danes results in an annual additional consumption in the health care system of [[Danish krone|DKK]] 1,625 million.<ref name="health report" /> In a 2012 study, Denmark had the highest [[List of OECD countries by cancer rate|cancer rate]] of all countries listed by the World Cancer Research Fund International; researchers suggest the reasons are better reporting, but also lifestyle factors like heavy [[List of countries by alcohol consumption per capita|alcohol consumption]], [[Prevalence of tobacco consumption|smoking]] and [[physical inactivity]].<ref>{{cite news|title = Why is Denmark the cancer capital of the world?|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8277418/Why-is-Denmark-the-cancer-capital-of-the-world.html|work = The Daily Telegraph|location = London|access-date = 4 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035731/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8277418/Why-is-Denmark-the-cancer-capital-of-the-world.html|archive-date = 4 March 2016|url-status=live|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Data for cancer frequency by country|url = http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-cancer-frequency-country|publisher = WCRF|date = 2012|access-date = 4 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151230080530/http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-cancer-frequency-country|archive-date = 30 December 2015|url-status=live|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Denmark has a [[universal health care]] system, characterised by being publicly financed through taxes and, for most of the services, run directly by the regional authorities. One of the sources of income was a national health care contribution (''{{lang|da|sundhedsbidrag}}'') (2007–11:8%; '12:7%; '13:6%; '14:5%; '15:4%; '16:3%; '17:2%; '18:1%; '19:0%) but it was phased out from January 2019 in favour of income taxes.<ref name=taxation1 /> This means that most [[health care provider|health care provision]] is free at the point of delivery for all residents. Additionally, roughly two in five have complementary [[Health insurance|private insurance]] to cover services not fully covered by the state, such as [[Physical therapy|physiotherapy]]. {{As of|2012}}, Denmark spends 11.2% of its GDP on health care; this is up from 9.8% in 2007 (US$3,512 per capita). This places Denmark above the [[OECD]] average and above the other Nordic countries.<ref name="commonwealth">{{cite web |title=International Profiles of Health Care Systems |url=http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Fund%20Report/2010/Jun/1417_Squires_Intl_Profiles_622.pdf |publisher=The Commonwealth Fund |access-date=31 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228014404/http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Fund%20Report/2010/Jun/1417_Squires_Intl_Profiles_622.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison :: Life Expectancy at Birth|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120024054/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Vulnerable residential areas ===
{{Main|Immigration to Denmark|Vulnerable residential area (Denmark)}}

[[File:Janni_Milsted_fra_Mjoelnerparken_i_Koebenhavn_viser_et_projekt_frem,_hvor_beboerne_har_vaeret_med_til_at_plante_krydderurter_og_baerbuske_i_store_kasser_i_de_fire_garde_i_Mjoelnerparken.jpg|thumb|[[Mjølnerparken]] in Copenhagen]]

Certain [[social housing]] districts in Denmark fulfilling specific statistical criteria of relatively low employment, school attendance, relatively low income, a relatively low educational level or relatively many convicted inhabitants are officially listed by the government as [[Vulnerable residential area (Denmark)|vulnerable residential areas]]. In some cases, the majority of the neighbourhoods consist of non-Western immigrants and their descendants. Over the years, several government initiatives have been taken to further integration and counter [[urban decay]] in these neighbourhoods. Major plans to this end were presented in 1994 and 2000 by the governments of [[Poul Nyrup Rasmussen]], in 2004 by the [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet]], in 2010 by the [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet]], in 2013 by the [[Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet|Helle Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet]], in 2018 by the [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet]], and in 2021 by the [[Frederiksen I Cabinet|Mette Frederiksen I Cabinet]].<ref name="DenOffentlige">{{cite news |last1=Allentoft |first1=Nick |title=Regeringer har lanceret ghettoplaner seks gange på 25 år |url=https://www.denoffentlige.dk/bloggere/ritzau-1/regeringer-har-lanceret-ghettoplaner-seks-gange-paa-25-aar |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=www.denoffentlige.dk |publisher=DenOffentlige |date=2 January 2018 |language=da |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205165022/https://www.denoffentlige.dk/bloggere/ritzau-1/regeringer-har-lanceret-ghettoplaner-seks-gange-paa-25-aar |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Politisk flertal opfinder helt ny kategori for boligområder i kampen mod parallelsamfund |url=https://politiken.dk/indland/art8247871/Politisk-flertal-opfinder-helt-ny-kategori-for-boligomr%C3%A5der-i-kampen-mod-parallelsamfund |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Politiken |date=15 June 2021 |language=da-DK |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205165020/https://politiken.dk/indland/art8247871/Politisk-flertal-opfinder-helt-ny-kategori-for-boligomr%C3%A5der-i-kampen-mod-parallelsamfund |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5328347/denmark-ghettos-policies/|title=What to Know About Denmark's Plan to End Immigrant "Ghettos"|magazine=Time|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705155619/http://time.com/5328347/denmark-ghettos-policies/|archive-date=5 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the policies have been criticised for undercutting 'equality before law' and for portraying immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants, in a bad light.<ref name="NPR" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/world/2018/7/3/17525960/denmark-children-immigrant-muslim-danish-ghetto|title='No ghettos in 2030': Denmark's controversial plan to get rid of immigrant neighborhoods|work=Vox|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704182731/https://www.vox.com/world/2018/7/3/17525960/denmark-children-immigrant-muslim-danish-ghetto|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the years 2010–2021, the term "[[ghetto]]" was used officially to designate some or all of the vulnerable areas.<ref name="NPR">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/30/593979013/in-denmark-s-plan-to-rid-country-of-ghettos-some-immigrants-hear-go-home?t=1530707460545|title=In Denmark's Plan To Rid Country Of 'Ghettos,' Some Immigrants Hear 'Go Home'|work=NPR.org|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704212942/https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/30/593979013/in-denmark-s-plan-to-rid-country-of-ghettos-some-immigrants-hear-go-home?t=1530707460545|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The term was considered controversial, however, and removed in 2021.<ref name=Dybvad1>[https://www.thelocal.dk/20190709/denmarks-housing-minister-wants-to-scrap-ghetto-label-for-underprivileged-areas Thelocal.dk. ''Denmark's housing minister wants to scrap 'ghetto' label for underprivileged areas.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211055024/https://www.thelocal.dk/20190709/denmarks-housing-minister-wants-to-scrap-ghetto-label-for-underprivileged-areas |date=11 December 2023 }} Retrieved 5 April 2020</ref><ref name= Dybvad2>[https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ny-boligminister-vil-undga-ordet-ghetto DR. ''Ny boligminister vil undgå ordet 'ghetto'.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011714/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ny-boligminister-vil-undga-ordet-ghetto |date=12 November 2020 }} (in Danish) Retrieved 6 April 2020</ref><ref name=BL2>[https://bl.dk/politik-og-analyser/temaer/her-er-listen-over-parallelsamfund/ Danmarks Almene Boliger. ''Ghettolisten eller Parallelsamfundslisterne.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208221616/https://bl.dk/politik-og-analyser/temaer/her-er-listen-over-parallelsamfund/ |date=8 December 2023 }} (in Danish) Retrieved 28 April 2022.</ref> Denmark is the only country to have officially used the word 'ghetto' in the 21st century to denote certain residential areas.<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-denmark-immigration-widerimage/in-danish-ghettos-immigrants-feel-stigmatized-and-shut-out-idUSKCN1IU1DS|title=In Danish 'ghettos', immigrants feel stigmatized and shut out|last=Nielson|first=Emil Gjerding|work=U.S.|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704212835/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-denmark-immigration-widerimage/in-danish-ghettos-immigrants-feel-stigmatized-and-shut-out-idUSKCN1IU1DS|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2021, four different lists are published, depending on the residents' income levels, employment status, education levels, criminal convictions and origin (a statistical criterion based on parents' geographical birthplace and citizenship).<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/world/europe/denmark-immigrant-ghettos.html|title=In Denmark, Harsh New Laws for Immigrant 'Ghettos'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 July 2018 |access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706100907/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/world/europe/denmark-immigrant-ghettos.html|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live|last1=Barry |first1=Ellen |last2=Sorensen |first2=Martin Selsoe }}</ref><ref name="NPR" /><ref name="BBC">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43214596|title=Danes to double penalty for ghetto crime|date=27 February 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718180541/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43214596|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, there were 19 vulnerable residential areas in Denmark.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nu går indsatserne i parallelsamfundene ind i en afgørende fase |url=https://sm.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2023/dec/nu-gaar-indsatserne-i-parallelsamfundene-ind-i-en-afgoerende-fase |website=sm.dk |publisher=Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens |access-date=4 December 2023 |language=da |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204152447/https://sm.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2023/dec/nu-gaar-indsatserne-i-parallelsamfundene-ind-i-en-afgoerende-fase |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Denmark}}

{{See also|Culture of the Faroe Islands|Culture of Greenland}}
Denmark shares strong cultural and [[History of Scandinavia|historic ties with its Scandinavian neighbours]] [[Sweden]] and [[Norway]]. It has historically been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. In 1969, Denmark was the first country to legalise [[pornography]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.um.dk/publikationer/um/english/factsheetdenmark/denmarkanoverview/html/chapter05.htm |title=Denmark&nbsp; – An Overview |website=Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=22 September 2007 |access-date=22 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122084309/http://www.um.dk/publikationer/um/english/factsheetdenmark/denmarkanoverview/html/chapter05.htm |archive-date=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in 2012, Denmark replaced its "[[Civil union|registered partnership]]" laws, which it had been the first country to introduce in 1989,<ref>Sheila Rule: [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/02/world/rights-for-gay-couples-in-denmark.html "Rights for Gay Couples in Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080523/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/02/world/rights-for-gay-couples-in-denmark.html |date=4 March 2016 }} – ''[[The New York Times]]''. Published: 2 October 1989. Retrieved 7 June 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://marriage.about.com/cs/samesexmarriage/a/samesex.htm |title=Same-Sex Marriage FAQ |publisher=Marriage.about.com |date=17 June 2003 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212061255/http://marriage.about.com/cs/samesexmarriage/a/samesex.htm |archive-date=12 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with [[Gender neutrality|gender-neutral]] [[marriage]], and [[Same-sex marriage in Denmark|allowed same-sex marriages]] to be performed in the [[Church of Denmark]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Denmark approves same-sex marriage and church weddings|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18363157|work=BBC News|date=7 June 2012|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116191027/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18363157|archive-date=16 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Denmark passes bill allowing gays to marry in church |agency=AFP |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/390257/denmark-passes-bill-allowing-gays-to-marry-in-church/ |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610034001/http://tribune.com.pk/story/390257/denmark-passes-bill-allowing-gays-to-marry-in-church/ |archive-date=10 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Modesty]] and [[social equality]] are important parts of Danish culture.<ref>[http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/denmark-country-profile.html Denmark – Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. From Kwintessential] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610114106/http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/denmark-country-profile.html |date=10 June 2012 }}. Retrieved 4 December 2008.</ref> In a 2016 study comparing [[empathy]] scores of 63 countries, Denmark ranked 4th world-wide having the highest empathy among surveyed European countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chopik |first1=William J. |last2=O'Brien |first2=Ed |last3=Konrath |first3=Sara H. |date=2017 |title=Differences in Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking Across 63 Countries |journal=Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology |language=en |volume=48 |issue=1 |at=Supplementary Table 1 |doi=10.1177/0022022116673910 |issn=0022-0221 |hdl=1805/14139|s2cid=149314942 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:KronborgCastleDenmarkOct152022 06.jpg|thumb|[[Kronborg]] Castle in the town of [[Helsingør]]. Immortalized as Elsinore in [[William Shakespeare]]'s play [[Hamlet]], Kronborg is one of the most important [[Renaissance]] castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the [[UNESCO]] [[List of World Heritage Sites in Northern Europe|World Heritage list in Northern Europe]] in 2000.]]
The astronomical discoveries of [[Tycho Brahe]], [[Ludwig A. Colding]]'s neglected articulation of the principle of [[conservation of energy]], and the contributions to atomic physics of [[Niels Bohr]] indicate the range of Danish scientific achievement. The fairy tales of [[Hans Christian Andersen]], the philosophical essays of [[Søren Kierkegaard]], the short stories of [[Karen Blixen]] (penname [[Isak Dinesen]]), the plays of [[Ludvig Holberg]], and the dense, aphoristic poetry of [[Piet Hein (scientist)|Piet Hein]], have earned international recognition, as have the symphonies of [[Carl Nielsen]]. From the mid-1990s, Danish films have attracted international attention, especially those associated with [[Dogme 95]] like those of [[Lars von Trier]] and [[Thomas Vinterberg]].

A major feature of Danish culture is {{lang|da|[[Jul (Denmark)|Jul]]|italic=no}} (Danish [[Christmas]]). The holiday is celebrated throughout December, starting either at the beginning of Advent or on 1 December with a variety of traditions, culminating with the Christmas Eve meal.

There are seven heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO [[List of World Heritage Sites in Northern Europe|World Heritage list in Northern Europe]]: [[Christiansfeld]], a Moravian Church Settlement, the [[Jelling stones|Jelling Mounds (Runic Stones and Church)]], [[Kronborg Castle]], [[Roskilde Cathedral]], and the [[Par force hunting landscape in North Zealand]] and 3 in the [[List of World Heritage Sites in North America|World Heritage list in North America]]: [[Ilulissat Icefjord]], Aasivissuit—[[Nipisat Island|Nipisat]], [[Kujataa]] within the Kingdom of Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/dk|title=Denmark: Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (8)|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=19 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713012915/https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/dk|archive-date=13 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Denmark}}

Denmark is usually considered a [[Progressivism|progressive]] country, which has adopted [[legislation]] and [[Public policy|policies]] to support [[women in Denmark|women's rights]], [[minority rights]], and [[LGBT rights in Denmark|LGBT rights]]. Human rights in Denmark are protected by the state's Constitution of the [[Realm of Denmark|Realm]] ''([[Constitution of Denmark|Danmarks Riges Grundlov]])''; applying equally in Denmark proper, [[Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]], and through the [[ratification]] of [[International human rights instruments|international human rights treaties]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.humanrights.dk/research/human-rights-in-denmark|title=Human rights in Denmark|website=The Danish Institute for Human Rights|language=en|access-date=14 May 2019|archive-date=25 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725111022/https://humanrights.dk/research/human-rights-in-denmark|url-status=dead}}</ref> Denmark has held a significant role in the adoption of both the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] and in the establishment of the [[European Court of Human Rights]] (ECHR). In 1987, the [[Folketing|Kingdom Parliament]] (''Folketinget'') established a national human rights institution, the Danish Centre of Human Rights, now the [[Danish Institute for Human Rights]].<ref name=":8" />

In 2009, a referendum on changing the [[Danish Act of Succession]] were held to grant [[absolute primogeniture]] to the Danish throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. As it was not retroactive, the current successor to the throne is the eldest son of the King, rather than his eldest child. The Danish constitution Article 2 states that "The monarchy is inherited by men and women".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedanishparliament.dk/-/media/pdf/publikationer/english/the_constitutional_act_of_denmark_2013,-d-,pdf.ashx |title=The Constitutional Act of Denmark |publisher=Folketinget.dk |access-date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702131614/https://www.thedanishparliament.dk/-/media/pdf/publikationer/english/the_constitutional_act_of_denmark_2013,-d-,pdf.ashx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Inuit]] have for decades been the subject of [[discrimination]] and [[abuse]] by the [[Danish colonization of the Americas|dominant colonisers from Europe]], those countries claiming possession of Inuit lands. The Inuit have never been a single community in a single region of Inuit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/press-releases/four-countries-one-people-inuit-strengthen-arctic-co-operation/|title=Four Countries, One People: Inuit Strengthen Arctic Co-operation &#124; Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada|date=24 November 2016|access-date=21 October 2020|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024044952/https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/press-releases/four-countries-one-people-inuit-strengthen-arctic-co-operation/|url-status=live}}</ref> From the 18th century up to the 1970s, the Danish government (Dano-Norwegian until 1814) tried to assimilate the [[Indigenous people]] of Greenland, the [[Greenlandic Inuit]], encouraging them to adopt the majority language, culture and religion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Archibald |first=Linda |url=https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ibpengweb.pdf |title=Decolonization and Healing: Indigenous Experiences in the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Greenland |publisher=Aboriginal Healing Foundation |year=2006 |isbn=9781897285145 |pages=22–23 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |access-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612161339/https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ibpengweb.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=January 2025|reason=The source does not support this statement. It does state that a Danish mission started in 1721, but the schools only started teaching Danish in 1928, according to the source.}} Denmark has been greatly criticised by the Greenlandic community for the politics of ''Danisation'' (1950s and 1960s) of and discrimination against the Indigenous population of the country.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Petersen |first=Robert |date=1995 |title=Colonialism as Seen from a Former Colonized Area |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40316390 |journal=Arctic Anthropology |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=121 |jstor=40316390 |issn=0066-6939 |archive-date=15 June 2024 |access-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615025700/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40316390 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Kočí |first1=Adam |last2=Baar |first2=Vladimír |date=8 August 2021 |title=Greenland and the Faroe Islands: Denmark's autonomous territories from postcolonial perspectives |journal=Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift – Norwegian Journal of Geography |language=en |volume=75 |issue=4 |pages=193–194 |doi=10.1080/00291951.2021.1951837 |issn=0029-1951|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021NGTid..75..189K }}</ref> Critical treatment paying non-Inuit workers higher wages than the local people, the relocation of entire families from their traditional lands into settlements, and separating children from their parents and sending them away to Denmark for schooling has been practised.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Hardt |first=Sofia Stærmose |date=2018 |title='By Gifts One Makes Slaves': Long-term Effects of Denmark's Colonization of Greenland |type=Senior project |publisher=Bard College |url=https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1276&context=senproj_s2018 |access-date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023192718/https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1276&context=senproj_s2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://saammaatta.gl//~/media/Forsoningskommission/Diverse/Endelig%20betænkning%20DK.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023132726/https://saammaatta.gl//~/media/Forsoningskommission/Diverse/Endelig%20bet%C3%A6nkning%20DK.pdf|date=23 October 2020}} Report published by the Greenland Reconciliation Commission</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Høeg |first=Kirstine |year=2019 |title=Forced assimilation of Indigenous children: The case of the Danish-Greenlandic experiment |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1483358/FULLTEXT01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118161000/https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1483358/FULLTEXT01.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2023 |access-date=10 June 2024 |publisher=Malmö University |pages=5–6}}</ref> Nevertheless, Denmark ratified, in 1996, to recognise the [[Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989|ILO-convention 169]] on Indigenous people recommended by the UN.

Denmark was the [[History of same-sex unions|first country in the world to grant legal recognition to same-sex unions]] in the form of [[civil union|registered partnerships]] in 1989. On 7 June 2012, the law was replaced by a new [[Same-sex marriage in Denmark|same-sex marriage law]], which came into effect on 15 June 2012.<ref name=cphpost>[http://cphpost.dk/news/national/gay-marriage-legalised The Copenhagen Post, 7 June 2012: ''Gay marriage legalised''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216001423/http://cphpost.dk/news/national/gay-marriage-legalised |date=16 February 2013 }} Retrieved 19 September 2012</ref> [[Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]] legalised same-sex marriage in April 2016,<ref name="Marriage Greenland">{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.dk/RIpdf/samling/20151/lovforslag/L35/20151_L35_som_vedtaget.pdf |title=Vedtaget af Folketinget ved 3. behandling den 19. januar 2016 Forslag til Lov om ændring af myndighedsloven for Grønland, lov om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger, retsplejelov for Grønland og kriminallov for Grønland |publisher=[[Folketinget]] |date=19 January 2016 |access-date=28 January 2016 |language=da |archive-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217190144/http://www.ft.dk/RIpdf/samling/20151/lovforslag/L35/20151_L35_som_vedtaget.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and in July 2017 respectively.<ref name=PNews2017>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/19/denmark-approves-same-sex-marriage-in-the-faroe-islands/|title=Denmark approves same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands|publisher=Pink News|date=19 June 2017|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102308/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/19/denmark-approves-same-sex-marriage-in-the-faroe-islands/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2016, a resolution was implemented by the [[Folketing|Danish parliament]] which prevented [[transgender]] identity being classified as a [[Mental disorder|mental health condition]]. In doing so, Denmark became the first country in [[Europe]] to go against the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) standards, which classified transgender identity as being a mental health issue until June 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.care2.com/causes/denmark-to-the-who-trans-identity-is-not-a-mental-illness.html|title=Denmark to the WHO: Trans Identity Is Not a Mental Illness|last=Williams|first=Steve|date=20 May 2016|website=Care2 Causes|language=en|access-date=7 June 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102635/https://www.care2.com/causes/denmark-to-the-who-trans-identity-is-not-a-mental-illness.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/20/transgender-not-mental-illness-world-health-organization/717758002/|title=Being transgender no longer classified as mental illness. Here's why|last=Simon|first=Caroline|date=20 June 2018|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=7 June 2019|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806153507/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/20/transgender-not-mental-illness-world-health-organization/717758002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In its 2024 [[Freedom in the World]] report, [[Freedom House]] rated the country "[[Freedom|free]]" with a score of 97 (out of 100).<ref name=FreedomintheWorld2024/>

=== Media ===
<!--linked from {{Main|Media of Denmark}}-->
{{Main|Cinema of Denmark|Television in Denmark}}

{{See also|Cinema of the Faroe Islands|Television in Greenland}}
[[File:Lars von Trier 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Director [[Lars von Trier]], who co-created the Dogme 95 film movement with Thomas Vinterberg]]

Danish cinema dates back to 1897 and since the 1980s has maintained a steady stream of productions due largely to funding by the state-supported [[Danish Film Institute]]. There have been three big internationally important waves of Danish cinema: erotic melodrama of the [[silent film|silent era]]; the increasingly explicit sex films of the 1960s and 1970s; and lastly, the [[Dogme 95]] movement of the late 1990s, where directors often used hand-held cameras to dynamic effect in a conscious reaction against big-budget studios. Danish films have been noted for their realism, religious and moral themes, sexual frankness and technical innovation. The Danish filmmaker [[Carl Theodor Dreyer|Carl Th. Dreyer]] is considered one of the greatest directors of [[early cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Carl Dreyer:Day of Wrath, Ordet, Gertrud |url=https://brightlightsfilm.com/carl-dreyer-day-wrath-ordet-gertrud-vhs/ |url-status=dead|work=Bright Lights Film Journal|access-date=1 July 2013|date=July 2000|archive-date=22 February 2026 |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0223-1247-08/https://brightlightsfilm.com:443/carl-dreyer-day-wrath-ordet-gertrud-vhs/}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |last=Ebert|first=Robert|title=The Passion of Joan of Arc|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc-1928|work=Chicago Sun Times|access-date=1 July 2013|date=16 February 1997|quote=Carl Theodor Dreyer (1889–1968), the Dane who was one of the greatest early directors.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610025315/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc-1928 |archive-date=10 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other Danish filmmakers of note include [[Erik Balling]], the creator of the popular ''[[Olsen-banden]]'' films; [[Gabriel Axel]], an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-winner for ''[[Babette's Feast]]'' in 1987; and [[Bille August]], the Oscar-, {{Lang|fr|[[Palme d'Or]]|italic=no}}- and [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]]-winner for ''[[Pelle the Conqueror]]'' in 1988. In the modern era, notable filmmakers in Denmark include [[Lars von Trier]], who co-created the Dogme 95 movement with [[Thomas Vinterberg]], and multiple award-winners [[Susanne Bier]] and [[Nicolas Winding Refn]]. [[Mads Mikkelsen]] is a world-renowned Danish actor, as is [[Nikolaj Coster-Waldau]].

Danish [[mass media]] date back to the 1540s, when handwritten fly sheets reported on the news. In 1666, [[Anders Bording]], the father of Danish journalism, began a [[state media|state paper]]. In 1834, the first liberal, factual newspaper appeared, and the 1849 Constitution established lasting [[freedom of the press in Denmark]].

Modern Danish mass media and news programming are dominated by a few large corporations. In printed media [[JP/Politikens Hus]] and [[Berlingske Media]], between them, control the largest newspapers ''[[Politiken]]'', ''[[Berlingske Tidende]]'' and {{Lang|da|[[Jyllands-Posten]]}} and major tabloids ''[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]]'' and {{Lang|da|[[Ekstra Bladet]]}}. [[Television in Denmark|In television]], publicly owned stations [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] and [[TV 2 (Denmark)|TV 2]] have large shares of the viewers.<ref>[http://tvm.gallup.dk/tvm/pm/default.htm ''TNS-Gallup'' meter] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219144649/http://tvm.gallup.dk/tvm/pm/default.htm |date=19 February 2014 }}; Television station viewer statistics, figures for July 2012 (week 28). Retrieved 20 July 2012.</ref> DR in particular is famous for its high quality TV-series often sold to foreign broadcasters and often with leading female characters like internationally known actresses [[Sidse Babett Knudsen]] and [[Sofie Gråbøl]]. In radio, DR has a near monopoly, currently broadcasting on all four nationally available [[FM broadcasting|FM]] channels, competing only with local stations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commercial radio|url=http://www.kulturstyrelsen.dk/english/media/media-structure-radio-and-tv/non-public-service-media/commercial-radio-and-tv/commercial-radio/|publisher=Danish Agency for Culture|access-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515001233/http://www.kulturstyrelsen.dk/english/media/media-structure-radio-and-tv/non-public-service-media/commercial-radio-and-tv/commercial-radio/|archive-date=15 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Denmark}}

{{See also|Music of the Faroe Islands|Music of Greenland}}
[[File:Carl Nielsen - Wind Quintet - 3. Praeludium - Adagio. Tema con variazioni - Un poco andantino, Min Jesus lad min hjerte få.ogg |thumb|upright=0.9|A sample from [[Carl Nielsen]]'s [[Wind Quintet (Nielsen)|Wind Quintet]] with the theme from ''Min Jesus, lad mit hjerte få'']]
Denmark and its multiple outlying islands have a [[Danish traditional music|wide range of folk traditions]]. The country's most famous classical composer is [[Carl Nielsen]] (1865–1931), especially remembered for his six symphonies and his [[Wind Quintet (Nielsen)|Wind Quintet]], while the [[Royal Danish Ballet]] specialises in the work of the Danish choreographer [[August Bournonville]]. The [[Royal Danish Orchestra]] is among the world's oldest orchestras.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Royal Danish Orchestra |url=http://kglteater.dk/about-us/the-royal-danish-orchestra |publisher=The Royal Danish Theatre |access-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507235232/http://kglteater.dk/about-us/the-royal-danish-orchestra |archive-date=7 May 2014 }}</ref> Danes have distinguished themselves as [[jazz]] musicians, and the [[Copenhagen Jazz Festival]] has acquired international recognition.

The modern [[pop music|pop]] and rock scene has produced a few names of international fame, including [[Aqua (band)|Aqua]], [[Alphabeat]], [[D-A-D]], [[King Diamond]], [[Kashmir (Danish band)|Kashmir]], [[Lukas Graham]], [[Mew (band)|Mew]], [[Michael Learns to Rock]], [[MØ]], [[Oh Land]], [[The Raveonettes]] and [[Volbeat]], among [[List of Danish bands|others]]. [[Lars Ulrich]], the drummer of the band [[Metallica]], has become the first Danish musician to be inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].

[[Roskilde Festival]] near Copenhagen is the largest music festival in Northern Europe since 1971 and Denmark has many [[List of festivals in Denmark|recurring music festivals]] of all genres throughout, including [[Aarhus International Jazz Festival]], [[Skanderborg Festival]], The Blue Festival in Aalborg, Esbjerg International Chamber Music Festival and [[Skagen Festival]] among many others.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160516134259/http://gaffa.com/festivalguide/dk Festivalguide] Gaffa {{in lang|da}}</ref><ref>[http://www.visitdenmark.dk/da/danmark/musikfestivaler-i-danmark Musikfestivaler i Danmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703105033/http://www.visitdenmark.dk/da/danmark/musikfestivaler-i-danmark |date=3 July 2016 }} VisitDenmark {{in lang|da}}</ref>

Denmark has participated in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] since 1957 and has won the contest three times, in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1963|1963]], [[Eurovision Song Contest 2000|2000]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest 2013|2013]].

=== Architecture and design ===
{{Main|Architecture of Denmark|Danish design}}

[[File:Pv jensen-klint 05 grundtvig memorial church 1913-1940.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Grundtvig's Church]] in Copenhagen, an example of expressionist architecture]]

Denmark's architecture became firmly established in the [[Middle Ages]] when first [[Romanesque style|Romanesque]], then [[Gothic style|Gothic]] churches and cathedrals sprang up throughout the country. From the 16th century, Dutch and Flemish designers were brought to Denmark, initially to improve the country's fortifications, but increasingly to build magnificent royal castles and palaces in the [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] style.
During the 17th century, many impressive buildings were built in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style, both in the capital and the provinces. [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassicism]] from France was slowly adopted by native Danish architects who increasingly participated in defining architectural style. A productive period of [[Historicism (art)|Historicism]] ultimately merged into the 19th-century [[National Romantic style]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitdenmark.com/irland/en-ie/menu/turist/inspiration/detkulturelledanmark/arkitektur/danish-architecture-an-overview.htm |title=Danish Architecture: An Overview |access-date=19 July 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719130528/http://www.visitdenmark.com/irland/en-ie/menu/turist/inspiration/detkulturelledanmark/arkitektur/danish-architecture-an-overview.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}, ''Visit Denmark''. Retrieved 3 September 2011.</ref>

The 20th century brought along new architectural styles; including [[expressionist architecture|expressionism]], best exemplified by the designs of architect [[Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint]], which relied heavily on Scandinavian brick Gothic traditions; and [[Nordic Classicism]], which enjoyed brief popularity in the early decades of the century. It was in the 1960s that Danish architects such as [[Arne Jacobsen]] entered the world scene with their highly successful [[Danish Functionalist style|Functionalist architecture]]. This, in turn, has evolved into more recent world-class masterpieces including [[Jørn Utzon]]'s [[Sydney Opera House]] and [[Johan Otto von Spreckelsen]]'s [[Grande Arche]] in Paris, paving the way for a number of contemporary Danish designers such as [[Bjarke Ingels]] to be rewarded for excellence both at home and abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambhanoi.um.dk/en/menu/InfoDenmark/Danish+Culture/Architecture/ |title=Architecture |access-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206051248/http://www.ambhanoi.um.dk/en/menu/InfoDenmark/Danish+Culture/Architecture/ |archive-date=6 February 2010 }}, Embassy of Denmark, Hanoi. Retrieved 3 October 2011.</ref>

Danish design is a term often used to describe a style of [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalistic]] design and architecture that was developed in the mid-20th century, originating in Denmark. Danish design is typically applied to industrial design, furniture and household objects, which have won many international awards. The [[Royal Copenhagen|Royal Porcelain Factory]] is famous for the quality of its ceramics. Danish design is also a well-known brand, often associated with world-famous, 20th-century designers and architects such as [[Børge Mogensen]], [[Finn Juhl]], [[Hans Wegner]], [[Arne Jacobsen]], [[Poul Henningsen]] and [[Verner Panton]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100522002856/http://en.ddc.dk/denmarkbydesign "Danish by Design"], ''DDC''. Retrieved 4 September 2011.</ref> Other designers of note include [[Kristian Solmer Vedel]] in the area of industrial design, [[Jens Quistgaard]] for kitchen furniture and implements and [[Ole Wanscher]] who had a classical approach to furniture design.

=== Literature and philosophy ===
{{Main|Danish literature|Danish philosophy}}

{{Multiple image
| image1            = HCA by Thora Hallager 1869 crop.jpg
| caption1          = Renowned author Hans Christian Andersen, best remembered for [[Hans Christian Andersen bibliography|his literary fairy tales]]
| image2            = Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) - (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = Søren Kirkegaard, existentialist philosopher considered one of the most important figures of the [[Danish Golden Age]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 June 2019 |title=New exhibition: The Danish Golden Age just got longer |url=https://www.smk.dk/en/article/ny-udstilling-nu-bliver-den-danske-guldalder-laengere/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=SMK – National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen (Statens Museum for Kunst) |language=en |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103131739/https://www.smk.dk/en/article/ny-udstilling-nu-bliver-den-danske-guldalder-laengere/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| total_width       = 300
}}

The first known Danish literature is myths and [[Danish folklore|folklore]] from the 10th and 11th century. [[Saxo Grammaticus]], normally considered the first Danish writer, worked on a chronicle of [[History of Denmark|Danish history]] ({{lang|la|[[Gesta Danorum]]}}). Very little is known of other Danish literature from the [[Middle Ages]]. With the [[Age of Enlightenment]] came [[Ludvig Holberg]] whose comedy plays are still being performed.

In the late 19th century, literature was seen as a way to influence society. Known as the [[Modern Breakthrough]], this movement was championed by [[Georg Brandes]], [[Henrik Pontoppidan]] (awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]) and [[Jens Peter Jacobsen|J.&nbsp;P. Jacobsen]]. [[Romanticism]] influenced the renowned writer and poet [[Hans Christian Andersen]], known for his stories and [[fairy tale]]s, e.g. ''[[The Ugly Duckling]]'', ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' and ''[[The Snow Queen]]''. In recent history [[Johannes Vilhelm Jensen]] was also awarded the [[Nobel Prize for Literature]]. [[Karen Blixen]] is famous for her novels and short stories. Other Danish writers of importance are [[Herman Bang]], [[Gustav Wied]], [[William Heinesen]], [[Martin Andersen Nexø]], [[Piet Hein (Denmark)|Piet Hein]], [[Hans Scherfig]], [[Klaus Rifbjerg]], [[Dan Turèll]], [[Tove Ditlevsen]], [[Inger Christensen]] and [[Peter Høeg]].

Danish philosophy has a long tradition as part of [[Western philosophy]]. Perhaps the most influential Danish philosopher was [[Søren Kierkegaard]], the creator of [[Christian existentialism]]. Kierkegaard had a few Danish followers, including [[Harald Høffding]], who later in his life moved on to join the movement of [[positivism]]. Another Danish philosopher of note is [[N. F. S. Grundtvig|Grundtvig]], whose philosophy gave rise to a new form of non-aggressive nationalism in Denmark, and who is also influential for his theological and historical works.

=== Painting and photography ===
{{Main|Danish art|Photography in Denmark}}

[[File:C W Eckersberg 1841 - Kvinde foran et spejl.jpg|thumb|right|upright|''Woman in Front of a Mirror'', (1841), by [[Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg]]]]

While Danish art was influenced over the centuries by trends in Germany and the Netherlands, the 15th- and 16th-century [[church frescos in Denmark|church frescos]], which can be seen in many of the country's older churches, are of particular interest as they were painted in a style typical of native Danish painters.<ref>[http://www.panoramas.dk/kalkmalerier/ Wall Paintings in Danish Churches from Panoramas.dk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128170607/http://www.panoramas.dk/kalkmalerier/ |date=28 November 2009 }}. Retrieved 12 August 2009. Adopting the [[Biblia pauperum]] approach, they present many of the most popular stories from the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s.</ref>

The [[Danish Golden Age]], which began in the first half of the 19th century, was inspired by a new feeling of nationalism and romanticism, typified in the later previous century by [[History painting|history painter]] [[Nicolai Abildgaard]]. [[Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg]] was not only a productive artist in his own right but taught at the [[Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts]] where his students included [[Wilhelm Bendz]], [[Christen Købke]], [[Martinus Rørbye]], [[Constantin Hansen]], and [[Wilhelm Marstrand]].

In 1871, [[Holger Drachmann]] and [[Karl Madsen]] visited [[Skagen]] in the far north of [[Jutland]] where they quickly built up one of Scandinavia's most successful [[Skagen Painters|artists' colonies]] specialising in [[Naturalism (arts)|Naturalism]] and [[Realism (arts)|Realism]] rather than in the traditional approach favoured by the academy. Hosted by [[Michael Ancher|Michael]] and his wife [[Anna Ancher|Anna]], they were soon joined by [[P.S. Krøyer]], [[Carl Locher]] and [[Laurits Tuxen]]. All participated in painting the natural surroundings and local people.{{cn|date=January 2026}} Similar trends developed on Funen with the ''[[Fynboerne]]'' who included [[Johannes Larsen]], [[Fritz Syberg]] and [[Peter Hansen (painter)|Peter Hansen]],<ref name=Funish>[http://www.johanneslarsenmuseet.dk/page.asp?sideid=2301&zcs=2200 "The Funish Art Colony"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418012953/http://www.johanneslarsenmuseet.dk/page.asp?sideid=2301&zcs=2200 |date=18 April 2013 }}, ''Johannes Larsen Museet''. Retrieved 12 August 2011.</ref> and on the island of Bornholm with the [[Bornholm school of painters]] including [[Niels Lergaard]], [[Kræsten Iversen]] and [[Oluf Høst]].<ref>[http://www.roughguides.com/travel/europe/denmark/introduction-to-denmark.aspx The Bornholm School from the Rough Guide to Denmark.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120162042/http://www.roughguides.com/travel/europe/denmark/introduction-to-denmark.aspx |date=20 January 2013 }} Retrieved 10 December 2008.</ref>

Painting has continued to be a prominent form of artistic expression in Danish culture, inspired by and also influencing major international trends in this area. These include [[impressionism]] and the modernist styles of [[expressionism]], [[abstract painting]] and [[surrealism]]. While international co-operation and activity has almost always been essential to the Danish artistic community, influential art collectives with a firm Danish base includes [[De Tretten]] (1909–1912), [[Linien]] (1930s and 1940s), [[COBRA (avant-garde movement)|COBRA]] (1948–1951), [[Fluxus]] (1960s and 1970s), [[Junge Wilde|De Unge Vilde]] (1980s) and more recently [[Superflex]] (founded in 1993). Notable Danish painters from modern times representing various [[art movements]] include [[Theodor Philipsen]] (impressionism and naturalism), [[Anna Klindt Sørensen]] (expressionism), [[Franciska Clausen]] (Neue Sachlichkeit, cubism, surrealism and others), [[Henry Heerup]] (naivism), [[Robert Jacobsen]] (abstract painting), [[Carl Henning Pedersen]] (abstract painting), [[Asger Jorn]] (Situationist, abstract painting), [[Bjørn Wiinblad]] (art deco, orientalism), [[Per Kirkeby]] (neo-expressionism, abstract painting), [[Per Arnoldi]] (pop art), and [[Michael Kvium]] (neo-surrealism).

Danish photography has developed from strong participation and interest in the very beginnings of the [[history of photography|art of photography]] in 1839. Pioneers such as [[Mads Alstrup]] and [[Georg Emil Hansen]] paved the way for a rapidly growing profession during the last half of the 19th century. Today Danish photographers such as [[Astrid Kruse Jensen]] and [[Jacob Aue Sobol]] are active in key exhibitions around the world.<ref>[http://www.photography-now.com/popup_ausst_5.php?id_ausstellungen=T50624 Contemporary Danish Photography. From Photography-Now] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707000845/http://www.photography-now.com/popup_ausst_5.php?id_ausstellungen=T50624 |date=7 July 2012 }} . Retrieved 28 January 2010.</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Danish cuisine}}

{{See also|Faroese cuisine|Greenlandic cuisine}}
[[File:Smørrebrød-01.jpg|thumb|''Smørrebrød'', a variety of Danish open sandwiches piled high with delicacies]]

The traditional [[cuisine]] of Denmark, like that of the other Nordic countries and of [[Northern Germany]], consists mainly of meat, fish and potatoes. Danish dishes are highly seasonal, stemming from the country's agricultural past, its geography, and its climate of long, cold winters.

The open sandwiches on rye bread, known as ''[[smørrebrød]]'', can be considered a national speciality. Hot meals traditionally consist of [[ground meat]]s, such as ''[[frikadeller]]'' (meat balls of veal and pork) and ''hakkebøf'' (minced beef patties), or of more substantial meat and fish dishes such as ''[[flæskesteg]]'' (roast pork with crackling) and ''kogt torsk'' (poached cod) with mustard sauce. Denmark is known for its [[Carlsberg Group|Carlsberg]] and [[Tuborg]] beers and for its [[akvavit]] and [[bitters]].

Since around 1970, chefs and restaurants across Denmark have introduced [[gourmet]] cooking, largely influenced by [[French cuisine]]. Also inspired by continental practices, Danish chefs have recently developed a new innovative cuisine and a series of gourmet dishes based on high-quality local produce known as [[New Danish cuisine]].<ref>{{cite web|title=new nordic recipes|url=http://denmark.dk/en/lifestyle/food-drink/new-nordic-recipes|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark|access-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807191139/http://denmark.dk/en/lifestyle/food-drink/new-nordic-recipes/|archive-date=7 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a result of these developments, Denmark now has a considerable number of internationally acclaimed restaurants of which several have been awarded [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]]. This includes [[Geranium (restaurant)|Geranium]] and [[Noma (restaurant)|Noma]] in Copenhagen.

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Denmark}}

{{seealso|Sport in the Faroe Islands|Sport in Greenland}}

[[File:Michael Laudrup 2016c.jpg|thumb|[[Michael Laudrup]] was named the best Danish football player of all time by the Danish Football Union.]]
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Sports are popular in Denmark, and its citizens participate in and watch a wide variety. The [[national sport]] is [[association football|football]], with over 320,000 players in more than 1600 [[football club (association football)|clubs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=DIF specialforbunds medlems|url=http://public.tableausoftware.com/profile/#!/vizhome/DIFidraettenital2013-dif_dk/DIFmedl-foren-tal|publisher=Danmarks Idrætsforbund|access-date=15 June 2014|language=da|year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526234318/http://public.tableausoftware.com/profile/#!/vizhome/DIFidraettenital2013-dif_dk/DIFmedl-foren-tal|archive-date=26 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Denmark qualified six times consecutively for the [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championships]] between 1984 and 2004, and were crowned European champions in [[1992 UEFA European Football Championship|1992]]; other significant achievements include winning the Confederations Cup in 1995 and reaching the quarter-final of the 1998 World Cup.
The [[Denmark women's national handball team]] celebrated great successes during the 1990s and has won a total of 13 medals—seven gold (in 1994, 1996 (2), 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2004), four silver (in 1962, 1993, 1998 and 2004) and two bronze (in 1995 and 2013). On the [[Denmark men's national handball team|men's side]], Denmark has won 12 medals—four gold (in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019), four silver (in 1967, 2011, 2013 and 2014) and four bronze (in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007)—the most that have been won by any team in [[European Men's Handball Championship|European Handball Championship]] history.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Team rankings|url=http://www.eurohandball.com/2013/article/011996|publisher=European Handball Federation|access-date=13 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203184111/http://www.eurohandball.com/2013/article/011996|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, the Danish men's national handball team won their first [[Denmark men's national handball team#2019 World Championship|World Championship title]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bo |first=Bentsen |date=27 January 2019 |title=Danmark er verdensmester – TV 2 |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/haandbold/2019-01-27-danmark-er-verdensmester |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=sport.tv2.dk |language=da-DK |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202160936/https://sport.tv2.dk/haandbold/2019-01-27-danmark-er-verdensmester |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2019 |title=Flawless Denmark Claim First World Title |url=https://www.ihf.info/competitions/men/308/2019-ihf-mens-world-championship/147/news/931 |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=www.ihf.info}}</ref>

In recent years, Denmark has made a mark as a strong [[cycle sport|cycling]] nation, with [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]] reaching [[King of the Mountains]] status in the [[Tour de France]] in 2005 and 2006. Other popular sports include golf—which is mostly popular among those in the older demographic;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dif.dk/OmDIF/Forside/Idraetten%20i%20tal/medlemstal.aspx |title=Om DIF – Medlemstal |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716195104/http://www.dif.dk/OmDIF/Forside/Idraetten%20i%20tal/medlemstal.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2007 }} {{in lang|da}}, ''The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark''</ref> [[tennis]]—in which Denmark is successful on a professional level; [[basketball]]—Denmark joined the international governing body [[FIBA]] in 1951;<ref>[https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/fibaStru/nfLeag/p/nationalfederationnumber/271/nfProf.html Profile | Denmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114021234/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/fibaStru/nfLeag/p/nationalfederationnumber/271/nfProf.html |date=14 November 2015 }}, Fiba.com. Retrieved 24 September 2015.</ref> rugby—the [[Danish Rugby Union]] dates back to 1950;<ref>Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|978-1-86200-013-1}}) p. 66. Archived from July 2007 and Retrieved June 2012.</ref> [[ice hockey]]—often competing in the top division in the Men's World Championships; rowing—Denmark specialise in lightweight rowing and are particularly known for their lightweight coxless four, having won six gold and two silver World Championship medals and three gold and two bronze [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] medals; and several indoor sports—especially [[badminton]], [[table tennis]] and gymnastics, in each of which Denmark holds World Championships and [[Denmark at the Olympics|Olympic medals]].
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== See also ==
{{Portal|Denmark|Countries|Europe|European Union
}}
* [[Outline of Denmark]]
*[[Religion in Denmark]]
{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group="N"|30em}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last1=Stone|first1=Andrew|last2=Bain|first2=Carolyn|last3=Booth|first3=Michael|last4=Parnell|first4=Fran|title=Denmark|date=2008|publisher=Lonely Planet|location=Footscray, Victoria|isbn=978-1-74104-669-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetdenm00andr/page/31 31]|edition=5th|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetdenm00andr|url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last1=Busck |first1=Steen |editor-last1=Poulsen|editor-first1=Henning |title=Danmarks historie&nbsp; – i grundtræk|year=2002 |publisher=Aarhus Universitetsforlag |publication-date=2002| isbn=978-87-7288-941-2 |language=da}}
* {{cite book |title= Den oövervinnerlige |last=Englund |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Englund |year=2000 |publisher=Atlantis |location=Stockholm |isbn=978-91-7486-999-6 |language=sv}}
* {{cite book |title= The Northern Wars (1558–1721) |first=Robert I. |last=Frost |year=2000 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=978-0-582-06429-4}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Gammelgaard |first1=Frederik |last2=Sørensen |first2=Niels
|year=1998
|title=Danmark – en demokratisk stat
|publisher=Alinea
|isbn=978-87-23-00280-8|language=da}}
* {{cite book |title= Karl X Gustavs krig|last=Isacson |first= Claes-Göran |year= 2002 |publisher= Historiska Media |location= Lund |isbn= 978-91-85057-25-2|language=sv}}
* {{cite book|last=Jensen|first=Lene|chapter=Current status and trends in inland fisheries in Denmark|editor-first=Gunnar|editor-last=Lundqvist|title=Current Status and Trends in Inland Fisheries|location=Copenhagen|publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers|year=1999|isbn=978-9-28930-402-3|pages=10–18}}
* {{Cite book|last=Jørgensen |first=Gitte
|year=1995
|title=Sådan styres Danmark
|publisher=Flachs
|isbn=978-87-7826-031-4|language=da}}
* {{cite book |last=Michaelsen |first=Karsten Kjer |chapter=Politikens bog om Danmarks oldtid |title=Politikens Forlag (1. bogklubudgave) |year=2002 |publisher=Gyldendals Bogklubber |isbn=978-87-00-69328-9 |language=da}}
* {{in lang|sv}} Nationalencyklopedin, vol. 4, Bokförlaget Bra Böcker, 2000, {{ISBN|978-91-7024-619-7}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=Geoffrey |title=The Thirty Years' War |date=1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/thirtyyearswar0000unse |location=London and New York |publisher=Routledge |language=en |isbn=0-415-02534-6}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links |auto=yes |s=Portal:Denmark}} 
{{Scholia|country}}

* [http://www.denmark.dk/ Denmark.dk] Official website of Denmark
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20260118191623/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/ Denmark]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17929661 Denmark profile] from the [[BBC News]].
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=DK Key Development Forecasts for Denmark] from [[International Futures]].

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