Denmark

Denmark is a European country in the Nordic and Scandinavian regions. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the north Atlantic Ocean. Metropolitan Denmark, also called "continental Denmark" or "Denmark proper", consists of the northern Jutland peninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands. It is the southernmost of the Scandinavian 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. The Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, has roughly 1,400 islands greater than 100 square metres (1,100 sq ft) in area; 443 have been named and 78 are inhabited. Denmark's population is over 6 million (1 May 2025), 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. Composed mostly of flat, arable land, Denmark is characterised by sandy coasts, low elevation, and a temperate climate. Denmark exercises hegemonic influence in the Danish Realm, 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 further autonomy in 2009. The unified Kingdom of Denmark emerged in the eighth century AD as a maritime power amid the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea. 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 series of wars in the 17th century that resulted in further territorial cessions. A surge of nationalist movements in the 19th century were defeated in the First Schleswig War of 1848. The adoption of the Constitution of Denmark on 5 June 1849 ended the absolute monarchy. 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 Grundtvig, but generally a stronger self-perception among the people of belonging to a unified country and state. In 1920 North Schleswig became Danish. Denmark began industrialising in the mid 19th century, becoming a major agricultural exporter. It introduced social and labour market reforms in the early 20th century, forming the basis for the present welfare state model and advanced mixed economy. Denmark remained neutral during World War I; Danish neutrality was violated in World War II by a rapid German invasion in April 1940. During occupation, a resistance movement emerged in 1943, while Iceland declared independence in 1944; Denmark was liberated after the end of the war in May 1945. In 1973, Denmark, together with Greenland but not the Faroe Islands, became a member of what is now the European Union; however, it negotiated certain opt-outs, such as retaining its own currency, the krone. Denmark is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy, high standard of living, and robust social welfare policies. Danish culture and society are broadly progressive egalitarian, and socially liberal; Denmark was the first country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships. It is a founding member of NATO, the Nordic Council, the OECD, the 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. The Danish political system, which emphasizes broad consensus, is used by American 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.

Infobox

Sovereign state

Kingdom of Denmark

Consolidation

c. 8th century

Constitutional Act

5 June 1849

Capitaland largest city

Copenhagen 55°43′N 12°34′E / 55.717°N 12.567°E / 55.717; 12.567

Official languages

Danish

Regional languages

German[N 2]

Ethnic groups (2025)

mw- 83.7% Danish16.3% Others

Religion (2024)

71.4% Lutheranism (official)4.3% Islam24.3% Other / none

Demonym(s)

mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li DanishDane

Government

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Monarch

Frederik X

• Prime Minister

Mette Frederiksen

Legislature

Folketing

• Total

$449.940 billion[N 3] (35th)

• Water (%)

1.74

Highest elevation (Møllehøj)

170.86 m (560.6 ft)

• May 2025 estimate

6,001,008[N 3] (112th)

• Density

139.3/km2 (360.8/sq mi) (93rd)

GDP (PPP)

2025 estimate

• Per capita

$74,969 (9th)

GDP (nominal)

2025 estimate

Gini (2022)

27.7 } }low

HDI (2023)

0.962very high · 4th

Currency

Danish krone

Time zone

UTC 01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC 02:00 (CEST)

Driving side

Right

Calling code

Internet TLD

dk[N 4]

Tables

· Government and politics › Danish Realm

Faroe Islands (Færøerne, Føroyar)

Autonomous territory

Faroe Islands (Færøerne, Føroyar)

Population (2020)

52,110

Total area

1,399 km2 (540.16 sq mi)

Capital

Tórshavn

Local parliament

Løgting

Premier

Aksel V. Johannesen

Greenland (Grønland, Kalaallit Nunaat)

Autonomous territory

Greenland (Grønland, Kalaallit Nunaat)

Population (2020)

56,081

Total area

2,166,086 km2 (836,330 sq mi)

Capital

Nuuk

Local parliament

Inatsisartut

Premier

Múte Bourup Egede

Autonomous territory	Population (2020)	Total area	Capital	Local parliament	Premier
Faroe Islands (Færøerne, Føroyar)	52,110	1,399 km2 (540.16 sq mi)	Tórshavn	Løgting	Aksel V. Johannesen
Greenland (Grønland, Kalaallit Nunaat)	56,081	2,166,086 km2 (836,330 sq mi)	Nuuk	Inatsisartut	Múte Bourup Egede

· Government and politics › Administrative divisions › Regions

Hovedstaden

Danish name

Hovedstaden

English name

Capital Region of Denmark

Admin. centre

Hillerød

Largest city(populous)

Copenhagen

Population(April 2021)

1,856,061

Total area(km2)

2,568.29

Midtjylland

Danish name

Midtjylland

English name

Central Denmark Region

Admin. centre

Viborg

Largest city(populous)

Aarhus

Population(April 2021)

1,333,245

Total area(km2)

13,095.80

Nordjylland

Danish name

Nordjylland

English name

North Denmark Region

Admin. centre

Aalborg

Largest city(populous)

Aalborg

Population(April 2021)

590,322

Total area(km2)

7,907.09

Sjælland

Danish name

Sjælland

English name

Region Zealand

Admin. centre

Sorø

Largest city(populous)

Roskilde

Population(April 2021)

839,619

Total area(km2)

7,268.75

Syddanmark

Danish name

Syddanmark

English name

Region of Southern Denmark

Admin. centre

Vejle

Largest city(populous)

Odense

Population(April 2021)

1,224,100

Total area(km2)

12,132.21

Source: Regional and municipal key figures

Danish name

Source: Regional and municipal key figures

Danish name	English name	Admin. centre	Largest city(populous)	Population(April 2021)	Total area(km2)
Hovedstaden	Capital Region of Denmark	Hillerød	Copenhagen	1,856,061	2,568.29
Midtjylland	Central Denmark Region	Viborg	Aarhus	1,333,245	13,095.80
Nordjylland	North Denmark Region	Aalborg	Aalborg	590,322	7,907.09
Sjælland	Region Zealand	Sorø	Roskilde	839,619	7,268.75
Syddanmark	Region of Southern Denmark	Vejle	Odense	1,224,100	12,132.21
Source: Regional and municipal key figures

· Demographics › Population

Copenhagen Aarhus