General background: Once the seat of Viking raiders
and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved
into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating
in the general political and economic integration of Europe.
However, the country has opted out of European Union's
Maastricht Treaty, the European monetary system (EMU),
and issues concerning certain internal affairs.
Area comparative: Slightly less than twice the
size of Massachusetts
Climate: Temperate;
humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: Low and flat to gently rolling plains
Population: 5,368,854 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese,
German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant
and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
Language: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit
dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Government type: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Legal system: Civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations.
Economic overview: This thoroughly modern market economy
features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale
and corporate industry, extensive government welfare
measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency,
and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net
exporter of food and energy and has a comfortable balance
of payments surplus. The government has been successful
in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence
criteria for participating in the third phase (a common
European currency) of the European Monetary Union (EMU),
but Denmark, in a September 2000 referendum, reconfirmed
its decision not to join the 11 other EU members in
the euro. Even so, the Danish currency remains pegged
to the euro.
Communication/Telephone system: Excellent telephone
and telegraph services
Places of interest:
Travel tips:
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