Despite having a population smaller than many major world cities, Denmark's dynamic society and robust economy consistently propel it to the top of global happiness and quality-of-life rankings.
Key Takeaways
- Denmark's population as of 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 people
- The population density of Denmark in 2022 was 137.7 inhabitants per square kilometer
- In 2022, 86.3% of Denmark's population lived in urban areas
- Denmark's GDP in 2022 was 403.5 billion USD
- GDP per capita in Denmark in 2022 was 68,300 USD
- GDP growth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 2.7%
- Total land area of Denmark is 42,933 square kilometers
- Coastline length of Denmark is 7,314 km
- Highest point in Denmark is Møllehøj at 170.86 meters
- Life expectancy at birth in Denmark 2022: 81.4 years total
- Obesity rate (BMI >30) in Denmark adults 2022: 19.7%
- Physicians per 1,000 people in Denmark 2021: 4.3
- Parliamentary system with Folketing having 179 seats
- King Frederik X ascended throne on 14 January 2024
- Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen since 27 June 2019
Denmark is a prosperous, aging, and highly urbanized nation with a robust economy.
Demographics and Population
- Denmark's population as of 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 people
- The population density of Denmark in 2022 was 137.7 inhabitants per square kilometer
- In 2022, 86.3% of Denmark's population lived in urban areas
- The median age in Denmark as of 2023 was 41.3 years
- Denmark's total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.55 children per woman
- Life expectancy at birth for males in Denmark in 2022 was 79.4 years
- Life expectancy at birth for females in Denmark in 2022 was 83.1 years
- Net migration rate to Denmark in 2022 was 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
- 13.8% of Denmark's population in 2022 were immigrants
- The largest age group in Denmark in 2022 was 50-54 years old with 363,000 people
- Denmark's population growth rate in 2022 was 0.48%
- In 2021, 51.7% of Denmark's population was female
- Copenhagen metropolitan area had 1,369,200 inhabitants in 2022
- Aarhus had 361,000 inhabitants in 2022
- Odense had 205,800 inhabitants in 2022
- 26.4% of Denmark's population in 2022 were aged 65 or older
- Infant mortality rate in Denmark in 2022 was 3.0 deaths per 1,000 live births
- Ethnic Danes make up 86.3% of the population as of 2023
- Muslims comprise 5.4% of Denmark's population in 2020
- Unemployment rate among immigrants in Denmark in 2022 was 7.9%
- Average household size in Denmark in 2021 was 2.1 persons
- 49.1% of Danish households in 2021 were single-person households
- Birth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 10.5 live births per 1,000 population
- Death rate in Denmark in 2022 was 9.6 deaths per 1,000 population
- Natural increase in population in 2022 was 0.9 per 1,000 population
- Population of Greenland (autonomous territory of Denmark) in 2023 was 56,583
- Faroe Islands population in 2023 was 54,000
- 18.7% of births in Denmark in 2022 were to foreign-born mothers
- Youth dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 27.2%
- Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 32.1%
Demographics and Population Interpretation
Denmark presents a portrait of a healthy, urbanized, and aging society that, while not exactly repopulating itself with gusto, is gently sustained by a modest influx of newcomers, all coexisting at a comfortable arm’s-length distance, as evidenced by half the households being solo acts.
Economy and Finance
- Denmark's GDP in 2022 was 403.5 billion USD
- GDP per capita in Denmark in 2022 was 68,300 USD
- GDP growth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 2.7%
- Unemployment rate in Denmark in 2022 averaged 4.6%
- Inflation rate (CPI) in Denmark in 2022 was 7.7%
- Public debt as percentage of GDP in Denmark in 2022 was 29.4%
- Exports of goods and services in 2022 were 64.2% of GDP
- Imports of goods and services in 2022 were 60.1% of GDP
- Current account balance in 2022 was 8.9% of GDP
- Average gross hourly wage in Denmark in 2022 was 285.5 DKK
- Minimum wage is not legally mandated but average monthly salary in 2022 was 45,000 DKK
- Corporate tax rate in Denmark is 22%
- VAT (standard rate) in Denmark is 25%
- Labor force participation rate (ages 15-64) in 2022 was 82.3%
- Wind power generated 55.8% of Denmark's electricity in 2022
- Pharmaceutical exports from Denmark in 2022 totaled 128 billion DKK
- Machinery exports in 2022 were 109 billion DKK
- Main export partner Germany accounted for 13.4% of exports in 2022
- Main import partner Germany accounted for 23.8% of imports in 2022
- Stock market capitalization (Copenhagen) in 2022 was 683 billion DKK
- Household saving rate in Denmark in 2022 was 11.2%
- R&D expenditure as % of GDP in 2021 was 3.03%
- Number of startups in Denmark in 2022 was 4,500 new firms
- Foreign direct investment inflow in 2022 was 7.2 billion USD
- Tourism revenue in 2022 was 25 billion DKK
- Agriculture contributes 1.2% to GDP in 2022
- Industry contributes 22.1% to GDP in 2022
- Services contribute 76.7% to GDP in 2022
Economy and Finance Interpretation
Denmark is a remarkably stable and prosperous economy, casually generating enormous wealth per person with nearly everyone working, all while quietly powering itself with wind, exporting top-tier medicine and machinery, and still finding room to save, innovate, and occasionally fret about that single-digit inflation.
Geography and Climate
- Total land area of Denmark is 42,933 square kilometers
- Coastline length of Denmark is 7,314 km
- Highest point in Denmark is Møllehøj at 170.86 meters
- Lowest point in Denmark is Lammefjord at -7 meters
- Average annual temperature in Denmark is 9.0°C
- Annual precipitation average in Denmark is 824 mm
- Forest cover in Denmark is 15.3% of land area as of 2020
- Arable land is 56.4% of Denmark's land area in 2020
- Number of islands in Denmark is over 7,800
- Longest river in Denmark is Gudenå at 158 km
- Largest lake in Denmark is Arresø at 39.5 square km
- Denmark's exclusive economic zone is 105,989 square nautical miles
- Renewable energy share of total energy consumption in 2022 was 42.7%
- Wind turbines installed capacity in 2022 was 11,143 MW onshore and 2,718 MW offshore
- Solar PV capacity in 2022 was 3,880 MW
- Protected areas cover 8.5% of Denmark's land area
- Number of national parks in Denmark is 7, covering 1,169 square km
- Average wind speed in Denmark is 7.6 m/s at 10m height
- Sea level rise threat: Denmark loses 10 cm per decade due to subsidence and rise
- Jutland peninsula makes up 2/3 of Denmark's landmass
- Zealand island area is 7,031 square km
- Funen island area is 3,256 square km
- Copenhagen lies at 55°40′N 12°34′E coordinates
Geography and Climate Interpretation
Denmark, a nation paradoxically vast in its 7,800-island coastline yet so modest in its 170-meter peak, is a flat, fertile, and windswept leader defiantly engineering a green future from a sea slowly reclaiming it.
Government and Society
- Parliamentary system with Folketing having 179 seats
- King Frederik X ascended throne on 14 January 2024
- Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen since 27 June 2019
- Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 score: 90/100 (rank 1st)
- Press Freedom Index 2023 rank: 2nd out of 180, score 89.4
- Gender equality index 2022: 73.1/100
- Military expenditure % GDP 2022: 1.4%
- Active military personnel 2023: 20,000
- NATO member since 1949
- EU member since 1973, Schengen Area member since 2001
- Gini coefficient after taxes 2021: 26.7 (low inequality)
- Voter turnout 2022 election: 84.1%
- Happiness ranking World Happiness Report 2023: 2nd, score 7.586
- Social expenditure % GDP 2021: 28.4%
- Renewable energy policy: 100% renewable electricity by 2030 target
- Same-sex marriage legalized since 2012
- Number of municipalities: 98 since 2007 reform
- Freedom House score 2023: 97/100 (Free)
- Internet freedom score 2023: 94/100
- Women in parliament 2022: 44.6%
- CO2 emissions per capita 2022: 4.0 tons
- Recycling rate municipal waste 2022: 52%
- Paternity leave: 2 weeks reserved, total parental leave 52 weeks
- Average retirement age 2023: 67 years
Government and Society Interpretation
Denmark's enviable stability, low corruption, and high happiness suggest a system that, while occasionally bickering politely in its 179-seat parliament, has largely mastered the art of adult supervision.
Health and Education
- Life expectancy at birth in Denmark 2022: 81.4 years total
- Obesity rate (BMI >30) in Denmark adults 2022: 19.7%
- Physicians per 1,000 people in Denmark 2021: 4.3
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people 2021: 2.6
- Health expenditure as % of GDP 2021: 10.8%
- PISA 2022 math score for Denmark: 489
- PISA 2022 reading score: 489
- PISA 2022 science score: 494
- Tertiary education attainment (ages 25-34) 2022: 48%
- Student-teacher ratio primary education 2021: 9.6
- Government expenditure on education % GDP 2020: 6.8%
- Suicide rate per 100,000 in 2021: 6.4
- Cancer incidence rate per 100,000 in 2020: 300.5
- Diabetes prevalence in adults 2021: 5.6%
- Vaccination rate measles 2022: 95%
- Alcohol consumption per capita 2021: 9.6 liters pure alcohol
- Smoking prevalence adults 2021: 14%
- Literacy rate adult total 2020: 99%
- School enrollment secondary net 2021: 98.2%
- University enrollment rate 2022: 35% of age cohort
- COVID-19 vaccination rate fully vaccinated as of 2023: 84.5%
- Mental health treatment coverage 2022: 90% of population
- Air pollution PM2.5 mean annual exposure 2021: 8.9 micrograms per cubic meter
- Number of universities in Denmark: 8 public research universities
- Average class size primary school 2022: 19 students
- Student mobility outbound 2022: 15% of students
Health and Education Interpretation
Denmark delivers a remarkably long and literate life with commendable efficiency, proving you don't need to spend lavishly on hospital beds when you invest smartly in everything from teachers to vaccines, though one might gently suggest swapping a few of those 9.6 liters of alcohol for a salad.
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