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
1Denmark's population as of 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 people
Verified2The population density of Denmark in 2022 was 137.7 inhabitants per square kilometer
Verified3In 2022, 86.3% of Denmark's population lived in urban areas
Verified4The median age in Denmark as of 2023 was 41.3 years
Directional5Denmark's total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.55 children per woman
Single source6Life expectancy at birth for males in Denmark in 2022 was 79.4 years
Verified7Life expectancy at birth for females in Denmark in 2022 was 83.1 years
Verified8Net migration rate to Denmark in 2022 was 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
Verified913.8% of Denmark's population in 2022 were immigrants
Directional10The largest age group in Denmark in 2022 was 50-54 years old with 363,000 people
Single source11Denmark's population growth rate in 2022 was 0.48%
Verified12In 2021, 51.7% of Denmark's population was female
Verified13Copenhagen metropolitan area had 1,369,200 inhabitants in 2022
Verified14Aarhus had 361,000 inhabitants in 2022
Directional15Odense had 205,800 inhabitants in 2022
Single source1626.4% of Denmark's population in 2022 were aged 65 or older
Verified17Infant mortality rate in Denmark in 2022 was 3.0 deaths per 1,000 live births
Verified18Ethnic Danes make up 86.3% of the population as of 2023
Verified19Muslims comprise 5.4% of Denmark's population in 2020
Directional20Unemployment rate among immigrants in Denmark in 2022 was 7.9%
Single source21Average household size in Denmark in 2021 was 2.1 persons
Verified2249.1% of Danish households in 2021 were single-person households
Verified23Birth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 10.5 live births per 1,000 population
Verified24Death rate in Denmark in 2022 was 9.6 deaths per 1,000 population
Directional25Natural increase in population in 2022 was 0.9 per 1,000 population
Single source26Population of Greenland (autonomous territory of Denmark) in 2023 was 56,583
Verified27Faroe Islands population in 2023 was 54,000
Verified2818.7% of births in Denmark in 2022 were to foreign-born mothers
Verified29Youth dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 27.2%
Directional30Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 32.1%
Single sourceDemographics 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
1Denmark's GDP in 2022 was 403.5 billion USD
Verified2GDP per capita in Denmark in 2022 was 68,300 USD
Verified3GDP growth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 2.7%
Verified4Unemployment rate in Denmark in 2022 averaged 4.6%
Directional5Inflation rate (CPI) in Denmark in 2022 was 7.7%
Single source6Public debt as percentage of GDP in Denmark in 2022 was 29.4%
Verified7Exports of goods and services in 2022 were 64.2% of GDP
Verified8Imports of goods and services in 2022 were 60.1% of GDP
Verified9Current account balance in 2022 was 8.9% of GDP
Directional10Average gross hourly wage in Denmark in 2022 was 285.5 DKK
Single source11Minimum wage is not legally mandated but average monthly salary in 2022 was 45,000 DKK
Verified12Corporate tax rate in Denmark is 22%
Verified13VAT (standard rate) in Denmark is 25%
Verified14Labor force participation rate (ages 15-64) in 2022 was 82.3%
Directional15Wind power generated 55.8% of Denmark's electricity in 2022
Single source16Pharmaceutical exports from Denmark in 2022 totaled 128 billion DKK
Verified17Machinery exports in 2022 were 109 billion DKK
Verified18Main export partner Germany accounted for 13.4% of exports in 2022
Verified19Main import partner Germany accounted for 23.8% of imports in 2022
Directional20Stock market capitalization (Copenhagen) in 2022 was 683 billion DKK
Single source21Household saving rate in Denmark in 2022 was 11.2%
Verified22R&D expenditure as % of GDP in 2021 was 3.03%
Verified23Number of startups in Denmark in 2022 was 4,500 new firms
Verified24Foreign direct investment inflow in 2022 was 7.2 billion USD
Directional25Tourism revenue in 2022 was 25 billion DKK
Single source26Agriculture contributes 1.2% to GDP in 2022
Verified27Industry contributes 22.1% to GDP in 2022
Verified28Services contribute 76.7% to GDP in 2022
VerifiedEconomy 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
1Total land area of Denmark is 42,933 square kilometers
Verified2Coastline length of Denmark is 7,314 km
Verified3Highest point in Denmark is Møllehøj at 170.86 meters
Verified4Lowest point in Denmark is Lammefjord at -7 meters
Directional5Average annual temperature in Denmark is 9.0°C
Single source6Annual precipitation average in Denmark is 824 mm
Verified7Forest cover in Denmark is 15.3% of land area as of 2020
Verified8Arable land is 56.4% of Denmark's land area in 2020
Verified9Number of islands in Denmark is over 7,800
Directional10Longest river in Denmark is Gudenå at 158 km
Single source11Largest lake in Denmark is Arresø at 39.5 square km
Verified12Denmark's exclusive economic zone is 105,989 square nautical miles
Verified13Renewable energy share of total energy consumption in 2022 was 42.7%
Verified14Wind turbines installed capacity in 2022 was 11,143 MW onshore and 2,718 MW offshore
Directional15Solar PV capacity in 2022 was 3,880 MW
Single source16Protected areas cover 8.5% of Denmark's land area
Verified17Number of national parks in Denmark is 7, covering 1,169 square km
Verified18Average wind speed in Denmark is 7.6 m/s at 10m height
Verified19Sea level rise threat: Denmark loses 10 cm per decade due to subsidence and rise
Directional20Jutland peninsula makes up 2/3 of Denmark's landmass
Single source21Zealand island area is 7,031 square km
Verified22Funen island area is 3,256 square km
Verified23Copenhagen lies at 55°40′N 12°34′E coordinates
VerifiedGeography 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
1Parliamentary system with Folketing having 179 seats
Verified2King Frederik X ascended throne on 14 January 2024
Verified3Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen since 27 June 2019
Verified4Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 score: 90/100 (rank 1st)
Directional5Press Freedom Index 2023 rank: 2nd out of 180, score 89.4
Single source6Gender equality index 2022: 73.1/100
Verified7Military expenditure % GDP 2022: 1.4%
Verified8Active military personnel 2023: 20,000
Verified9NATO member since 1949
Directional10EU member since 1973, Schengen Area member since 2001
Single source11Gini coefficient after taxes 2021: 26.7 (low inequality)
Verified12Voter turnout 2022 election: 84.1%
Verified13Happiness ranking World Happiness Report 2023: 2nd, score 7.586
Verified14Social expenditure % GDP 2021: 28.4%
Directional15Renewable energy policy: 100% renewable electricity by 2030 target
Single source16Same-sex marriage legalized since 2012
Verified17Number of municipalities: 98 since 2007 reform
Verified18Freedom House score 2023: 97/100 (Free)
Verified19Internet freedom score 2023: 94/100
Directional20Women in parliament 2022: 44.6%
Single source21CO2 emissions per capita 2022: 4.0 tons
Verified22Recycling rate municipal waste 2022: 52%
Verified23Paternity leave: 2 weeks reserved, total parental leave 52 weeks
Verified24Average retirement age 2023: 67 years
DirectionalGovernment 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
1Life expectancy at birth in Denmark 2022: 81.4 years total
Verified2Obesity rate (BMI >30) in Denmark adults 2022: 19.7%
Verified3Physicians per 1,000 people in Denmark 2021: 4.3
Verified4Hospital beds per 1,000 people 2021: 2.6
Directional5Health expenditure as % of GDP 2021: 10.8%
Single source6PISA 2022 math score for Denmark: 489
Verified7PISA 2022 reading score: 489
Verified8PISA 2022 science score: 494
Verified9Tertiary education attainment (ages 25-34) 2022: 48%
Directional10Student-teacher ratio primary education 2021: 9.6
Single source11Government expenditure on education % GDP 2020: 6.8%
Verified12Suicide rate per 100,000 in 2021: 6.4
Verified13Cancer incidence rate per 100,000 in 2020: 300.5
Verified14Diabetes prevalence in adults 2021: 5.6%
Directional15Vaccination rate measles 2022: 95%
Single source16Alcohol consumption per capita 2021: 9.6 liters pure alcohol
Verified17Smoking prevalence adults 2021: 14%
Verified18Literacy rate adult total 2020: 99%
Verified19School enrollment secondary net 2021: 98.2%
Directional20University enrollment rate 2022: 35% of age cohort
Single source21COVID-19 vaccination rate fully vaccinated as of 2023: 84.5%
Verified22Mental health treatment coverage 2022: 90% of population
Verified23Air pollution PM2.5 mean annual exposure 2021: 8.9 micrograms per cubic meter
Verified24Number of universities in Denmark: 8 public research universities
Directional25Average class size primary school 2022: 19 students
Single source26Student mobility outbound 2022: 15% of students
VerifiedHealth 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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