Denmark country profile

Official name: Kingdom of Denmark

Area (km²): 43 094

Population: 5.47 million (2008); 5.51 million (forecast for 2009)

Capital: Copenhagen

National holiday: 05 June

Currency: Danish Krone

Date of joining: 01 January 1973

Head of state: Queen Margrethe II

Head of government: Lars Lokke Rasmussen, since April 2009. He leads a liberal-conservative coalition between the 'Venstre' party and the 'Konservative Folkeparti', elected in 2007

GDP (millions €): 232 499 (2008); 228 547 (forecast for 2009)

GDP per capita in PPS: € 29 700 (2008); € 28 000 (forecast for 2009)

Real growth rate of GDP: -1.2% (2008); -3.3% (forecast for 2009)

Unemployment rate: 6.2% (June 2009)

National debt as % of GDP: 33.3% (2008)

Inflation: 0,6% (October 2009)

Public deficit/surplus as % of GDP: 3.6% (2008)

Source: Eurostat

Domestic Politics

Denmark has been a constitutional monarchy since its first constitution of 1849. Legislative power is jointly exercised by the Crown and Parliament. Parliament consists of one chamber, called the Folketing. Its 179 members are elected by proportional representation for four years. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, but is accountable to Parliament. The ministers are appointed by the Queen in consultation with the Prime Minister.

Foreign policy

Denmark has been a member of the European Union since 1973. It has opted out, however, of intergovernmental EU decisions on economic and monetary union (EMU), common defence policy, justice and home affairs and Union citizenship. Denmark is a loyal NATO member and was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945.

Economy

Denmark has a small, open economy, in which foreign trade plays an important role. About two-thirds of this foreign trade is with other EU countries.

Although Denmark opted out of EMU, its economic policy has been influenced by European agreements in recent years. The Danish government hopes to satisfy the monetary criteria for joining EMU. Agriculture, which used to dominate the Danish economy, now accounts for only 3.9%. The service sector is the most important (42%), followed by the public sector (27.7%) and industry (15.6%).

Per capita GDP: EUR 26 926 (in 2001 in purchasing power parities; source: Eurostat)

Links

  Gateway EU - Denmark

  Denmark's official website

Source: Spanish EU Presidency