01
Physical geography
Low and flat to gently rolling plains.
Local timeCopenhagen ·
Europe / Northern Europe · Card 011
Denmark
Denmark is a country in Northern Europe. Its capital is Copenhagen.
Find Denmark
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. This map shows Denmark in Europe. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are distinct parts of the Danish realm.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. This map shows Denmark in Europe. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are distinct parts of the Danish realm.
At a glance
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Languages
- Danish
- Currency
- Danish krone (DKK)
- Population
- 6.0 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 43,094 km²16,638.68 square miles
- Constitution
- 1849Denmark has earlier medieval roots.
Denmark in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Copenhagen; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Danish.
03
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm).
Flag
Red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left
History & status
Denmark developed as a kingdom during the Middle Ages rather than gaining independence from a modern colonial power. Its 1849 constitution replaced absolute monarchy with constitutional government. It joined the European Communities in 1973.
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A constitution ends absolute monarchy
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Denmark becomes a founding NATO member
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Denmark joins the European Communities
Economy
Main activities
Pharmaceuticals, shipping, machinery, food production and services are major activities. Wind-energy technology is a notable industry. Denmark is an EU member but retains the Danish krone.
Industry and production
wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people6.02025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,928,757 | 4.929 |
| 1980 | 5,123,027 | 5.123 |
| 1990 | 5,140,939 | 5.141 |
| 2000 | 5,339,616 | 5.340 |
| 2010 | 5,547,683 | 5.548 |
| 2020 | 5,831,404 | 5.831 |
| 2025 | 6,009,169 | 6.009 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars373.92025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 202,073,829,845 | 202.074 |
| 1991 | 205,020,430,124 | 205.020 |
| 1992 | 209,167,606,432 | 209.168 |
| 1993 | 209,002,572,327 | 209.003 |
| 1994 | 220,068,623,481 | 220.069 |
| 1995 | 226,754,355,587 | 226.754 |
| 1996 | 233,320,596,409 | 233.321 |
| 1997 | 240,713,316,197 | 240.713 |
| 1998 | 246,313,036,680 | 246.313 |
| 1999 | 253,621,896,626 | 253.622 |
| 2000 | 263,066,798,869 | 263.067 |
| 2001 | 265,566,018,287 | 265.566 |
| 2002 | 266,778,406,880 | 266.778 |
| 2003 | 267,955,142,441 | 267.955 |
| 2004 | 275,394,519,881 | 275.395 |
| 2005 | 281,892,753,289 | 281.893 |
| 2006 | 292,651,155,543 | 292.651 |
| 2007 | 295,540,131,122 | 295.540 |
| 2008 | 294,307,201,414 | 294.307 |
| 2009 | 279,666,951,317 | 279.667 |
| 2010 | 284,093,791,187 | 284.094 |
| 2011 | 287,817,703,286 | 287.818 |
| 2012 | 287,802,068,160 | 287.802 |
| 2013 | 291,810,211,099 | 291.810 |
| 2014 | 295,539,545,107 | 295.540 |
| 2015 | 301,758,922,338 | 301.759 |
| 2016 | 311,032,111,298 | 311.032 |
| 2017 | 320,538,736,986 | 320.539 |
| 2018 | 326,500,781,503 | 326.501 |
| 2019 | 332,088,518,944 | 332.089 |
| 2020 | 326,176,991,232 | 326.177 |
| 2021 | 347,379,325,644 | 347.379 |
| 2022 | 348,921,108,389 | 348.921 |
| 2023 | 351,030,642,724 | 351.031 |
| 2024 | 363,238,912,547 | 363.239 |
| 2025 | 373,876,120,005 | 373.876 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.962Very High human developmentRank 4 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.844
20000.896
20100.920
20200.954
20230.962
81.9 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.0 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Parliament (Folketinget) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Denmark.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What political change did Denmark’s 1849 constitution introduce?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.