Denmark
Globally, Denmark places #4 in human development index. This ranking reflects a standout track record. Ready to explore more about Denmark?
Denmark is a country in Europe with a population of 6.05M and an area of 43,094 km². Life expectancy is 81.9 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Internet Users (%)
100.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Human Development Index
0.96The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
GDP Per Capita
$73.7KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
79.5KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
University Enrollment Rate
81.2%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Life Satisfaction
7.58How satisfied people are with their lives, rated on a scale from 0 to 10.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
📡Internet Users (%)
100.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
❤️Doctors (per 1,000)
7.24The number of doctors per 1,000 people.
🚀Human Development Index
0.96The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
🤝Safety at Night
87.5%The percentage of people who feel safe walking alone at night.
💰GDP Per Capita
$73.7KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #4 globally in internet users (%)
Internet Users (%): 100.0%
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Ranks #4 globally in doctors (per 1,000)
Doctors (per 1,000): 7.24
The number of doctors per 1,000 people.
World Bank 2023Ranks #4 globally in human development index
Human Development Index: 0.96
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #211 in teen birth rate
Teen Birth Rate: 1.14
The number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
World Bank 2023Ranks #3 globally in safety at night
Safety at Night: 87.5%
The percentage of people who feel safe walking alone at night.
OECD 2024Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Denmark Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Denmark
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.
- 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)
- Climate
- temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
- Terrain
- low and flat to gently rolling plains
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
- Natural Hazards
- flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
- Size Comparison
- slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
- Languages
- Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
- Religions
- Evangelical Lutheran (official) 71.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other/none/unspecified (denominations include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 24.3% (2024 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.)
- Major Cities
- 1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
- Government Type
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Capital Coordinates
- 55 40 N, 12 35 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Kingdom of Denmark
- Name Origin
- the name derives from the words Dane, a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark, a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland)
- Independence
- ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
- National Symbols
- lion, mute swan
- National Anthem
- "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 12 (8 cultural, 4 natural)
- Overview
- high-income, EU-member, trade-oriented Nordic economy; growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy, and services; large share of employment in public sector; fixed exchange rate pegged to euro; strong fiscal position and declining public debt; tight labor market mitigated by migrant workers and higher retirement age
- Industries
- 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
- Agricultural Products
- milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)
- Export Partners
- Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
- Import Partners
- Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
- Military Forces
- Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
- Military Service
- 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; draftees serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- strong public-sector TV presence, with Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; private stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 FM radio stations, 10 digital audio stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019)
Deep Dive
76 of 149 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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AzerbaijanShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Denmark!
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Denmark
Denmark has a population of 6.05M, ranking #115 globally by population.
Denmark is located in Europe. It has an area of 43,094 km².
Life expectancy in Denmark is 81.9 years, ranking #34 globally.
Denmark's GDP per capita (PPP) is 79.5K, ranking #16 globally.
Denmark ranks particularly high in Internet Users (%) (#4), Human Development Index (#4), GDP Per Capita (#12).
Denmark has an HDI of 0.962, ranking #4 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Denmark has a population density of 148.7 people per km², ranking #74 globally.
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