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Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark is located at the Scandinavian region of northern Europe. It is bounded by Germany to the south, Sweden to the northeast, Norway to the north and Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the east and west respectively. The archipelago consists of the large peninsula of Jutland and several small islands, of which Zealand, Funen, Vendsyssel-Thy, Lolland, Falster, Bornholm are major. It is a member of NATO, the European Union, European Economic Community. According to the 2006 to 2008, surveys Denmark is crowned as the happiest nation in the world. It is the 2nd most peaceful nation according to the Global Peace Index. Capital Copenhagen (55 40 N, 12 35 E) is ranked 3rd most liveable city by Monocle magazine in 2007.

HISTORY:- From 10,000 to 1500 B.C Denmark was largely inhabited by hunters and fishermen. The territory of the country expanded in the south and the east and included in the Jutland. During this period, the Danes were called the Vikings. They invaded the Western Europe and the British Isles, and captured Danelaw, Ireland, and Normandy at the initial stage. Saint Ansgar and Harald Blaatand introduced Christianity in the country. Harald's grandson Canute the Great (1014 to 1035) merged Denmark, England, and Norway. But Denmark and England were decomposed after the death of Canute the Great. After Canute era, Valdemar the Great reigned in the northern region. Valdemar IV restored the Danish power. Under his daughter Margrethe, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were united in 1397. For supporting Napoleon, Denmark lost Norway as a punishment in the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Denmark retained its neutrality in the World War I. In 1940, Denmark was attacked by Nazis which resulted into the surrender of Danish government. Until 1943, Denmark-Germany economic cooperation continued. Iceland came out of Denmark territory in 1944 while in 1953 Greenland was included in the territory of Denmark.

GEOGRAPHY:- Denmark is located at 56 00 N, 10 00 E in the Northern Europe, spanning across 42,394 sq km land area and 700 sq km watery area. The country is formed of more than 443 islands. The coastline is 7,314 km long bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The lowest point is Lammefjord (-7 m) and the highest point is Yding Skovhoej (173 m). Denmark consists of low and flat to gently rolling plains.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Denmark is temperate, humid and overcast, with mild, windy winters and cool summers.

GOVERNMENT:- Denmark has Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy. The constitution was adopted on 5th June 1953. The legal system is based on the civil law systems and judicial reviews of legislation. The Faroe Islands and Greenland have complete autonomy. The three main branches and their heads are as follows:

Executive branch comprises the Queen (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The council of ministers is appointed by the Monarch.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral People's Assembly (179 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Monarch.

Major political parties are Venstre, Social Democratic, Konservative, Socialist People's, Social Liberal, Unity List, Danish People's, New Alliance. These parties also represent in the Parliament. Suffrage is universal at 18.

Monarch Margrethe II

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Denmark is composed of 5 regions:

Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark.

These regions are further divided into 98 municipalities.

CULTURE:- Globally famous fairy tales like The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling are written by the Danes writer Hans Christian Andersen. Author like Henrik Pontoppidan, physicist like Niels Bohr, pianist like Victor Borge, philosopher like Søren Kierkegaard come of Denmark. Tivoli gardens, the Amalienborg Palace and The Little Mermaid sculpture are some of the tourist places. Amalienborg Palace is the abode of the Danish monarchy. Football, Sailing, badminton, handball are most popular sports of the nation. 90’s famous band Aqua originates in Denmark. Meat and fish are the two main feature of Danes cuisine.

ECONOMY:- Danes economy is marked with developed agriculture, compact small-scale as well as corporate industry, a stable currency, and a huge dependence on foreign trade. According to Index of Economic Freedom, Denmark ranks 11th best economically free country worldwide and 4th best in Europe.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $310.7 billion; per capita $37,400.

Real growth rate: 1.7%.

Inflation: 1.5%.

Unemployment: 3.5%.

Arable land: 52.5%.

Agriculture: barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish.

Labor force: 2.9 million; agriculture 3%, industry 21%, services 76% (2004 est.).

Industries: iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment.

Budget:

Revenues: $172.6 billion

Expenditures: $158.8 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand.

Exports: $102.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmill.

Imports: $101.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods.

Major trading partners: Germany, Sweden, UK, U.S., Netherlands, Norway, France, Italy, China (2006).

Monetary unit: Krone

LANGUAGE:- Danish is the official language while English is mostly spoken and recognized as the second language. Other languages are Faroese, Greenlandic, and German.

CITIES:- Capital Copenhagen is the largest city. Other large cities are Arhus, Odense, Alborg.

POPULATION:- Almost 82.0% of the population and 90.3% of the ethnic Danes belong to the Lutheran state church and about 9% of the population is citizens of other states. The estimated population is 5,468,120 with a growth rate of 0.3%.

Density per sq mi: 334

Literacy rate: 100%

RACE:- Ethnic groups are Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali.

RELIGION:-

Evangelical Lutheran 95%

Other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%

Muslim 2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 10.71 births/ 1,000 populations (2008 EST.)

Death rate: 10.25 deaths/ 1,000 populations (2008 EST.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 4.4 deaths/ 1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.13 years

Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/ woman (2008 EST.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 EST.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,064

UNICEF:- UNICEF works on child nutrition, health, protection of child rights, and awareness of HIV.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,644 km (2007).

Highways: total: 72,257 km; paved: 72,257 km; unpaved: 0 km (2005).

Waterways: 400 km (2007).

Ports and harbors: Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne.

Airports: 91 (2007 est.).

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