Country Info:
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Denmark Location:
Physical. Denmark is located in Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea to the west, the Baltic Sea to the east, and Germany to the south. It covers an area nearly twice the size of Massachusetts. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are island possessions of Denmark, self-governing on internal affairs. The climate is temperate with mild, windy winters and cool summers. Low, flat to gently rolling plains cover much of Denmark. Some natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, stone, salt, fish, gravel and sand, and limestone.
Denmark Geography:
Geography
Area: 16,638 square miles
Capital: Copenhagen (pop 496,000)
Environmental concerns: air pollution; North Sea pollution; water pollution
Geographical features: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers
Denmark People:
People. Over 5,369,000 people live in Denmark. The primary language is Danish. Ethnically, the main groups in the population are Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, and German. Religiously, Denmark is overwhelmingly Evangelical Lutheran (95%), other Protestant and Roman Catholic (3%), and Muslim (2%).
5,369,000 people; Scandinavian; Inuit (Eskimo); Faroese; German
Annual growth rate: 0.3%
Major language is Danish
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran (95%); other Christian (3%); Muslim (2%)
Denmark Government:
Government. In 2001, the Social Democrats were swept out of power, replaced by a center-right coalition led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Denmark has one of the highest human rights ratings in the world. Its extremely liberal political asylum policy has changed recently due to a popular backlash in response to the tide of refugees. An anti-immigration right wing party has emerged. In 2002, the new government enacted Europe’s most restrictive immigration law to date. This law allows citizenship for all non-EU and Nordic country residents only after seven years and denies social benefits to foreigners for that time. Applicants for citizenship must pass advanced Danish language and civic knowledge tests.
Denmark’s government became a constitutional monarchy in 1849
Queen Margrethe II is the head of state and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the head of government
9 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Denmark Communication:
Communication and transportation
4,785,000 main telephone lines
3,370,000 Internet users (2002)
42,960 miles of highway
1,773 miles of railroad
119 airfields
2,097,000 motor vehicles
Denmark Economy:
Economy. Since 62% of the land is arable, Denmark is among the world’s foremost agricultural countries. The absence of raw materials has slowed progress in industry, but industry has still overtaken agriculture in exports. Although the economy is sound, unemployment in the 1990's was high but it has now been lowered to 5.1%. The growth of the GDP has slowed. It is hoped that the 2000 opening of the Oresund (a bridge/tunnel/artificial island link for cars, trucks and trains) that now links Copenhagen with Malmö, Sweden will strengthen cross-border economic ties and allow the region to rival Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam as an economic powerhouse.
The first few years of membership in the European Union were disappointing for Denmark since that period coincided with a severe recession. Economic recovery has been progressing but is not complete. Denmark meets the criteria for membership in the Euro Zone but has not chosen to join despite support from its leading politicians. In September 2000, Danes voted to reject joining the Euro Zone.
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