Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen · Northern Europe
Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe.
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Nørre Vorupør beach, Denmark
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Coast of Skagen (Northern Jutland, Denmark) to the Baltic Sea
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The Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, has roughly 1,400 islands greater than 100 square metres (1,100 sq ft) in area; 443 have been named and 78 are inhabited. Denmark's population is over 6 million (1 May 2025), of which roughly 40% live in Zealand, (Sjælland) the largest and most populated island in Metropolitan Denmark; Copenhagen, (København) the capital and largest city of the Danish Realm, is situated on Zealand and Amager and Slotsholmen. Composed mostly of flat, arable land, Denmark is characterised by sandy coasts, low elevation, and a temperate climate.
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The Great Belt Bridge (Eastern Bridge), Denmark.
Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
View from SSW over Rømø towards danish mainland
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Etymology
The etymology of the name "Denmark", the relationship between "Danes" and "Denmark", and the emergence of Denmark as a unified kingdom are topics of continuous scholarly debate. This is centred primarily on the morpheme "Dan" and whether it refers to the Dani or a historical person Dan and the exact meaning of the -"mark" ending.
Most etymological dictionaries and handbooks derive "Dan" from a word meaning "flat land", related to German Tenne "threshing floor", English den "cave". The element mark is believed to mean woodland or borderland (see marches), with probable references to the border forests in south Schleswig.
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The southern Farø bridge between Falster and Farø
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Picture showing Roskilde Festivals main stage, the Orange Stage. Bruce Springsteen performing in the background. Photo by Bill Ebbesen.
Photo: Bill Ebbesen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Kronborg Castle, Denmark
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
History
The earliest archaeological finds in Denmark date back to the Eem interglacial period from 130,000 to 110,000 BC. Denmark has been inhabited since around 12,500 BC and agriculture has been evident since 3900 BC. The Nordic Bronze Age (1800–600 BC) in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings including lurs and the Sun Chariot.
During the Pre-Roman Iron Age (500 BC – AD 1), native groups began migrating south, and the first tribal Danes came to the country between the Pre-Roman and the Germanic Iron Age, in the Roman Iron Age (AD 1–400).
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Strong wind and waves at Hanstholm , Thisted municipality, Denmark.
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Eurasian blue tit leaves the nest box
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Michael Smidt from the Rødovre Mighty Bulls takes a faceoff against a Frederikshavn Whitehawks player.
Photo: HenrikRomby, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Geography
Located in Northern Europe, on a latitude traversing southern Alaska, and being north of Edmonton, Denmark consists of the northern part of the Jutland peninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands. Of these, the largest island is Zealand, on which the capital Copenhagen is situated, on the same latitude as Moscow, and Glasgow, followed by the North Jutlandic Island, Funen, and Lolland. The island of Bornholm, and small archipelago of Ertholmene (Christiansø colloqually, after its biggest islet), is located some 150 km east of the rest of the country, in the Baltic Sea.
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Crossing of two overhead power lines in Denmark
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Fryderyk Chopin observed in the Baltic Sea between Rønne and Køge .
Photo: Kim Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
2 Fischerbote am Slettestrand
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Government services and politics
Politics in Denmark operate under a framework laid out in the Constitution of Denmark. First written in 1849, it establishes a sovereign state in the form of a constitutional monarchy, with a representative unicameral parliamentary system. The monarch officially retains executive power and presides over the Council of State (privy council). In practice, the duties of the monarch are strictly representative and ceremonial, such as the formal appointment and dismissal of the Prime Minister and other Government ministers. The monarch is not answerable for their actions, and their person is sacrosanct. Hereditary monarch King Frederik X has been head of state since 14 January 2024.
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Estatua adicada aos soldados daneses caídos durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial.
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Bunker des Atlantikwalls an einer Küste in Dänemark
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Fishing boat «Lene Fisker» outside Hirtshals.
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Economy
Denmark has a developed mixed economy that is classed as a high-income economy by the World Bank. In 2022, it ranked 8th in the world in terms of gross national income (PPP) per capita and 10th in nominal GNI per capita. Denmark's economy stands out as one of the most free in the Index of Economic Freedom and the Economic Freedom of the World. It is the 10th most competitive economy in the world, and 7th in Europe and North America, according to the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report 2019.
Denmark has the fourth highest ratio of tertiary degree holders in the world.
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Helsingør Station in Helsingør, Denmark.
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Photo: Viggo Johansen, Public domain · source
Demographics
In May 2025, the population of Denmark, as registered by Statistics Denmark, was 6 million. Denmark has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 42.2 years, with 0.99 males per female. Despite a low birth rate of 11.3 births per 1000 population, the population is growing at an average annual rate of 0.44% because of net immigration and increasing longevity. The World Happiness Report frequently ranks Denmark's population as the happiest in the world.
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Runenstenen bij grafheuvels en kerk in Jelling(DK).
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The fathers of the Danish constitution assembled in Copenhagen on October 23, 1848
Photo: Constantin Hansen, Public domain · source
Hammarshus, Bornholm (2012-07-04), by Klugschnacker in Wikipedia (6)
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Culture
Denmark shares strong cultural and historic ties with its Scandinavian neighbours Sweden and Norway. It has historically been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. In 1969, Denmark was the first country to legalise pornography, and in 2012, Denmark replaced its "registered partnership" laws, which it had been the first country to introduce in 1989, with gender-neutral marriage, and allowed same-sex marriages to be performed in the Church of Denmark. Modesty and social equality are important parts of Danish culture.
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Mønsted Limestone Mine
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