Country Profiles: Denmark

Official name: Kingdom of Denmark

Official language: Danish

Land area: 16,639 sq mi/43,094 sq km

Population: 5,476,000

Dominant religion: Christianity

Capital: Copenhagen

Current leader: Queen Margrethe

Denmark is a small kingdom in northern Europe. It almost completely surrounded by water except that it shares its southern border with Germany. It consists of a peninsula and 482 nearby islands. Greenland, which is off the northeastern coast of Canada, is officially a province of Denmark although it is 1,300 miles (2,090 kilometers) away. The Faroe Islands, north of Scotland, are a self-governing part of Denmark. It is considered part of Scandinavia, which also includes Norway and Sweden.

 More than half of Denmark’s population lives on the islands that surround the peninsula. Copenhagen, the nation’s capital, is on the largest island.

 The citizens of Denmark enjoy one of the world’s highest standards of living. Despite its small population and very small land area with limited natural resources, it is one of the world’s leading economies, known for its beautifully designed manufactured goods. The country is a leading producer electronics and furniture. Denmark is also a leading shipping and fishing nation, dating back from the days of the Vikings.

 Most of the population lives in the country’s well-maintained and very clean cities, which have virtually no slums. But agriculture is also important to the country and most rural dwellers tend the farms. Almost all adult Danes can read and write.

 Danish have historically been a seafaring people and Danish Vikings were among the world’s leading explorers. During the late 1100’s and early 1200’s, Danish power and influence extended throughout the Baltic region and the country frequently fought wars with Sweden. At one time, Norway was a province of Denmark.

 During World War II it was conquered by Germany, who allowed the Danish government to continue to function. But as Danish resistance grew to German occupation, the Germans took complete control of the government in August 1943. The resistance aided some 7,000 Jews in fleeing to Sweden, escaping certain death at the hand of the Nazis.

 After the war ended the country quickly rebuilt and continued to prosper.