THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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)
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 43,094 sq km
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 141 km
border countries: Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation: highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
mean elevation: 34 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Land use: agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 16% (2023 est.)
other: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
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
Geography - note: composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

Population: total: 6,051,491 (2025 est.)
male: 3,001,698
female: 3,049,793
Nationality: noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
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.)
Languages: Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)
65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 42.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 41 years
female: 43.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
Urbanization: urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.8 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 80.2 years
female: 84.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.5% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 14.3% (2025 est.)
male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
female: 14.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.3% (2024 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years (2023 est.)
male: 18 years (2023 est.)
female: 19 years (2023 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Land use: agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 16% (2023 est.)
other: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 49.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 236.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 54.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 5.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.911 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 382.787 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 45.076 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 506.487 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
etymology: 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)
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components
etymology: name derives from the Danish words køber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Legal system: civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953
amendment process: proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament (Folketinget)
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: The Danish Parliament (Folketinget)
number of seats: 179 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/1/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (50); Liberal Party (Venstre) (23); Moderates (M) (16); Socialist People's Party (SF) (15); Danish Democrats (Æ) (14); Liberal Alliance (14); Conservative People's Party (10); Unity List-Red-Green Alliance (9); Other (24)
percentage of women in chamber: 43.6%
expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts
Political parties: The Alternative or AP Conservative People's Party or DKF or C Danish People's Party or DF or O Denmark Democrats or E Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F)Liberal Alliance or LA or I Liberal Party (Venstre) or V Moderates or M New Right Party or NB or D Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL Social Democrats or SDP or A Social Liberal Party or SLP or B
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023)
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
email address and website: wasamb@um.dkhttps://usa.um.dk/en
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 5 November 2025)
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0
mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280
telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00
FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23
email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.govhttps://dk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 5 June (1849)
Flag: description: red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the lefthistory: referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; the origin of the design is unclear; one legend says that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th-century battle and inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner
National symbol(s): lion, mute swan
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: Denmark’s King Frederick VI adopted the national coat of arms in 1819; the crown of King Christian V, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, sits atop the shield, symbolizing royal and national authority; the three lions represent a strong and powerful country, with red lily pads in the shape of hearts that stand for strength, valor, and joy
National anthem(s): title: “Kong Christian stod ved højen mast” (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast)
lyrics/music: Johannes EWALD/unknown
history: adopted 1780; one of the oldest royal anthems in the world; used for events when Danish royalty is present; anthem has equal status with the national anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 12 (8 cultural, 4 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c); Møns Klint (n)

Economic 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $440.558 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $424.937 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $414.592 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $73,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $71,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $70,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $429.457 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 24% (2024 est.)
services: 64% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 45.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 22.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 68% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -59.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)
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
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.21 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 12.1% (2024 est.)
male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
female: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.4% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 29.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $149.393 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $136.662 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: $55.901 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $40.061 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $46.488 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $299.405 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $276.646 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $283.37 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $252.954 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $243.478 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $245.07 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $108.405 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $109.371 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $96.073 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 6.894 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 6.89 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 7.076 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 6.287 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 6.542 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 20.794 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: 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.)
Coal: consumption: 1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas: production: 2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 698,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7.57 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 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)
Internet country code: .dk
Internet users: percent of population: 100% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2.65 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY
Airports: 102 (2025)
Heliports: 29 (2025)
Railways: total: 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified
Merchant marine: total: 715 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
Ports: total ports: 69 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 2
small: 30
very small: 36
ports with oil terminals: 33
key ports: Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle

Military and security forces: Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025: 3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, Israeli, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy are produced domestically (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 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)
Military deployments: Denmark contributes air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of international missions, including grounds troops to NATO's forward defenses in Latvia (2025)
Military - note: the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country’s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark’s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergenciesNATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization’s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO’s Multinational Division – North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO’s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlandsthe Forsvaret has an Arctic Command to protect the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command (SOKOM), which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2025)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 100,832 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 8,566 (2024 est.)

Denmark