The Kingdom of Denmark
commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region
of northern Europe.
It is the southernmost
of the Nordic countries. The mainland is bordered to the south
by Germany; Denmark is southwest of Sweden and south of Norway.
Denmark borders both
the Baltic and the North Sea. The country consists of a large
peninsula, Jutland (Jylland) and many islands, most
notably Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn), Vendsyssel-Thy, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm as well as hundreds of minor islands
often referred to as the Danish Archipelago.
Denmark has long controlled
the approach to the Baltic Sea, and these waters are also known
as the Danish
straits.
The Faroe
Islands and Greenland are autonomous provinces of Denmark
with home rule.
Denmark is a constitutional
monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Denmark has
a state-level government and local governments in 98 municipalities.
Denmark is a member of NATO and the European Union, having joined the European
Economic Community
in 1973. Denmark has not joined the Eurozone.
Originally a seafaring
nation relying on fishing, farming and trade, Denmark experienced
steady industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries. Denmark
had the world's 3rd highest GDP per capita in 1970. Between 1970
and 1990 the level of taxation and regulation increased dramatically
as Denmark adopted the Nordic
model welfare state.
After falling sharply behind in prosperity, unemployment and
other indicators, Denmark took steps in economic liberalization
in the 1980s and 1990s, including abolishing almost all job market
regulation. Despite relatively high taxation, the economy is
otherwise quite unregulated and Index of Economic Freedom ranks
Denmark the world's 11th most economically free country (4th
in Europe).
In 2006 and 2007, surveys
ranked Denmark as "the happiest place in the world,"
based on standards of health, welfare, and education. The national
capital and the largest city, Copenhagen, was ranked the third most liveable
city in the world by Monocle magazine in 2007. The national language
Danish is close to Swedish and Norwegian, which they share strong
cultural and historical ties with. 82.0% of the inhabitants of
Denmark and 90,3% of the ethnic Danes are members of the Lutheran
state church. About 9% of residents are citizens of other countries.
Travelling to Denmark:
A Brief Visitors Guide
OTHER POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE