Denmark
A Nordic kingdom of islands, flatlands, and progressive values.
Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the north Atlantic Ocean. Metropolitan Denmark, also called 'continental Denmark' or 'Denmark proper', consists of the northern Jutland peninsula and an archipelago of 406 islands. It is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, lying southwest of Sweden, south of Norway, and north of Germany, with which it shares a short border. Metropolitan Denmark is situated between the North Sea to the west and the Baltic Sea to the east.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Languages
- Danish
- Currency
- Danish krone
- Region:
- Northern Europe (Scandinavia)
- Government type:
- Constitutional Monarchy
- Notable historical era:
- The Viking Age
Lore & Background
The unified Kingdom of Denmark emerged in the eighth century AD as a maritime power amid the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea. In 1397, it formed the Kalmar Union with Norway and Sweden. This union persisted until Sweden's secession in 1523. The remaining Kingdom of Denmark–Norway endured a series of wars in the 17th century that resulted in territorial cessions to Sweden. A surge of nationalist movements in the 19th century were defeated by the Danes in the First Schleswig War of 1848. The adoption of the Constitution of Denmark on 5 June 1849 ended the absolute monarchy. In the Second Schleswig War, Denmark lost Schleswig-Holstein, which led to changes in Danish politics henceforth emphasising social cohesion in the diminished realm, as well as the clearing of the vast moors of Jutland for agriculture, new Christian movements split between Indre Mission and Grundtvig, but generally a stronger self-perception among the people of belonging to a unified country and state. In 1920, North Schleswig became Danish again.
Reader's Guide
Denmark is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy, high standard of living, and robust social welfare policies. Danish culture and society are broadly progressive egalitarian, and socially liberal; Denmark was the first country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships. It is a founding member of NATO, the Nordic Council, the OECD, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations, and is part of the Schengen Area. Denmark maintains close political, cultural, and linguistic ties with its Scandinavian neighbours.
Did You Know?
- The Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, has roughly 1,400 islands greater than 100 m2 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, the largest and most populated island in Metropolitan Denmark.
- Copenhagen, the capital and largest city of the Danish Realm, is situated on Zealand and Amager and Slotsholmen.
- The first recorded use of the word Danmark within Denmark itself is found on the two Jelling stones, erected by Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth.
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