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The Danish Welfare System

The basic principle of the Danish welfare system is that all citizens have equal rights to social security.

The Danish welfare system
Denmark's first Female Prime Minister
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Find out more about the Danish Government
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
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Society

Denmark is one of the world's oldest monarchies with a history that stretches back to the Viking Age around the year 1000. Danish society rests on the foundation of the Danish Constitution of 1849, and the political system has since been characterised by broad solutions across the political divide. Denmark is often cited as one of the world's best countries to live in. The strong welfare state ensures economic equality in society and the virtual non-existence of corruption, while polls repeatedly show that the Danes are among the happiest people in the world.
Government and Politics

Government and Politics

The political system of Denmark is that of a multi-party structure, where several parties can be represented in Parliament at any one time.

Government and Politics
The Monarchy

The Danish Monarchy

The Danish Monarchy can be traced back more than 1000 years.

The Danish Monarchy
History

History

The word ‘Denmark’ dates back to the Viking Age and is carved on the famous Jelling Stone from around 900 AD.

History
Religion

Religion

Compared with most other countries in the world, Denmark’s societal institutions and popular mentality have been shaped by Christianity to an exceptional degree.

Religion
Greenland

The Faroes & Greenland

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland, which is part of the North American continent, also belong to Denmark but have autonomous self-rule.

The Faroes & Greenland
Welfare

Welfare

The basic principle of the Danish welfare system, often referred to as the Scandinavian welfare model, is that all citizens have equal rights to social security.

Welfare

We recommend

Did you know

THE ECONOMIST: THE NEXT SUPER MODEL
- Why the world should look at the Nordic countries

In a series of articles on welfare, immigrants, business, entrepreneurship and creativity, the weekly explores how Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark have "unleashed a huge amount of creativity and become world leaders in reform." Denmark is among other things praised for having one of the most liberal labour markets in Europe and for being a pioneer of the intelligent state basing its policies on choice and competition rather than paternalism and planning.

To read the full report click on the links above. (Please note that The Economist may ask you to register to read all articles.)
(Feburary 2012)

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark