Quick Facts About Denmark

In Denmark, people bike in all kinds of weather. With a total of 12,000 km (7,500 miles) of bikelanes, commuting is green, quick, and safe!

Ever since the establishment in 1971, Denmark has been a frontrunner when it comes to green thinking.

Danes are efficient workers and being on time for meetings and appointments - and dinner time - is an integrated part of the Danish DNA. Read more about the Danish people and culture.

The average life expectancy is 83 years for women and 79 years for men. 10,5% of the people living in Denmark are born in a foreign country.

From current monarch Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, the Danish monarchy dates back to the first Viking kings of Denmark more than 1000 years ago.

Out of Folketinget's 179 members, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have 2 representatives each. Together the three countries constitute the Realm of Denmark.

 Out of all the OECD countries, Denmark produces twice as much wind energy per capita as the runner-up.
That's world record!

Denmark is one of only few countries to provide the UN recommended minimum of 0.7% of GNI in development aid per year.

 When not including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Denmark is the smallest country in Scandinavia and the 22nd smallest in Europe.

The sea is important to Danes. Since before the Vikings, Denmark has been a seafaring nation. In fact, no point in Denmark is further than 50 km (31 miles) from the sea.

The national parks hold some of Denmark’s most unique and valuable nature. Read more about the Danish national parks.

Denmark is quite flat. The highest point is the hill Yding Skovhøj which reaches merely 172,54 metres (566 feet) above sea level.

The Danish word for a Danish is 'Wienerbrød' (Vienna bread). The confusion is complete!

Danish taxes are among the highest in the world. However, the social welfare system provides everyone with a high level of social security by offering free education and free access to healthcare.

In 2016, the number of cyclists crossing the city centre of Copenhagen exceeded the number of cars for the first time. The number of bikes keeps rising!

Denmark has always been a maritime superpower. And Danish shipping has become increasingly sustainable. 

 

  

According to legend, Dannebrog fell from the sky at the Battle of Lyndanisse in Estonia in 1219 leading the Danish King Valdemar II to victory during his crusade to the Baltic States.

The two school teachers R.N. Ernst and Holger Nielsen invented handball back in 1897. Since then, Denmark has won several medals and championships in the handball court. Read more about Danes and sport.

Denmark tops the  2019 Corruption Perceptions Index as least corrupt country in the world.

The famous fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) such as ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Ugly Duckling’ have been translated into more than 160 languages.

Denmark is famous for more than ‘smørrebrød’. New Nordic cuisine, with its focus on seasonal food, has put Denmark on the gastronomic world map.

The dish is usually served with potatoes and parsley sauce.
Bon appetite or 'velbekomme', as we say in Danish!

This is because people relate to one another as equals regardless of job titles and formal positions according to the Global Competitive Report 2019. 

The swan also plays a central role in the famous H.C. Andersen fairytale ‘The Ugly Ducking’ (1843). The story is about an insecure duckling that matures into a big, beautiful swan.

The Danish word 'tidsoptimist' (time optimist) describes a person who is always late because they are too optimistic about how much time a task takes.

...it is called 'fartkontrol'.

Since September 2017, the Danish Tech Embassy has elevated technology to a foreign policy priority as part of the ‘TechPlomacy’-initiative.

 Denmark has 13 members in the European Parliament. 

 

As Minister of Education, Nina Bang became the first female minister in an internationally recognised government back in 1924.

In Denmark, trust is the basis of most social interactions, and Danes trust each other, businesses, and government.

The first constitution was signed on 5 June 1849, and established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy.
Read more about Danish politics and the government. 

Women receive paid leave for 18 weeks and men for two weeks. Additionally, parents split up to 32 weeks paid leave. Read more about Danish work life balance.

Denmark is the world's best in digital governance, according to the biennial UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2020.

In 2020, 28 Danish restaurants received 35 Michelin stars in total. Danish ‘Geranium’ is one of only two restaurants in Scandinavia with three of the prestigious stars.

Same-sex registered partnerships became legal in 1989. In 2012, the Danish parliament legalised same-sex marriage, granting equal rights for all marriages. Read more about gender equality in Denmark

Danes love making fun of themselves. Self-irony is even practised at the workplace!

People always wait for the green light – also if no cars or bikes are around. In fact, the police hands out tickets for jaywalking - so don't say we didn't warn you :-)