丹麦

歐洲:

英国 United Kingdom 爱尔兰 Ireland 比利时 Belgium 荷兰 Netherlands 法国 France 西班牙 Spain 葡萄牙 Portugal 意大利 Italy 希腊 Greece 奥地利 Austria 匈牙利 Hungary 德国 Germany 瑞士 Switzerland 罗马尼亚 Romania 俄罗斯 Russia 波兰 Poland 克罗地亚 Croatia (Hrvatska) 捷克 Czech 芬兰 Finland 瑞典 Sweden 挪威 Norway 冰岛 Iceland 土耳其 Turkey 丹麦 Denmark 阿尔巴尼亚 Albania 爱沙尼亚 Republic of Estonia 安道尔 Andorra 白俄罗斯 Belarus 保加利亚 The Republic of Bulgaria 波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那 Bosnia and Herzegovina 梵蒂冈 Vatican City State (Holy See) 黑山 The Republic of Montenegro 拉脱维亚 Latvia 立陶宛 Republic of Lithuania 列支敦士登 Liechtenstein 卢森堡 Luxembourg 马耳他 Republic of Malta 马其顿 The Republic of Macedonia 摩尔多瓦 The Republic of Moldova 摩纳哥 Monaco 塞尔维亚 the Republic of Serbia 斯洛伐克 The Slovak Republic 斯洛文尼亚 the Republic of Slovenia 圣马力诺 San Marino 乌克兰 Ukraine

丹麥 Denmark 首都:哥本哈根國家代碼: dk

朝政

　　【國名】丹麥王國（ The Kingdom of Denmark， Kongeriget Danmark ）代碼DK
　　【國名釋義】在古高德語中，“丹”為“沙灘、森林”之意，“麥”為“土地、國傢”之意。
　　【國旗】丹麥國旗是世界上最古老的，被稱為“丹麥人的力量”。呈長方形，長與寬之比為３７∶２８。旗地為紅色，旗面上有白色十字形圖案，稍偏左側。據丹麥史詩記載，公元１２１９年丹麥國王瓦爾德瑪·維剋托裏斯（也稱勝利王）率軍對愛沙尼亞異教徒徵戰。６月１５日隆達尼斯戰鬥中，丹軍陷入睏境。突然，一面帶有白色十字的紅旗從天而降，並伴隨着一個響亮的聲音：“抓住這面旗幟就是勝
　　利！”在這面旗幟的鼓舞下，丹軍奮勇作戰，轉敗為勝。此後白色十字紅旗就成為丹麥王國的國旗。至今每年６月１５日，丹麥都要慶祝“國旗日”即“瓦爾德瑪日”。
　　【國徽】為盾徽。金色的盾面上橫置着三衹頭戴王冠的藍色獅子，周圍點綴着九顆紅心。獅子和紅心象徵勇敢、忠誠、善良。盾上端是一頂華麗的王冠，象徵丹麥是一個古老的王國。
　　【國花】紅三葉草（豆科）
　　【面積】 4.31萬平方公裏（不包括格陵蘭和法羅群島）。
　　【人口】 541.1 萬人（ 2005 年 1 月），丹麥人約占 95 ％，外國移民約占 5 ％。官方語言為丹麥語，英語為通用語。 86.6 ％的居民信奉基督教路德宗， 0.6 ％的居民信奉羅馬天主教。
　　【首都】哥本哈根（ Copenhagen ， Koebenhavn ），人口 50.2 萬（ 2005 年 1 月）。
　　【國傢元首】女王瑪格麗特二世（ Margrethe II ）， 1972 年 1 月 14 日即位。
　　【貨幣】丹麥剋朗
　　【重要節日】國慶日： 4 月 16 日，女王瑪格麗特二世生日。憲法日： 6 月 5 日，為紀念 1849 年 6 月 5 日頒布的丹麥王國憲法。
　　【簡況】位於歐洲北部，日德蘭半島上。南同德國接壤，西瀕北海，北與挪威、瑞典隔海相望。海岸綫長 7314 公裏。地勢低平，平均海拔約 30 米。屬溫帶海洋性氣候。平均氣溫 1 月－ 2.4 ℃ ， 8 月 14.6 ℃ 。年均降水量約 860 毫米。
　　【歷史】公元 985 年形成統一王國。公元 8 ～ 12 世紀為強盛的海盜時期，曾徵服現英國、挪威、法國萊茵河畔等地區。 14 世紀走嚮強盛，並於 1397 年成立以丹麥女王瑪格麗特一世為盟主的卡爾馬聯盟，疆土包括現丹麥、挪威、瑞典、冰島、格陵蘭、法羅群島以及芬蘭的一部分。 15 世紀末開始衰落。 1523 年瑞典脫離聯盟獨立。 1814 年將挪割予瑞典。1849 年建立君主立憲政體。兩次世界大戰中均宣佈中立。 1940 年 4 月至 1945 年 5 月被納粹德國占領。 1944 年冰島脫離丹獨立。 1949 年加入北約， 1973 年加入歐共體。擁有對格陵蘭和法羅群島的主權。
　　【政治】 2004 年丹麥政局穩定，執政兩黨自由黨、保守黨合作良好。政府繼續在醫療衛生、養老、移民及稅收等領域深化改革，推出地方行政改革方案，並於 10 月調整內閣成員。主要反對黨社民黨力量有所恢復，民調支持率止跌，但政治主張缺乏新意，無法對現政府的執政地位形成有力挑戰。 2005 年 2 月 8 日，丹麥舉行全國議會選舉。在極右的人民黨支持下，自由黨和保守黨再次組成兩黨聯合政府。
　　【憲法】現行憲法於 1915 年製定，1920 年、1953 年兩度修改。憲法規定，丹實行君主立憲製。經議會 5/6 多數通過，政府可將一定範圍內的主權交給某種 “ 國際機構 ” 。
　　【議會】一院製，共 179 個議席。議員經普選産生，任期四年。本屆議會於 2005 年 2 月 8 日大選後産生，由自由黨（ 52 席）、社會民主黨（ 47 席）、保守黨（ 18 席）、社會主義人民黨（ 11 席）、丹麥人民黨（ 24 席）、激進黨（ 17 席）和紅緑聯盟（ 6 席） 7 黨組成。此外，格陵蘭和法羅群島各占 2 席。議長由剋裏斯蒂安 · 麥達爾（ Christian Mejdahl ，自由黨人）連任。
　　【政府】本屆政府係自由黨和保守黨聯合政府，共設 18 個部，內閣大臣中自由黨 12 人，保守黨 7 人。首相安諾斯 · 福格 · 拉斯穆森（ Anders Fogh Rasmussen ，自由黨），其他閣員有：副首相兼經濟、貿工大臣本特 · 本特森（ Bendt Bendtsen ，保守黨），外交大臣佩爾 · 斯蒂 · 默勒（ Per Stig M?ller ，保守黨），財政大臣托爾 · 彼澤森（ Thor Pedersen ，自由黨），就業大臣剋勞斯 · 約爾特 · 弗雷澤裏剋森（ Claus Hjort Frederiksen ，自由黨），司法大臣萊娜 · 埃斯珀森（ Lene Espersen ，女，保守黨），文化大臣布裏安 · 米剋爾森（ Brian Mikkelsen ，保守黨），教育兼宗教大臣貝特爾 · 霍德（ Bertel Haarder ，自由黨），稅務大臣剋裏斯蒂安 · 延森（ Kristian Jensen ，自由黨），交通和能源大臣弗萊明 · 漢森（ Flemming Hansen ，保守黨），科技創新大臣黑爾厄 · 桑德（ Helge Sander ，自由黨），食品、農業和漁業大臣漢斯 · 剋裏斯蒂安 · 施密特（ Hans Christian Schmidt ，自由黨），國防大臣瑟倫 · 加德 · 延森（ Soeren Gade Jensen, 自由黨），環境兼北歐合作大臣康妮 · 赫澤高（ Connie Hedegaard ，女，保守黨），內政和衛生大臣拉爾斯 · 勒剋 · 拉斯穆森（ Lars L?kke Rasmussen ，自由黨），發展援助大臣烏拉 · 特爾奈斯（ Ulla T?rn?s ，女，自由黨），難民、移民和社會融合大臣麗剋 · 維爾斯赫伊（ Rikke Hvilsh?j ，女，自由黨），社會事務和平等大臣埃娃 · 凱爾 · 漢森（ Eva Kjer Hansen, 女，自由黨） , 家庭與消費者事務大臣拉爾斯 · 巴弗茲（ Lars Barfoed, 保守黨）。
　　【主要網址】丹麥王室： www.kongehuset.dk ；議會： www.folketinget.dk ；首相府： www.stm.dk ；外交部： www.um.dk
　　
　　【行政區劃】
　　丹麥被劃分為13個郡(amtskommune 直譯為“自治市”)以及271個直轄市(kommune) , 3個市政當局擁有縣級特權 , 市長都是本地居民直選。
　　郡：
　　* 菲特烈堡(郡) (Frederiksborg)
　　* 菲茵 (Fyn)
　　* 哥本哈根(郡) (København)
　　* 北日德蘭 (Nordjylland)
　　* 裏伯 (Ribe)
　　* 靈剋賓 (Ringkøbing)
　　* 羅斯基勒 (Roskilde)
　　* 南日德蘭 (Sønderjylland)
　　* 斯多斯特姆 (Storstrøm)
　　* 維厄勒 (Vejle)
　　* 維堡 (Viborg)
　　* 西希蘭 (Vestsjælland)
　　* 奧鬍斯（奧爾鬍斯） (Århus)
　　直轄市：
　　* 博恩霍爾姆 (kommune, Bornholm)
　　* 菲特烈堡(kommune, Frederiksberg)
　　* 哥本哈根(kommune, Københavns)
　　格陵蘭和法羅群島也是丹麥王國的領土，但擁有自治權並且享有高度自治，在議會各擁有2席。法羅群島自行劃分為7個郡50個縣；格陵蘭人口少，沒有再劃分行政區域。
　　【司法機構】法院分三級。全國有 1 所最高法院、 2 所國傢法院和 82 所地方法院。此外，還有海事與商業法院、特別訴訟法院等專門法院。最高法院由 1 名院長和 17 名法官組成，院長和法官由政府（司法大臣）推薦，女王任命，任職到退休。法院獨立行使職權。最高法院院長托本 · 梅爾基奧爾（ Torben Melchior ， 2004 年 12 月 1 日上任）。檢察機構隸屬司法部，設總檢察長 1 名和檢察官 9 名，均由女王任命，任職到退休。總檢察長赫寧 · 弗德（ Henning Fode ）。議會監察官漢斯 · 格莫托夫特－漢森（ Hans Gammeltoft-Hansen ）。
　　
　　【政黨】
　　（ 1 ）自由黨（ The Liberal Party ）：執政黨， 1870 年成立，為丹麥最古老政黨。黨員 6.98 萬人。支持歐盟合作，主張自由競爭，反對中央集權。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 29 ％ , 係丹第一大黨，主席安諾斯 · 福格 · 拉斯穆森。
　　（ 2 ）保守人民黨（ The Conservative People's Party ）：執政黨，簡稱保守黨， 1916 年成立。黨員 1.99 萬人。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 10.3 ％ , 主張堅持私有製和自由貿易，積極參與國際合作。主席本特 · 本特森（ Bendt Bendtsen ）。
　　（ 3 ）社會民主黨（ The Social Democratic Party ）：在野黨， 1871 年成立。黨員 5.2 萬人。曾長期單獨或與其他政黨聯合執政。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 25.8 ％，丹第二大政黨和最大的反對黨。主張保持和發展福利制度，積極參與國際合作。主席赫勒 · 托寧 - 施密特（ Helle Thorning-Schmidt ）。
　　（ 4 ）丹麥人民黨（ The Danish People's Party ）：在野黨， 1995 年 10 月由退出進步黨的議員組成。黨員 6615 人。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 13.3 ％。有強烈的民族主義色彩，反對國際合作。主席皮婭 · 剋亞斯高（ Pia Kjaersgaard ，女）。
　　（ 5 ）社會主義人民黨（ The Socialist People's Party ）：在野黨， 1959 年從丹麥共産黨分裂而成。黨員 8375 人。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 6 ％。重視人權、民主和環保，支持裁軍，主張在平等、自願的基礎上參與國際合作。主席維力 · 須夫丹勒（ Villy S?vndal ）。
　　（ 6 ）激進自由黨（ The Danish Social-Liberal Party ）：在野黨，簡稱激進黨， 1905 年成立。黨員 8600 餘人。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 9.2 ％。重視個人尊嚴、自由及環境問題，主張參與國際合作。主席瑪麗安娜 · 耶爾韋（ Marianne Jelved ，女）。
　　（ 7 ）紅緑聯盟（ Enhedslisten Party ）：在野黨， 1989 年由原丹麥共産黨、共産主義工人黨及反歐盟勢力組建。反對加入歐盟合作、力主裁減軍費、降低失業率、加強環境保護等。黨員 2524 人。 1994 年 9 月第一次進入議會。 2005 年 2 月大選支持率 3.4 ％。采取集體領導製。
　　此外，丹還有基督教民主黨（ The Christian Democratic Party ）、中央民主黨（ The Central Democratic Party ）和少數黨（ Minority's Party ）等三個議會外政黨。
　　
　　【重要人物】
　　瑪格麗特二世：女王。 1940 年 4 月 16 日生於哥本哈根。曾就讀於丹麥哥本哈根大學、奧鬍斯大學、法國巴黎大學、英國劍橋大學和倫敦經濟學院。 1972 年 1 月 14 日登基。 1967 年 6 月 10 日與亨裏剋親王（ Henrik, 法國伯爵）結婚。有二子，長子腓特烈王儲（ Frederik ），次子約阿希姆親王（ Joachim ）。女王性格開朗，興趣廣泛。在考古、美術和文學方面頗有造詣。曾於 1979 年訪華。安諾斯 · 福格 · 拉斯穆森（ ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN ）：首相，自由黨人。生於 1953 年 1 月。奧鬍斯大學經濟學碩士。 1978 年當選議員， 1985 年當選自由黨副主席， 1987 － 1992 年任稅務大臣，其中 1990 － 1992 年兼任經濟大臣， 1998 年當選自由黨主席， 2001 年 11 月當選首相， 2005 年 2 月大選後連任。曾於 2004 年訪華。
　　安徒生（Hans Christian Andersen，1805～1875）丹麥作傢。1805年4月2日生於丹麥富恩島歐登塞市的貧民區，父親是個窮鞋匠,在他很小的時候便因病去世，母親是一位洗衣工。安徒生從小就為貧睏所折磨，先後在幾傢店鋪裏做學徒，後在哥本哈根皇傢劇院當配角演員，後因嗓子失潤被解雇。從此開始學習寫作，1827年發表第一首詩《垂死的小孩》，1829年進入哥本哈根大學學習。他的第一部重要作品《1828和1829年從霍爾門運河至阿邁厄島東角步行記》於1829 年問世。這部遊記的出版使安徒生得到了社會的初步承認。此後他繼續從事戲劇創作。1833年去意大利，創作了一部詩劇《埃格內特和美人魚》和一部以意大利為背景的長篇小說《即興詩人》(1835年)。小說出版後不久就被翻譯成德文和英文，標志着作者開始享有國際聲譽。1840至1857年，安徒生訪問了挪威、瑞典、德國、法國、意大利、西班牙、葡萄牙、希臘、小亞細亞和非洲，在旅途中寫了不少遊記，他在德、法等國會見了許多知名的作傢和藝術傢，1847年在英國結識了狄更斯。他一生未婚。1875年8月4日在哥本哈根梅爾徹的宅邸去世。這位童話大師一生共寫了160多篇童話和故事。他的作品被譯成80多種語言。安徒生的童話故事想象豐富、思想深刻、充滿詩意、引人入勝，體現了丹麥文學中的民主傳統和現實主義傾嚮，如《賣火柴的小女孩》、《醜小鴨》、《看門人的兒子》等，既真實地描繪了窮苦人的悲慘生活，又滲透着浪漫主義的情調和幻想。作品還有《海的女兒》、《皇帝的新裝》、《夜鶯》、《白雪皇后》等。在語言風格上，安徒生是一個有高度創造性的作傢，在作品中大量運用丹麥下層人民的日常口語和民間故事的結構形式。語言生動、自然、流暢、優美，充滿濃郁的鄉土氣息。安徒生的作品很早就被介紹到中國，《新青年》雜志1919年1月號刊載了周作人所譯的《賣火柴的小女孩》的譯文。1942年，北京新潮社出版了林蘭、張近芬合譯的《旅伴》。此後，商務印書館、中華書局和開明書店陸續出版了安徒生童話的譯本、安徒生傳及其作品的評論，譯者有鄭振鐸、茅盾、趙景深、顧均正等。不過解放前的譯本都是從英語、日語或其他國傢文字轉譯過來的。解放後，著名作傢、翻譯傢葉君健對安徒生原著進行了係統的研究，直接從丹麥文把安徒生的童話故事全部譯成中文。人民文學出版社於1955、1958、1978年多次出版了葉君健先生譯的《安徒生童話選集》。1988年8月，葉君健因畢生從事安徒生著作的翻譯，並將這位丹麥童話作傢的作品全部翻譯成中文而榮獲丹麥女王瑪格麗特二世頒發的丹麥國旗勳章。
　　伊薩剋·迪內森（Isak Dinesen）：丹麥著名女作傢，原名卡琳 ·布利剋森（Karin Blixen），1885年4月17日生於西蘭島倫斯特德一個貴族家庭。早年就讀於丹麥藝術學院，後在巴黎和羅馬學習繪畫。1914年隨男爵丈夫旅居肯尼亞，經營一個咖啡農場。1931年世界經濟大蕭條時返回丹麥。後來從事文學創作。1934年發表描寫非洲生活的小說集《七個神奇的故事》（Seven Gothic Tales），這本書在丹麥不大受歡迎，在美國卻成為暢銷書。 1937年她的第二部作品自傳體小說《走出非洲》（Out of Africa）出版，小說敘述她在肯尼亞悲歡離合的生活，纏綿悱惻，扣人心弦。作者用優美的文字寫出了對非洲風土人情的熟悉和眷戀，處處洋溢着散文美的內涵。後來，小說《走出非洲》被搬上銀幕，並得獲奧斯卡奬。迪內森1943年出版了短篇小說集《鼕天的故事》（Winter's Tales）。二戰期間，丹麥被納粹占領，迪內森用皮爾·安德烈塞爾的化名寫了小說《天使的復仇》（1944年），對法西斯侵略者進行嘲諷。晚年她遭受疾病折磨，但仍堅持寫作，在戰後出版了小說《最後的故事》（1947年）、《命運的軼事》（1958年）和《草坪上的影子》（Shadows on the Grass）（1960年）。1962年9月7日在哥本哈根附近的倫斯特倫德逝世。迪納森的作品樸素清新，富於幻想，具有荷馬史詩和《天方夜譚》的風格，引人入勝，頗有國際影響。英國評論傢約翰·達文波特贊揚道：“在我們這個時代很少有作傢象她那樣寫得少而精。”海明威在接受1954年諾貝爾文學奬金的典禮上還說過：“如果這筆奬金授予美麗的作傢伊薩剋·迪納森，我會更高興。”
　　尼爾斯·玻爾（Niels Bohr，1885－1962）：近代著名的物理學家、原子核物理學創始人。1885年10月7日生於哥本哈根。1905年，20歲的玻爾寫出的關於水表面張力測量的論文獲得了丹麥科學院金質奬章。1911年獲哥本哈根大學博士學位後開始研究金屬中電子運動的理論，並自1912年起擔任著名物理學家盧瑟福的助手。1913年初，玻爾提出了他著名的原子理論，這個理論隨即被用於分析各種譜綫，獲得了巨大的成功。他對原子結構模型的研究成果，使他獲得了1922年的諾貝爾物理奬。玻爾接着提出了著名的“對應原理”。 1943年，玻爾逃離納粹占領下的丹麥，經過瑞典轉道英國，不久後到達美國，馬上參與了原子彈的研製工作。在原子彈尚未試驗之前，玻爾就指出，如果原子能掌握在世界上愛好和平的人民手中，這種能量就會保障世界的持久和平；如果它被濫用，就會導致文明的毀滅。第二次世界大戰結束後，玻爾極力主張和平利用原子能和控製原子武器的政策。在他的倡導下，1955年在日內瓦召開了“原子能和平利用”第一次國際會議，玻爾本人也於1957年獲得美國首屆和平利用原子能奬。玻爾對中國的文化和中國人民一直有着深厚的感情，他的徽章上用的就是中國陰陽太極的圖案。1937年夏天，玻爾夫婦和兒子漢斯來中國，訪問了上海、杭州、南京、北平等地。他在前中央研究院、浙大、北大等單位做了關於原子和原子核的演講。
　　
　　【經濟】
　　丹麥是發達的西方工業國傢，人均國內生産總值居世界前列。農牧漁業及食品加工業發達，在許多工業領域有先進的生産技術和經驗。近年來，政府堅持適度緊縮的財政政策，采取積極措施穩定金融市場及匯率。2000年9月28日丹全民公决否决加入歐元區後，仍堅持以“匯率挂鈎”和“利率緊隨”為主要特徵的“準歐元政策”。2004年，丹政府繼續實施稅收零增長政策，扶持高新技術和生物技術産業發展，刺激市場投資與消費，國民生産總值和外貿額持續上升，國際收支與公共財政盈餘不斷擴大，通脹率保持穩定。丹在“世界經濟論壇（WEF） ” 2005-2006年度全球競爭力排名中名列第四。
　　2004 年主要經濟指標如下：
　　國內生産總值： 2336 億美元。
　　人均國內生産總值： 4.3 萬美元。
　　經濟增長率 : 2 ％。
　　貨幣名稱：丹麥剋朗（ KRONE ）， 1 剋朗 =100 歐爾。
　　匯率： 1 美元＝ 6.14 丹麥剋朗； 1 歐元＝ 9.3 丹麥剋朗。
　　通貨膨脹率： 1.2 ％。
　　失業率： 6. 0％。
　　（資料來源： 2005 丹麥統計年鑒。以下資料來源除特別標明外均與此同。）
　　【資源】自然資源較貧乏。除石油和天然氣外，其他礦藏很少，所需煤炭全部靠進口。北海大陸架石油藴藏量估計為 2.9 億噸，天然氣藴藏量約 2000 億立方米。 1972 年起開採石油， 2000 年産油 1773 萬噸，為歐洲第 3 大石油輸出國。探明褐煤儲量 9000 萬立方米。森林覆蓋面積 48.6 萬公頃，覆蓋率約 10 ％。北海和波羅的海為近海重要漁場。
　　【工業】工業在國民經濟中占主導地位。 2003 年工業總産值達 5423.7 億丹麥剋朗，約占國內生産總值的 38.9% 。從業人數 42.3 萬，占就業總人數的 15.3 ％。主要工業部門有：食品加工、機械製造、石油開採、造船、水泥、電子、化工、冶金、醫藥、紡織、傢具、造紙和印刷設備等。産品 60 ％以上供出口，約占出口總額的 75 ％。船用主機、水泥設備、助聽器、酶製劑和人造胰島素等産品享譽世界。企業以中小型為主。主要工業部門産值如下（單位：億剋朗）：
　　2001
　　2002
　　2003
　　食品工業
　　1238.0
　　1316.3
　　1305.9
　　機械製造
　　624.4
　　625.0
　　622.4
　　電子工業
　　622.7
　　619.1
　　596.3
　　化學工業
　　556.6
　　605.4
　　602.8
　　采礦、冶金
　　410.7
　　404.5
　　417.1
　　服裝、紡織
　　142.5
　　126.9
　　110.5
　　石油加工
　　159.5
　　145.5
　　146.7
　　木材加工
　　122.3
　　119.5
　　120.6
　　【農業】農牧業高度發達。近年受歐盟共同農業政策影響較深，農業在國民經濟中所占份額逐年下降，但在外貿中仍占較大比重。 2003 年農牧業總産值（包括漁業、林業）為 644.93 億剋朗，占當年國內生産總值的 4.6 ％。農牧結合，以牧為主，蓄牧業、林業産值 606.12 億剋朗，占農業總産值的 94 ％。有耕地 265.8 萬公頃，農場 4.86 萬個，從業人員 10.1 萬，占就業總人數的 3.6 ％。農業科技水平和生産率居世界先進國傢之列。農畜産品除滿足國內市場外，約 65 ％供出口，占出口總額的 10.6 ％，豬肉、奶酪和黃油出口量居世界前列。丹是世界上最大的貂皮生産國， 2003 年有貂場 1998 個，産貂皮約 1220 萬張。
　　2003 年傢畜存欄數：牛 172.4 萬頭，其中奶牛 59.6 萬頭，羊 14.4 萬衹，豬 1295 萬頭，馬 4.3 萬匹；傢禽存欄數 1715.2 萬衹。産奶 467.5 萬噸，蛋 1260 噸。主要農作物産量如下（單位：萬噸）：
　　2001
　　2002
　　2003
　　𠔌物
　　975.5
　　880.7
　　905.1
　　油菜
　　21.2
　　21.8
　　35.4
　　豆類
　　11.5
　　15.0
　　12.4
　　麥桿
　　356.8
　　366.3
　　341.6
　　甜菜
　　314.9
　　338.5
　　285.7
　　【漁業】世界第 15 、歐洲第 2 、歐盟最大漁業國，捕魚量約占歐盟捕魚總量的 36 ％。 2002 年總捕魚量約 132.8 萬噸，主要有鱈魚、比目魚、鯖魚、鰻魚和蝦等，主要用於生産魚油和魚肉。至 2002 年底共有漁船 2457 艘，總噸位 9.8 萬噸。 2003 年漁業産值 38.81 億剋朗。
　　【服務業】服務業發達，主要包括商業、電信、金融、保險、旅遊和技術服務等。 2003 年産值達 7450 億剋朗，約占當年國內生産總值的 53.4 ％。
　　【交通運輸】海、陸、空交通發達。商船主要從事國際運輸。
　　鐵路： 2003 年有國營鐵路 2284 公裏，私營鐵路 495 公裏。客運量 55.48 億人公裏，貨運量 20.91 億噸公裏。
　　公路： 2003 年總長約 7.2 萬公裏，其中高速公路 1009 公裏。 2003 年共有各種汽車約 250 萬輛，其中小轎車 188.8 萬輛、貨車 38.9 萬輛、公共汽車 1.4 萬輛。公路國內貨運量為 110.57 億噸公裏。
　　水運： 2003 年 20 噸以上商船 1838 艘 , 總噸位 739.1 萬噸。客運量為 2.45 億人公裏，貨運量為 821.9 萬噸。全國有港口 124 個，菲德烈西亞港、凱隆堡港、哥本哈根港和奧鬍斯港貨運量居前列。
　　空運：共有 23 個機場，民用飛機 1124 架。北歐航空公司為瑞典、丹麥和挪威共有，丹麥占 2/7 股份。哥本哈根卡斯楚普機場是丹最大航空港，也是歐洲北部重要航空樞紐。 2002 年空運乘客 3.04 億人次，貨物 11.2 萬噸。
　　【財政金融】近幾年公共財政情況如下（億剋朗）：
　　2000
　　2001
　　2002
　　收入
　　7269
　　7548
　　7636
　　支出
　　6902
　　7182
　　7425
　　差額
　　367
　　366
　　211
　　內債
　　4395
　　4619
　　4651
　　外債
　　2190
　　2350
　　2471
　　BANK ）、聯合銀行（ UNIBANK － GROUP ）和 BG 銀行（ BG DANSKE 2003 年，國傢銀行黃金儲備約為 53 億剋朗（約合 8.04 億美元），外匯儲備 2363 億剋朗。 2002 年有銀行 180 傢，雇員約 4 萬人。其中最大的三傢銀行為丹麥銀行（ DEN BANK ）。 2000 年 3 月，聯合銀行與瑞芬合資的梅麗塔北歐銀行（ Merita Nordbank ）合併，名稱仍為聯合銀行。
　　銀行名稱
　　成立時間
　　資産額
　　（億剋朗）
　　雇員數（萬人）
　　丹麥銀行
　　1989 年
　　3381.5
　　1.2
　　聯合銀行
　　1990 年
　　2217.9
　　1.1
　　BG 銀行
　　1995 年
　　1720.1
　　0.53
　　【對外貿易】外貿是丹經濟命脈。主要原料靠進口，産品銷售依賴國際市場。政府製訂優惠政策，鼓勵産品出口。同 100 多個國傢和地區有貿易往來， 1987 年以來一直保持較大順差。主要進口産品為運輸設備、電信産品、紙張、原油、煤炭、鋼鐵、機械和飼料等。主要出口産品為乳製品、肉、魚、傢具、醫藥、電子産品、儀表、船舶、紡織品和服裝等。對外貿易情況如下（單位：億剋朗）：
　　2001 2002 2003
　　外貿總額 7925 8267 8134
　　進口額 3696 3844 3767
　　出口額 4229 4423 4366
　　差額 +533 +579 +599
　　2003 年丹與主要貿易夥伴經貿情況（單位：億剋朗）：
　　出口進口
　　歐盟 2865.74 2667.32
　　德國 824.53 858.86
　　瑞典 553.05 488.16
　　英國 364.57 297.97
　　荷蘭 204.36 261.67
　　挪威 245.16 167.21
　　【對外投資】 2002 年對外直接投資 357 億剋朗，外國對丹直接投資 437 億剋朗。 ( 資料來源：丹麥國傢銀行 )
　　【對外援助】 2003 年丹對外援助總額為 104.5 億剋朗，占當年國內生産總值的 0.7 ％。援助重點為難民、醫療衛生和農村發展。主要受援國有加納、莫桑比剋、孟加拉、尼加拉瓜等。
　　
　　【著名公司】
　　A.P. 穆勒集團（ A.P.Moeller Group ）：成立於 1904 年。主要經營造船和海上運輸、石油、天然氣勘探與開發、航空運輸、商品零售等。有子公司 70 傢，分佈 100 個國傢，員工 6 萬餘人。下屬的兩傢主要分公司斯汶堡汽輪公司和 1912 汽輪公司在 2003 年《商業周刊》評選中分列世界 1000 強企業中的 346 和 359 位（以市值計算）。 1999 年其下屬的馬士基船運公司（ Maersk Line ）兼併美國海陸航運公司，組成世界最大集裝箱船運公司，並改名為馬士基海陸船運公司（ Maersk Sealand ）。在北京、上海、大連、天津等地設有分公司，在南京、廣州、重慶等地設有辦事處。
　　諾和集團（ Novo Group ）：原諾和諾德集團（ Novo Nordisk ），成立於 1923 年。世界著名醫藥和生化製品集團公司，生産的胰島素和酶製劑分別占世界市場份額的 50 ％和 40 ％以上。在 68 個國傢和地區設有子公司或辦事處，共有員工 1.6 萬人。 2000 年 11 月正式分為兩公司，負責製藥業務的公司沿用原名稱，負責酶製劑業務的公司改名為諾維信（ Novozymes ）。 1995 年該集團投資約 2 億美元在天津設廠，是丹在華最大企業。
　　丹佛斯集團（ Danfoss ）：丹最大工業企業，主要生産采暖、製冷和傳動及速控溫控元件。在世界不少國傢有子公司，共有雇員 1.7 萬人。 1995 年在天津建立丹佛斯（天津）有限公司，主要生産散熱器恆溫控製閥、熱力膨脹閥、水閥、冷凝機組和相關産品。
　　樂高公司（ Lego )　：是一傢丹麥的玩具公司，亦指該公司出品的積木玩具，由五彩的塑料積木、齒輪、迷你小人和各種不同其他零件，組成各種事物。
　　該公司與多個娛樂公司有合作，如迪士尼、時代華納。例如在哈利波特和星球大戰等電影在美國上映前後，樂高就會推出相應主題玩具。
　　
　　【人民生活】
　　以高福利、高收入、高稅收、高消費為特徵。 2002 年社會福利（教育、醫療衛生、社會保障、住房等）開支為 3958.89 億剋朗，約占當年國內生産總值的 28.4 ％。 2002 年人均收入 22.18 萬剋朗。 2003 年失業人數約為 17.1 萬人。全國有醫生 9400 人，病床 2.6 萬張。私人住宅擁有率 53 ％，別墅擁有率 11 ％，手機使用率 68 ％，家庭電腦擁有率 70 ％，上網率 79 ％。每千人擁有醫生 2.5 名，洗衣機 740 臺、電視機 575 臺，小轎車 343 輛、電話 613 部、傳真機 120 部。
　　
　　【軍事】
　　根據丹麥憲法，瑪格麗特二世女王是武裝力量最高統帥。國防部是武裝力量最高行政機關，國防大臣為文職，嚮議會和首相負責，對武裝力量實施行政領導。國防司令部是武裝力量最高指揮機構，負責丹三軍的作戰、訓練和後勤保障。現任國防司令是漢斯 · 傑斯帕 · 赫爾旭（ Hans Jesper Hels?,2002 年 5 月上任），國防參謀長為蒂姆 · 斯洛斯 · 約根森（ Tim Sloth J?rgensen ）。實行義務兵與志願兵相結合的兵役製。義務兵服役期 8 ～ 12 個月，志願兵服役期為 54 ～ 72 個月。
　　丹麥武裝力量由陸、海、空三軍和國民衛隊組成，其中陸、海、空三軍為現役正規軍隊。截至 2004 年年底，丹軍總員額 20550 人，陸軍、海軍和空軍兵力分別為 12550 人（占總兵力的 61.1% ）、 3800 人（占 18.5% ）和 6471 人（占 20.4% ）。其中，陸軍裝備主戰坦剋 281 輛、裝甲車 732 輛、 100 毫米以上口徑的火炮 315 餘門、直升機 25 架；海軍編成水面艦艇部隊（下設 6 個中隊）和海防艦艇部隊（分轄 3 個海區），主要裝備艦艇 64 艘 ( 其中護衛艦 7 艘、巡邏艇 36 艘、用於偵察和漁業監護的直升機 8 架 ) ；空軍編為 6 個航空兵中隊（其中 4 個戰鬥機中隊、 1 個運輸機中隊、 1 個直升機中隊）、 1 個雷達中隊（轄 6 個雷達站），裝備各種飛機 111 架（其中 F － 16A/B 型戰鬥機 68 架、 C － 130 型運輸機 3 架）。
　　2004 年國防預算為 164.92 億剋朗，相當於國內生産總值的 1.2 ％。 2005 年預算總額為 186 億丹麥剋朗，約占財政年度預算的 4% 。（資料來源：丹麥國防部）
　　
　　【文化教育】
　　丹麥培育了以童話聞名於世的著名作傢安徒生、哲學家剋爾愷郭爾(Søren Kierkegaard) ，物理學家尼爾斯·玻爾，他和學生沃納·海森堡一起創立的著名量子力學學派就稱為“哥本哈根學派”。到目前為止共有 13 位丹麥人獲諾貝爾奬。在生物學、環境學、氣象學、免疫學等方面處於世界領先地位。奉行使每個社會成員在文化方面具有平等發展的文化方針，鼓勵地方發展文化事業。
　　丹麥的銀器設計也相當有名，如喬治·延森是經典的銀器藝術傢。
　　【文化】 2003 年全國有公共圖書館 5178 所，各類博物館 271 所， 96.15 萬參觀人次。全國共擁有影院 162 所，全年播放國內外電影 616 部。
　　【教育】教育事業發達。 1973 年起實行九年製免費義務教育。 2002 年全國共有學校 3520 所，學生 111.8 萬人，其中小學 2791 所，學生 67.9 萬人；高中 307 所，學生 6.9 萬人；職業學校 164 所，學生 17.2 萬人；綜合性大學 5 所，學生 7.4 萬人；師範、技術、農業、商業、藝術、音樂等院校 153 所，學生 10.4 萬人。最著名的高等學府有哥本哈根大學（建於 1479 年 , 2003 年約有學生 3.5 萬人）、奧鬍斯大學（建於 1928 年， 2003 年約有學生 2.1 萬人）、丹麥技術大學和皇傢獸醫和農業大學。 2003 年國傢教育經費預算為 301.7 億剋朗，約占當年國內生産總值的 2.2% 。
　　【新聞出版】 2003 年，全國有日報 32 種，發行量 137.8 萬份，周日報 10 種，發行量 125.1 萬份，期刊雜志 109 種，技術及地方報刊 278 種。主要報紙發行量如下（括號內為創刊年）：《日德蘭郵報》（ 1871 年），平日版 17.2 萬份，周日版 23.1 萬份；《貝林時報》（ 1749 年），平日版 14.2 萬份，周日版 16.5 萬份；《政治報》（ 1884 年），平日版 13.7 萬份，周日版 17.3 萬份。
　　丹麥通訊社（ Ritzaus Bureau ）： 1866 年創建。丹唯一的全國性通訊社，由各大報紙合辦。
　　丹麥廣播公司： 1925 年創立。丹麥最大的全國性廣播電臺和電視臺。
　　丹麥電視二臺： 1988 年創立， 1989 年開播。
　　
　　【對外關係】
　　冷戰結束後，丹麥對傳統上以北約、歐共體、北歐合作和聯合國為支柱的外交政策進行了調整，突出以歐盟為重點，並增加了“共同安全、民主和人權、經濟和社會發展及環境” 等內容。丹重視歐盟建設，堅持依托北約，加強歐洲安全合作，積極拓展以北歐合作為基礎的環波羅的海合作，重視聯合國的地位和作用，積極參與聯合國維和行動。同154 個國傢建立了外交關係。
　　【對當前重大國際問題的態度】
　　關於國際形勢：認為國際形勢總體趨嚮緩和，但恐怖主義、民族和宗教問題等非傳統安全因素已成為威脅國際安全與穩定的突出問題， “9·11” 事件對世界政治和安全格局影響深遠。認為世界政治形勢嚮多極化方向發展，但美國“一超” 地位短期內不會受到挑戰，相反卻有進一步加強的趨勢。主張各大國間應加強對話和合作，共同應對面臨的挑戰。
　　關於聯合國作用和改革：視聯合國為國際社會構架的基礎和國際安全與穩定的保障。認為聯合國須在伊戰後重樹權威，發揮更大作用。支持安理會改革，主張增加常任和非常任理事國數目，限製使用否决權。積極參與聯合國事務， 2004 年 10 月當選安理會 2005 － 2006 年非常任理事國。
　　關於國際反恐：譴責各種形式的恐怖主義，重視建立全球反恐聯盟，支持反恐鬥爭。認為貧窮落後是滋生恐怖主義的溫床，強調重視發展問題有助於從根本上消除恐怖主義。“9·11”後，丹國內出臺反恐法案，支持並參與美國和北約打擊恐怖主義的軍事行動及聯合國有關維和行動。於 2005 年 3 月出任安理會反恐委員會主席一職。
　　關於美國建立國傢導彈防禦係統問題：主張有關國傢應嚴肅對待大規模殺傷性武器的擴散問題，支持美建立NMD 計劃， 2004年與美簽署協定，同意將格陵蘭圖勒基地納入美導彈防禦係統。
　　關於人權和民主問題：視人權和民主為其外交政策的基石之一，奉行將保護人權和少數民族權利置於國傢主權之上的 “ 積極的人權政策” ，主張所有國傢和地區認同和遵守國際公認的人權標準。支持和推行 “人權高於主權” 、西方的自由、民主、人權等價值觀念，認為在特殊情況下，可以政治和人道原因為由進行“人道主義干涉” 。
　　關於歐洲形勢：認為當前歐洲大規模軍事威脅的可能性減小，但局部衝突凸顯，影響歐洲安全的因素主要來自對民主、人權等共同價值觀念的威脅及有組織犯罪、難民潮和環境污染等。主張加強歐洲在預防和控製危機方面的能力以及反恐領域的合作，支持建立歐盟快速反應部隊，以更加有效地預防和控製本地區危機，但同時強調不能以削弱北約在歐洲的作用和存在為代價。
　　關於歐盟合作和歐元：視歐盟合作為其外交政策的核心內容，但在歐盟共同貨幣（歐元）、共同防務、司法及歐洲公民權等合作領域有 “ 四項保留” 。支持歐盟東擴和深化一體化建設，支持歐盟製憲，但要求維護小國利益，不贊成歐盟發展成 “ 聯邦歐洲” 。上屆政府曾於 2000 年 9 月 28 日就加入歐元舉行全民公决，結果以 53.1% 否决加入歐元區，使其取消 “ 四項保留 ” 、加強歐盟合作的努力受到重挫。隨着歐盟東擴和歐盟合作的深入發展，丹 “ 四項保留” 特別是在防務、司法合作方面的保留開始凸顯負面效應。丹正考慮以某種方式在司法領域取得突破。
　　關於中東問題：認為國際社會應對中東問題予以更多關註，促進中東地區各方的互信與合作，以避免不同文明之間的衝突和原教旨主義的蔓延。強調美在解决中東危機中不可替代的作用，主張歐盟與中東 - 環地中海國傢建立戰略夥伴關係，積極促進中東和平進程。呼籲以從加沙地帶撤軍。承諾增加對中東地區的民主援助以改善該地區民主、人權和實施良政，但以執行更為 “ 中立、平衡 ” 的中東政策為由，取消了一些援巴項目。
　　關於朝核問題：支持朝鮮半島無核化及和平解决朝核問題，要求朝放棄發展核武，呼籲美朝通過對話改善關係。高度評價我主持六方會談，認為中國在朝核問題上發揮了重要作用。認為歐盟可在適當時機參與解决進程，特別是在促進朝鮮發展經濟及推動朝融入國際社會方面發揮作用。每年嚮朝提供約 1500 萬剋朗（約合259 萬美元）的人道主義援助。
　　關於伊朗核問題：關註伊朗核問題的發展，認為伊應與國際原子能機構合作，接受監督和核查。主張國際社會就此問題加強磋商和合作，盡快以和平方式妥善解决問題，避免伊問題危及世界和平，成為新的動亂因素。
　　關於伊拉剋問題：支持美采取軍事行動推翻薩政權，曾派遣護衛艦、潛艇各一艘以及150 多名士兵參戰。主張聯合國在伊戰後維和、重建和推動民主建設等方面發揮更大作用，譴責伊出現的反美英占領暴力活動。積極參與伊拉剋重建及“ 巴黎俱樂部 ” 關於伊債務問題談判，支持並呼籲國際社會盡最大努力減免伊債務並提供援助，已提供 3.5 億丹麥剋朗（約合 6034 萬美元）用於伊重建工作。丹駐敘利亞大使曾一度任伊巴士拉地區行政長官。2004 年在伊駐軍 520 人；6 月，丹駐伊大使正式赴伊上任。
　　關於阿富汗問題：關註並參與對阿富汗的援助及戰後重建工作。重點援助民主和法製建設，先後嚮阿提供 3 億剋朗（約合 5172 萬美元）的人道主義及重建援助。通過北約嚮阿派有 4 架戰鬥機和 147 名士兵。 2004 年撥款 2350 萬剋朗（約合 405 萬美元）專項資助阿總統選舉。認為阿總統民主選舉有助於打擊阿極端勢力，促進阿和平與穩定。選舉基本公正，希阿各派尊重選舉結果的合法性。 2003 年以來丹曾因強製遣返阿在丹難民並將援助與難民遣返事務挂鈎受到阿政府和聯合國難民署的批評。
　　【同中國的關係】
　　1950 年1 月9 日正式承認中華人民共和國， 1950 年5 月11 日建交， 1956 年2 月15 日由公使館升格為大使館。20世紀70 － 80 年代兩國關係發展較快。先後簽訂了《中丹政府貿易協定和支付協定》、《中丹民航協定》、《中丹海運協定》、《中丹投資保護協定》、《中丹避免雙重徵稅和防止偷漏稅協定》等協定。
　　2004年兩國關係繼續發展。 2 月，丹首相拉斯穆森對中國進行工作訪問。 5 月，中國全國人大常委會委員長吳邦國應邀對丹進行正式友好訪問，係兩國建交以來中國全國人大常委會委員長首次訪丹。丹議會第一副議長斯文 · 奧肯、議會外交政策委員會、勞務市場政策委員會等代表團分別訪華。兩國外交部間保持着磋商與協調。 9 月，中國外長李肇星在紐約第 59 屆聯大期間同丹外交大臣默勒會見。 11 月，丹麥外交部常務秘書彼得森來華與張業遂副外長進行政治磋商，雙方還就中國政府同意丹麥在重慶設立領事館事互換照會。 2005 年 4 月，回良玉副總理、中央軍委副主席、國務委員兼國防部長曹剛川應邀訪丹。丹副首相兼經貿大臣本特森於 6 月 25 日至 7 月 2 日訪華。 8 月，丹社會事務和平等大臣漢森訪華。 9 月，丹文化大臣米剋爾森、丹女王的丈夫亨裏剋親王訪華。 10 月，丹第四副議長彼得森、國防司令赫爾旭上將分別訪華。11月丹第一副議長奧肯、發展援助大臣Ulla Tornaes分別訪華。12月丹總檢察長享寧訪華。2006年1月，李鐵映副委員長訪丹，丹議會能源政策委員會主席瓦賽堡、交通和能源大臣漢森訪華。
　　現任中國駐丹大使：甄建國（ 2002 年 9 月 10 日遞交國書）。館址： OEREGAARDSALLE 25, 2900 HELLERUP, COPENHAGEN DENMARK 。網址： www.chinaembassy.dk 。電話： 45-39460889, 45-39611013 （商務處）， 45 － 39460877 （簽證處）；傳真： 45-39625484 ， 45-39612913 （商務處）， 45 － 39460878 （簽證處）。
　　丹麥駐中國大使：米磊 (Laurids Mikaelsen ， 2004 年 11 月 5 日遞交國書 ) 。
　　館址：北京市朝陽區三裏屯東 5 街 1 號。網址： http://www.ambbeijing.um.dk/zh/ 。電話： 85329900 ；傳真 : 85329999 。
　　【同美國及北約的關係】
　　丹麥是北約成員國，重視同美國和北約的磋商與合作，認為北約在維護歐洲安全和穩定方面發揮着不可替代的重要作用，美軍留駐歐洲有助於保持歐洲的戰略平衡。支持北約東擴，積極參與北約軍事行動。支持北約新戰略，認為北約的關註焦點應是歐洲－大西洋兩岸的安全與穩定，但可在特殊情況下在其防區以外采取軍事行動，並可在聯合國授權問題上持靈活態度。認為除集體防禦外，北約還擔負了捍衛自由、民主、人權和保護少數民族利益等共同價值觀念的責任。但對北約是否應充當世界警察表態謹慎。 2004 年 4 月，丹首相訪美，代表丹麥領取美國約翰遜總統勳章，以表彰丹在二戰期間保護猶太人方面作出的貢獻。
　　【同歐盟的關係】
　　1973 年加入歐共體，2001 年3 月開始實施《申根協定》。作為歐盟成員國，同大多數歐洲國傢關係密切。在對外政策上，奉行以歐盟政策為主體的外交政策。 1993 年，丹與歐盟在愛丁堡達成協議，不參加歐盟在歐洲貨幣聯盟、防務、司法和歐洲公民權等方面的合作，即所謂 “ 四項保留 ” 。 2000 年，丹全民公决否决加入歐元。 2002 年下半年丹輪值歐盟主席，主持召開了 10 月布魯塞爾非正式首腦會議和 12 月哥本哈根首腦會議，成功結束了歐盟與中、東歐十個國傢的入盟談判。2004 年，丹首相訪問了兩個歐盟輪值主席國荷蘭與愛爾蘭、英國、法國、西班牙、德國；愛爾蘭總理、歐盟委員會候任主席巴羅佐訪丹。
　　【同北歐鄰國和波羅的海三國關係】
　　重視同北歐國傢間的傳統合作。認為在歐盟事務中，北歐三國應首先維護各自的利益，然後可在男女平等、就業、環保等立場基本一致的領域內尋求合作。丹和芬蘭、瑞典三國繼續執行歐盟峰會前的北歐首腦會晤機製。主張北歐合作更多地嚮環波羅的海國傢開放。丹曾積極支持波海三國獨立，同其他北歐國傢一起最早承認並同三國建交，強調繼續加強同波海三國在軍事、經濟、社會保障等領域的合作，積極推動環波羅的海地區合作，力圖在其中發揮主導作用。 2004 年，芬蘭總理、冰島總理、拉脫維亞外長、愛沙尼亞總統、外長、挪威首相訪丹，丹首相赴德國出席第六屆波羅的海發展論壇峰會，赴瑞典參加北歐理事會會議，丹外交大臣代表北歐五國和波海三國赴美國出席世界銀行與國際貨幣基金組織共同發展委員會舉行的會議。
　　【同俄羅斯的關係】
　　認為俄羅斯局勢走嚮對歐洲安全和穩定至關重要，加強同俄合作是建立歐洲安全新格局的基礎。主張與俄羅斯建立建設性的、長期的合作關係，保持俄政治和經濟改革勢頭，使俄盡快融入歐洲進程。因 “ 世界車臣人大會”2002 年10 月在丹舉行和未同意引渡車臣“ 副總理”紮卡耶夫事，丹與俄關係發生齟齬。2003 年5月，丹首相夫婦赴俄羅斯聖彼得堡出席其建城300 周年慶祝活動並與俄總統普京會晤。2004年別斯蘭恐怖事件後，丹譴責車臣恐怖分子的暴行，外交大臣致電俄方表示慰問。
　　【同中東歐國傢的關係】
　　丹麥重視發展同中東歐國傢的關係，認為中東歐國傢目前正處在冷戰後的“安全真空” 。認為北約和歐盟雙東擴有利於保持歐洲的長期穩定。 2004 年，丹首相訪問了捷剋、奧地利；丹外交大臣訪問了保加利亞、波蘭、馬耳他等；羅馬尼亞總統、波蘭總理、烏剋蘭外長等分別訪問了丹麥。 2004 年10 月，哥本哈根警察局副局長凱· 維特努普（ Kai Vittrup ）出任聯合國駐科索沃警察部隊最高長官。
　　【同發展中國傢的關係】
　　丹重視同發展中國傢的關係。認為貧富差距的擴大是影響世界和平與穩定的重要因素。丹采取經濟援助同受援國民主、人權狀況挂鈎的政策，嚮發展中國傢提供的援助較前有所下降， 2003 年外援金額約為國內生産總值的 0.7 ％。2004 年，丹外交大臣訪問了加納、約旦、敘利亞、以色列、伊拉剋、阿塞拜疆、格魯吉亞、亞美尼亞，還與國防大臣一起訪問了蘇丹，於 10 月赴越南出席第五屆亞歐首腦會議；丹首相訪問了伊拉剋。智利總統、尼加拉瓜總統訪丹。
　　
　　【旅遊業】
　　2003 年旅遊業收入 351.6 億剋朗，占當年國內生産總值的 2.5 ％。旅遊業就業人數為 7.1 萬人，是丹麥服務行業中的第一大産業。年均外國遊客約 200 萬人。共有旅館 557 傢，客床 10.6 萬多張。主要旅遊點有哥本哈根、安徒生故鄉－歐登塞、樂高積木城及日德蘭半島西海岸和最北角斯卡晏等。（資料來源：丹麥旅遊局）
　　“美人魚”銅像（Little Mermaid）位於丹麥首都哥本哈根朗厄裏尼港入口處的一塊巨大鵝卵石上，它是丹麥雕塑傢埃德華·埃裏剋森於1912年根據安徒生童話《海的女兒》中的女主角用青銅雕鑄的。“小美人魚”是丹麥童話作傢安徒生於1837年所寫的一篇童話《海的女兒》中的主角。她是海王最小的女兒。她15歲時，一位王子所乘的船觸礁沉沒，她救了王子並傾心於他。但是王子已與另外的女子訂有婚約，而離開了她。然而，癡情的“小美人魚”仍然日復一日地坐在海邊的岩石上，等待王子歸來。埃裏剋森利用了丹麥皇傢劇院芭蕾舞演員埃倫·普賴斯的形象作為模特，但是他沒能說服這位女演員為製作這一銅像而裸體，這不得不迫使他讓自己的妻子充當裸體模特。這尊5.3英尺高的銅像同真人一般大小，整個人魚直到小腿都是人形，衹是腳變成了魚鰭。銅像於1913年8月23日被安置在哥本哈根港，現已成為丹麥的象徵。但“美人魚”銅像曾多次遭受厄運：1961年，有人用白顔料給“美人魚”畫上胸罩；1963年，美人魚全身被涮了一層紅顔色；1964年，銅像第一次被“割去”了頭部；幸好雕刻傢埃裏剋森保存着模具，又重鑄了一個頭像；1984年7月22日清晨，“美人魚”右臂被人鋸走一截，當晚兩個年輕人嚮警察投案自首，警方以破壞公物罪對其提出起訴；1990年又有人試圖盜頭未果；1998年1月5日，“美人魚”雕像頭部又一次被人盜走。2003年9月，“美人魚”青銅雕像又遭厄運。2006年3月，哥本哈根市政府决定將美人魚雕像嚮深海處搬遷，原因是過多的遊客對雕塑造成太多的破壞。
　　安徒生博物館 (H.C Andersson's House)位於丹麥菲茵島中部的奧登塞市區。為紀念丹麥偉大童話作傢安徒生（1805－1875年）誕生100周年（1905年）而建。博物館是一座紅瓦白墻的平房，坐落在一條鵝卵石鋪的街巷裏。這裏臨街的一幢幢古老式樣的建築，使人感到仿佛回到了19世紀安徒生生活的年代。博物館共有陳列室18間。前 12間按時間順序介紹安徒生生平及其各時期作品，展出大量安徒生作品的手稿、來往信件、畫稿以及丹麥一些名畫傢、藝術傢創作的有關安徒生生活的油畫和雕塑。安徒生生前的用具仍按原樣擺放着，古樸的傢具，兩衹有補丁的僅皮箱，一頂禮帽，一個提包，一把雨傘，一根手杖。這些曾經長期伴隨他的簡陋的旅行行裝，體現他樸實的生活和情趣。第11間為一建於1930是的圓柱形大廳，其幾米高的環墻展出丹麥近代著名藝術傢斯坦恩斯根據安徒生的自傳體著作我的一生的童話而作的８幅壁畫，內容有安徒生童年，離啕故鄉，國外遊歷，與世界著名藝術傢的交往，最後到1867年，人們歡呼安徒生被授予奧登塞市榮譽市民等安徒生生前各階段的生活與寫作的經歷。博物館第13至18間包括有圖書館和錄像錄音播放室等，在這裏人們拿起聽筒就能聽到安徒生的童話故事。這幾個陳列室，收集了 68個國傢出版的96種文字的安徒生著作，收藏的中國出版的安徒生童話及著作共有27種，其中最早的是1926年發表在小說月報上的安徒生作品的中文譯文。博物館原建在安徒生的故居內，隨着安徒生的聲譽和著作影響的擴大，世界各國安徒生著作版本的增加以及博物館參觀者人數的增多，兩度擴建：一次在 1930年，為安徒生誕辰125周年；另一次在1975年，為安徒生逝世100周年。
　　圓塔 (Round Tower)坐落在首都哥本哈根市中心附近。建於1642年剋裏斯欽四世統治時期。剋裏斯欽四世（1577－1648年）為丹麥和挪威之王，喜建建築，屢建立城市，有“國王建築師”之稱。圓塔高36米，直徑15米。它的建立與三一大教堂（基督教中指聖父、聖子、聖靈三位一體有關。剋裏斯欽四世修建這座建築使之與大教堂以及圖書館和天文飲臺構成一組綜合建築群。塔內有蠃旋通道直抵塔頂。1716年，俄國沙皇彼得大帝訪問哥本哈根時曾與其皇后卡特林娜登上塔頂。
　　蒂沃利公園 (Tivoli Gardens)位於丹麥首都哥本哈根鬧市中心，占地20英畝，是丹麥著名的遊樂園，有“童話之城”之稱。每年4月22日至9月19日對外開放。興建蒂沃利公園的是一名記者兼出版商喬治·卡斯滕森，他嚮當時丹麥國王剋裏斯蒂八世進言，表示“若人民耽於玩樂，便不會干涉政治”，於是獲準修建這座公園。公園於1843年8月15日起即開始接待當地居民和外來遊客。最初公園衹是群衆集會、跳舞，看表演和聽音樂的場所。後來幾經改造，纔逐漸形成一個老少皆宜的遊樂場所。公園的正門，頗似一座碉堡。由專傢精心設計的園內建築物錯落有緻地分佈在自然景物之間，使整個公園兼有天然與人工之美。花卉展覽是公園的一大特色，花展以種植在園地裏的花簇組成五彩繽紛的圖案來吸引觀衆。這裏的水景更是令人嘆為觀止，水面上不僅有雕塑、噴泉，還有花舟遊弋，水鳥翻飛。當夜幕降臨，園內燈光燦爛、閃爍生輝。整個遊
　　樂園既象是在黑幕上畫出一幅大筆素描，又似是一個玻璃的世界。樹枝上的彩燈大小不一、明暗有緻，襯托出通幽麯徑、樹影婆娑。水邊的燈飾圖案各有不同，色彩各異，在不同的水面上經過巧妙的安排和藝術的穿插，有如鏡花水月，給人以朦朧迷幻之感。這裏還有丙座引人註目的中國式建築──寶塔和戲臺。塔分4層，飛檐凌空，楹檻通靈，一面倚山，三邊臨水。塔內層層設有餐廳，遊客可一邊品嚐中國佳餚，一邊飽覽湖光山色。戲臺建於1874年，在外形、大小、色澤、佈局上仿照北京故宮戲臺規格，臺前屋檐下橫懸一塊木匾，上書孟子的名言“與民偕樂”4個大字。蒂沃利公園自創建以來從未出現過赤字，之所以有這麽好的收益除了其別緻的景色以外，還得益於其悠久的歷史和傳統。公園內設有20多條驚險程度各異的歷險路綫，還可沿飛天幹綫瀏覽安徒生童話故事裏一幕幕膾炙人口的童話故事。
　　大貝爾特海峽大橋(Store Baelt Bridge)建在在丹麥西蘭島與菲英島之間 18公裏寬的大貝爾特海峽上，該橋上的懸索橋長 1624米，是世界上最長的懸索橋之一。大橋為公路、鐵路兩用橋。從菲英島至海峽中斯坡洛格島為6.6公裏長的西橋，1996年7月完工。東橋從西蘭島至斯坡洛格島鐵路需走的隧道1995年夏季已開通。東橋的公路橋在水面上，這部分大橋中有一段為懸索橋，橋塔高254米；兩橋塔之間的跨度達1624米，僅次於正在建設中的日本明石海峽大橋；橋孔高度為65米，可通行任何巨輪。懸索橋使用了1.9萬噸鋼纜，其主鋼纜直徑達85公分。

　　Denmark en-us-Denmark.ogg /ˈdɛnmɑrk/ (help·info) (Danish: Danmark, IPA: [ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊], (archaic:) IPA: [ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊]) is a Scandinavian country in northern Europe and the senior member (with Greenland and the Faroe Islands) of the Kingdom of Denmark. 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.
　　
　　Denmark is the second-most visited destination in Scandinavia, after Sweden, with 4.7 million visitors in 2007.
　　
　　Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Denmark has a state-level government and local governments in 98 municipalities. Denmark has been a member of the European Union (formerly European Economic Community) since 1973, although has not joined the Eurozone, a currency union among the European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their sole official currency. Denmark is a founding member of NATO.
　　
　　Denmark, with a free market capitalist economy, and a large welfare state, ranks according to one measure as having the world's highest level of income equality. From 2006 to 2008, surveys ranked Denmark as "the happiest place in the world," based on standards of health, welfare, and education. The 2008 Global Peace Index survey ranks Denmark as the second most peaceful country in the world, after Iceland. Denmark was also ranked as the least corrupt country in the world in the 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index, sharing a top position with Sweden and New Zealand. In 2008, the capital and largest city, Copenhagen, was ranked the most livable city in the world by Monocle magazine. The national language, Danish, is close to Swedish and Norwegian, with which they share strong cultural and historical ties. 82.0% of the inhabitants of Denmark and 90.3% of the ethnic Danes are members of the Lutheran state church. About 9% of the population have foreign citizenship. A large portion of the foreign citizens are of Scandinavian ancestry, while the rest are of a variety of nationalities.
　　
　　The etymology of the word Denmark, and especially the relationship between Danes and Denmark and the unifying of Denmark as a single Kingdom is a subject that attracts some debate. The debate is centered primarily around the prefix 'Dan' and whether it refers to the Dani or a historical person Dan and the exact meaning of the -mark ending. The issue is further complicated by a number of references to various Dani people in Scandinavian or other places in Europe in ancient Greek and Roman accounts (like Ptolemy, Jordanes and Gregory of Tours), as well as some medieval literature (like Adam of Bremen, Beowulf, Widsith and Poetic Edda).
　　
　　Most handbooks derive the first part of the word, and the name of the people, from a word meaning "flat land", related to German Tenne "threshing floor", English den "cave", Sanskrit dhánu?- "desert". The -mark is believed to mean woodland or borderland (see marches), with probable references to the border forests in south Schleswig, maybe similar to Finnmark, Telemark or Dithmarschen.
　　
　　Mythological explanations
　　
　　Some of the earliest descriptions of the origin of the word 'Denmark', describing a territory, are found in the Chronicon Lethrense (12th century), Svend Aagesen (late 12th century), Saxo Grammaticus (early 13th century) and the Ballad of Eric (mid 15th century). There are however many more Danish annals and yearbooks containing various other details, similar tales in other variations, other names or spelling variations, and so on.
　　
　　The Chronicon Lethrense explains that when the Roman Emperor Augustus went against Denmark in the time of David, Denmark consisted of the territory Jutland, Funen, Zealand, M?n, Falster, Lolland and Sk?ne, but was not called Denmark (Dania) because they were governed by King Ypper of Uppsala. He had three sons, Nori, ?sten and Dan. Dan was sent to govern Zealand, M?n, Falster and Lolland, which became known jointly as Videslev. When the Jutes were fighting Emperor Augustus they called upon Dan to help and upon victory made him king of Jutland, Fuen, Videslev and Sk?ne. After a council about what to call this new united land, they named it Denmark (Dania) after the new king, Dan. Saxo relates that the legendary Danish King Dan, son of Humbli, gave the name to the Danish people, though he does not expressly state that he also is the origin of the word "Denmark". Rather he tells that England ultimately derives its name from Dan’s brother Angle.
　　
　　Earliest occurrences
　　
　　The earliest mention of a territory called "Denmark" is found in King Alfred the Great's modified translation into Old English of Paulus Orosius' Seven Books of History Against The Pagans ("Historiarum adversum Paganos Libri Septem"), written by Alfred when king of Wessex in the years 871-899. In a passage introduced to the text by Alfred, we read about Ohthere of H?logaland’s travels in the Nordic region, during which 'Denmark [Denamearc] was on his [port side]... And then for two days he had on his [port side] the islands which belong to Denmark'.
　　
　　The earliest recorded use of the word "Denmark" within Denmark itself is found on the two Jelling stones, which are rune stones believed to have been erected by Gorm the Old (c. 955) and Harald Bluetooth (c. 965). The larger stone of the two is often cited as Denmark's birth certificate, though both use the word "Denmark", in the form of accusative "tanmaurk" (pronounced /danm?rk/) on the large stone, and genitive "tanmarkar" (pronounced /danmarka?/) on the small stone. The inhabitants of Denmark are there called "tani" (/dan?/), or "Danes", in the accusative.
　　
　　In the Song of Roland, estimated to have been written between 1040 and 1115, though the oldest manuscript dates to 1140-1170, the first mention of the legendary Danish hero Holger Danske appears, who is specifically mentioned, several times, as "Holger of Denmark" (Oger de Denemarche)
　　
　　History
　　
　　The earliest archaeological findings in Denmark date back to 130,000 –110,000 BC in the Eem interglacial period. People have inhabited Denmark since about 12,500 BC and agriculture has been in evidence since 3,900 BC. The Nordic Bronze Age (1,800–600 BC) in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings including lurs and the Sun Chariot. During the Pre-Roman Iron Age (500 BC – AD 1), native groups began migrating south, although the first Danish people came to the country between the Pre-Roman and the Germanic Iron Age, in the Roman Iron Age (CE 1–400). The Roman provinces maintained trade routes and relations with native tribes in Denmark and Roman coins have been found in Denmark. Evidence of strong Celtic cultural influence dates from this period in Denmark and much of northwest Europe and is among other things reflected in the finding of the Gundestrup cauldron. Historians believe that before the arrival of the precursors to the Danes, who came from the east Danish islands (Zealand) and Sk?ne and spoke an early form of north Germanic, most of Jutland and some islands were settled by Jutes. They were later invited to Great Britain as mercenaries by Brythonic king Vortigern, and were granted the south-eastern territories of Kent, the Isle of Wight, among other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed or ethnically cleansed by the invading Angles and Saxons, who formed the Anglo-Saxons. The remaining population in Jutland assimilated in with the Danes, due territorial expansions from the south and the east, and the Jutes being initially weakened after their emigrations.
　　
　　The exact origins of the Danish nation have been lost in the mists of time. However, a short note about the Dani in "The Origin and Deeds of the Goths" from 551 by historian Jordanes is believed by some to be an early mention of the Danes, one of the ethnic groups from whom the modern Danish people are descended. The Danevirke defense structures were built in phases from the 3rd century forward, and the sheer size of the construction efforts in 737 are attributed to the emergence of a Danish king. The new runic alphabet was first used at the same time and Ribe, the oldest town of Denmark, was founded about 700 AD.
　　
　　Iron age
　　
　　During the 8th-11th centuries, the Danes were known as Vikings, together with Norwegians, Geats and Gotlanders. Viking explorers first discovered and settled Iceland in the 9th century, on their way toward the Faroe Islands. From there, Greenland and Vinland (probably Newfoundland) were also settled. Utilising their great skills in shipbuilding they raided and conquered parts of France and the British Isles. But they also excelled in trading along the coasts and rivers of Europe, running trade routes from Greenland in the north to Constantinople in the south via Russian rivers. The Danish Vikings were most active in the British Isles and Western Europe, and they raided, conquered and settled parts of England (their earliest settlements included sites in the Danelaw, Ireland, and Normandy).
　　
　　In the early 8th century, Charlemagne's Christian empire had expanded to the southern border of the Danes, and Frankish sources (F.ex. Notker of St Gall) provide the earliest historical evidence of the Danes. These report a King Gudfred, who appeared in present day Holstein with a navy in 804 CE where diplomacy took place with the Franks; In 808, the same King Gudfred attacked the Obotrite, a Wend people and conquered the city of Reric whose population was displaced or abducted, to Hedeby; In 809, King Godfred and emissaries of Charlemagne failed to negotiate peace and the next year, 810, King Godfred attacked the Frisians with 200 ships. The oldest parts of the defensive works of Danevirke near Hedeby at least date from the summer of 755 and were expanded with large works in the 10th century. The size and amount of troops needed to man it indicates a quite powerful ruler in the area, which might be consistent with the kings the Frankish sources. In 815 AD, Emperor Louis the Pious attacked Jutland apparently in support of a contender to the throne, perhaps Harald Klak, but was turned back by the sons of Godfred, who most likely were the sons of the above mentioned Godfred. At the same time Saint Ansgar traveled to Hedeby and started the Catholic christianisation of Scandinavia.
　　Map showing Danevirke and H?rvejen
　　
　　The Danes were united and officially Christianised in 965 CE by Harald Bl?tand, the story of which is recorded on the Jelling stones. The exact extent of Harald's Danish Kingdom is unknown, although it's reasonable to believe that it stretched from the defensive line of Dannevirke, including the Viking city of Hedeby, across Jutland, the Danish isles and into southern present day Sweden; Scania and perhaps Halland and Blekinge. Furthermore, the Jelling stones attest that Harald had also "won" Norway. The son of Harald, Sweyn Forkbeard mounted a series of wars of conquest against England, which was completed by Svend's son Canute the Great by the middle of the 11th century. The reign of Canute the Great (Danish:Knud) represented the peak of the Danish Viking age. King Knud's North Sea Empire included Denmark (1018), Norway (1028), England (1035) and held strong influence over the north-eastern coast of Germany.
　　
　　Following the death of Canute the Great, Denmark and England were divided. Sweyn Estridsen's son, Canute IV, raided England for the last time in 1085. He planned another invasion to take the throne of England from an aging William I. He called up a fleet of 1000 Danish ships, 60 Norwegian long boats, with plans to meet with another 600 ships under Duke Robert of Flanders in the summer of 1086. Canute, however, was beginning to realize that the imposition of the tithe on Danish peasants and nobles to fund the expansion of monasteries and churches and a new head tax (Danish:nefgjald) had brought his people to the verge of rebellion. Canute took weeks to arrive at Struer where the fleet had aseembled, but he found only the Norwegians still there. The Danes had waited so long for the king that they began to starve and sailed home in disgust.
　　
　　Canute thanked the Norwegians for their patience and then went from assembly to assembly (Danish:landsting) outlawing any sailor, captain, or soldier who refused to pay a fine which amounted to more than a years harvest for most farmers. When the king refused to back down, the peasants in Vendsyssel went on a rampage burning royal properties and murdering the hated tax collectors. Canute and his housecarls fled south with a growing army of rebels on his heels. Canute fled to the royal property outside the town of Odense on Funen with his two brothers. The peasants on Funen were not any happier with Canute than anyone else and charged after the king. Canute and his brother, Prince Benedict, fled to St Albans Priory for sanctuary. Canute took communion realizing his days were numbered. After several attempts to break in and then bloody hand to hand fighting in the church, Benedict was cut down and Canute struck in the head by a large stone and then speared from the front. He died at the base of the main altar 10 July 1086, where he was buried by the Benedictines. When Queen Edele came to take Canute's body to Flanders, a wonderful light allegedly shone around the church and it was taken as a sign that Canute should remain where he was. People flocked to his grave when it was reported that the blind had received their sight, the lame walked, and deaf heard. His brother Olaf, who succeeded Canute, had a short reign and Denmark was plagued with famine so often that Olaf will forever be known as Olaf Hunger. Canute was canonized in 1101, and St Canute's Cathedral became one of Scandinavia's most popular pilgrimage sites in the Middle Ages.
　　
　　The death of St Canute marks the end of the great Viking Age. Never again would massive flotillas of Scandinavians meet each year to ravage the rest of Christian Europe. Denmark was thoroughly Christian, though for generations Danes quietly held onto old customs that are vague reminders of pre-Christian times.
　　
　　Medieval Denmark
　　
　　From the Viking age towards the end of the 13th century, the kingdom of Denmark consisted of Jutland, north from the Eider River and the islands of Zealand, Funen, Bornholm, Sk?ne, Halland and Blekinge. From the end of the 1200s the lands between the Eider River and the river Konge?en were separated from the kingdom as two vassal duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
　　
　　Following the end of the 11th century, Denmark underwent a transition from a patchwork of regional chiefs (Danish:jarls) with a weak and semi-elected royal institution, into a realm which more reflected European feudalism, with a powerful king ruling through an influential nobility. The period is marked by internal strife and the generally weak geopolitical position of the realm, which for long stretches fell under German influence. The period also featured the first of large stone buildings (mostly churches), a deep penetration by the Christian religion, the appearance of monastic orders in Denmark and the first written historical works such as the Gesta Danorum ("Deeds of the Danes"). German political as well as religious influence firmly ended in the last decades of the 12th century under the rule of King Valdemar the Great and his foster brother Absalon Hvide, Archbishop of Lund; through successful wars against Wend peoples of northeast Germany and the German Empire.
　　The tomb of Margrethe I in Roskilde Cathedral
　　
　　A high point was reached during the reign of Valdemar II, who led the formation of a Danish "Baltic Sea Empire", which by 1221 extended control from Estonia in the east to Norway in the north. In this period several of the "regional" law codes were given; notably the Code of Jutland from 1241, which asserted several modern concepts like right of property; "that the king cannot rule without and beyond the law"; "and that all men are equal to the law". Following the death of Valdemar II in 1241 and to the ascension of Valdemar IV in 1340, the kingdom was in general decline due to internal strife and the rise of the Hanseatic League. The competition between the sons of Valdemar II, had the longterm result that the southern parts of Jutland were separated from the kingdom of Denmark and became semi-independent vassal duchies/counties.
　　
　　During the reign of Valdemar IV and his daughter Margrethe I, the realm was re-invigorated and following the Battle of Falk?ping, Margrethe I had her sister's son, Eric of Pomerania crowned King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden after the signing of the union charter of Kalmar (The Kalmar Union), Trinity Sunday 1397. Much of the next 125 years of Scandinavian history revolves around this union, with Sweden breaking off and being re-conquered repeatedly. The issue was for practical purposes resolved on the 17 June 1523 as Swedish King Gustav Vasa conquered the city of Stockholm. Denmark and Norway remained in a personal union until the Congress of Vienna, 1814.
　　
　　The Protestant Reformation came to Scandinavia in 1520s. On Easter Sunday 1525 Hans Tausen, a monk in the Order of St John's Hospitalers, proclaimed aloud the need for Luther's reforms in the Catholic Church. His sermon was the beginning of a ten year struggle which would change Denmark forever. Tausen was hustled off to a monastery in Viborg in northern Jutland where he would be isolated and away from Copenhagen and the court. Tausen simply preached through the window of his locked chamber. At first curious Danes came to hear the strange new ideas that Tausen was preaching. Within weeks Tausen was freed by his loyal followers and then a Franciscan abbey church was broken open so Viborgers could hear God's word under a roof. Luther's ideas were accepted so rapidly that the local bishop and other churchmen in Viborg were unable to cope. In many churches the mass was celebrated alongside Lutheran sermons and then Tausen's version of Luther's teachings began to spread to other parts of Jutland. Within a year Tausen was the personal chaplain of King Frederik I. Frederik tried to balance the old and new ideas insisting that they coexist; it lasted only as long as Frederik did.
　　
　　A mob stormed Our Lady Church in Copenhagen in 1531 tearing down statues, destroying side altars, artwork, and relics that had accumulated through its long history. Similar events happened through the country, although for the most part the change was peaceful. The majority of common people saw the reduced influence and wealth of the church as a liberating thing, but their new found influence did not last long.
　　
　　At the death of Frederick I two claimants to the throne, one backed by Protestant L?beck and the other by Catholic nobles caused a civil war known as the Count's Feud (Danish: Grevens Fejde). The massacre of Skipper Clement's peasant army at Aalborg brought an end of the war with the pro-Lutheran party firmly in charge. Denmark became officially Lutheran in 1536. Denmark's Catholic bishops were arrested and imprisoned. Abbeys, nunneries, monasteries and other church properties were confiscated by local nobility and the crown. Monks, nuns, and clergy lost their livelihood. The bishops who agreed to marry and not stir up trouble were given former church lands as personal estates.
　　
　　Catholic influence remained longest in Viborg and the nearby area, northern Jutland, where change permeated slowly, although the reformation originally began there.
　　
　　Modern history
　　
　　King Christian IV attacked Sweden in the 1611–13 Kalmar War but failed to accomplish his main objective of forcing Sweden to return to the union with Denmark. The war led to no territorial changes, but Sweden was forced to pay a war indemnity of 1 million silver riksdaler to Denmark, an amount known as the ?lvsborg ransom. King Christian used this money to found several towns and fortresses, most notably Glückstadt (founded as a rival to Hamburg), Christiania (following a fire destroying the original city), Christianshavn, Christianstad, and Christiansand. Christian also constructed a number of buildings, most notably B?rsen, Rundet?rn, Nyboder, Rosenborg, a silver mine and a copper mill. Inspired by the Dutch East India Company, he founded a similar Danish company and planned to claim Sri Lanka as a colony but the company only managed to acquire Tranquebar on India's Coromandel Coast. In the Thirty Year's War, Christian tried to become the leader of the Lutheran states in Germany, but suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Lutter resulting in a catholic army under Albrecht von Wallenstein occupying and pillaging Jutland. Denmark managed to avoid territorial concessions, but Gustavus Adolphus' intervention in Germany was seen as a sign that the military power of Sweden was on the rise while Denmark's influence in the region was declining. In 1643, Swedish armies invaded Jutland and in 1644 Sk?ne. In the 1645 Treaty of Br?msebro, Denmark surrendered Halland, Gotland, the last parts of Danish Estonia, and several provinces in Norway. In 1657, King Frederick III declared war on Sweden and marched on Bremen-Verden. This led to a massive Danish defeat and the armies of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden conquered both Jutland, Funen and much of Zealand before signing the Peace of Roskilde in February 1658 which gave Sweden control of Sk?ne, Blekinge, Tr?ndelag and the island of Bornholm. Charles X Gustav quickly regretted not having destroyed Denmark completely and in August 1658 he began a two-year long siege of Copenhagen but failed to take the capital. In the following peace settlement, Denmark managed to maintain its independence and regain control of Tr?ndelag and Bornholm.
　　Den Grundlovsgivende Rigsforsamling (The Constitutional Assembly. The Assembly created The Danish constitution), 1860–1864 painting by Constantin Hansen
　　
　　Denmark tried to regain control of Sk?ne in the Scanian War (1675–79) but it ended in failure. Following the Great Northern War (1700–21), Denmark managed to restore control of the parts of Schleswig and Holstein ruled by the house of Holstein-Gottorp in 1721 and 1773, respectively. Denmark prospered greatly in the last decades of the 18th century due to its neutral status allowing it to trade with both sides in the many contemporary wars. In the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark originally tried to pursue a policy of neutrality to continue the lucrative trade with both France and the United Kingdom and joined the League of Armed Neutrality with Russia, Sweden and Prussia. The British considered this a hostile act and attacked Copenhagen in both 1801 and 1807, in one case carrying off the Danish fleet and burning large parts of the Danish capital. These events mark the end of the prosperous Florissant Age and resulted in the Dano-British Gunboat War. British control over the waterways between Denmark and Norway proved disastrous to the union's economy and in 1813, Denmark-Norway went bankrupt. The post-Napoleonic Congress of Vienna demanded the dissolution of the Dano-Norwegian union, and this was confirmed by the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. Denmark-Norway had briefly hoped to restore the Scandinavian union in 1809, but these hopes were dashed when the estates of Sweden rejected a proposal to let Frederick VI of Denmark succeed the deposed Gustav IV Adolf and instead gave the crown to Charles XIII. Norway entered a new union with Sweden which lasted until 1905. Denmark kept the colonies of Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Apart from the Nordic colonies, Denmark ruled over Danish India (Tranquebar in India) from 1620 to 1869, the Danish Gold Coast (Ghana) from 1658 to 1850, and the Danish West Indies (the U.S. Virgin Islands) from 1671 to 1917.
　　
　　The Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European Revolutions of 1848 Denmark peacefully became a constitutional monarchy on 5 June 1849. After the Second War of Schleswig (Danish: Slesvig) in 1864, Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia, in a defeat that left deep marks on the Danish national identity. After these events, Denmark returned to its traditional policy of neutrality, also keeping Denmark neutral in World War I.
　　
　　20th and 21st centuries
　　
　　Following the defeat of Germany, the Versailles powers offered to return the then-German region of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark. Fearing German irredentism, Denmark refused to consider the return of the area and insisted on a plebiscite concerning the return of Schleswig. The two Schleswig Plebiscites took place on 10 February and 14 March, respectively. On 5 July 1920 after the plebiscite and the King's signature (6 July) on the reunion document, Northern Schleswig (S?nderjylland) was recovered by Denmark, thereby adding 163,600 inhabitants and 3,984 km2. The reunion day (Genforeningsdag) is celebrated every year 15 June on Valdemarsdag.
　　
　　Germany's invasion of Denmark on 9 April 1940 – codenamed Operation Weserübung – met only two hours of military resistance before the Danish government surrendered. Economic co-operation between Germany and Denmark continued until 1943, when the Danish government refused further co-operation and its navy sank most of its ships and sent as many of their officers as they could to Sweden. During the war, the government was extremely helpful towards Jews living in the country, and the resistance managed to get most of the Jews to Sweden and safety. Denmark led many "inside operations" or sabotage against the German facilities. Iceland severed ties to Denmark and became an independent republic, and in 1948 the Faroe Islands gained home rule. After the war, Denmark became one of the founding members of the United Nations and NATO and in 1973, along with Britain and Ireland, joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union) after a public referendum. Greenland gained home rule in 1979. Neither Greenland, nor the Faroe Islands are members of the European Union, the Faroers declining membership in EEC from 1973 and Greenland from 1986, in both cases because of fisheries policies.
　　
　　Despite its small size Denmark has been participating in major military and humanitary operations, most notably the UN and NATO led operations on Cyprus and in Bosnia, Korea, Croatia, Kosovo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
　　
　　Geography
　　
　　Denmark is the smallest country in Scandinavia. Denmark's northernmost point is Skagens point (the north beach of the Skaw) at 57° 45' 7" northern latitude, the southernmost is Gedser point (the southern tip of Falster) at 54° 33' 35" northern latitude, the westernmost point is Bl?vandshuk at 8° 4' 22" eastern longitude, and the easternmost point is ?stersk?r at 15° 11' 55" eastern longitude. This is in the archipelago Ertholmene 18 kilometres northeast of Bornholm. The distance from east to west is 452 kilometres (281 mi), from north to south 368 kilometres (229 mi).
　　Windmills and yellow brick houses accent the gently rolling meadowlands of Karlebo.
　　
　　Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) and 443 named islands (1419 islands above 100 m2 in total (2005)). Of these, 72 are inhabited (2008), with the largest being Zealand (Sj?lland) and Funen (Fyn). The island of Bornholm is located somewhat east of the rest of the country, in the Baltic Sea. Many of the larger islands are connected by bridges; the ?resund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand, and the Little Belt Bridge connects Jutland with Funen. Ferries or small aircraft connect to the smaller islands. Main cities are the capital Copenhagen (on Zealand), ?rhus, Aalborg and Esbjerg (in Jutland) and Odense (on Funen).
　　A forest burial ground in Yding Skovh?j, one of Denmark's highest points.
　　
　　The country is flat with little elevation; having an average height above sea level of only 31 metres (102 ft) and the highest natural point is M?lleh?j, at 170.86 metres (560.56 ft). Other hills in the same area southwest of ?rhus are Yding Skovh?j at 170.77 metres (560.27 ft) and Ejer Bavneh?j at 170.35 metres (558.89 ft).[dead link] The area of inland water is: (eastern Denmark) 210 km2 (81 sq mi); (western D.) 490 km2 (189 sq mi).
　　
　　Denmark is split into one peninsula and 443 named islands which results in a long coastline, 7,314 kilometres (4,544 mi). A perfect circle enclosing the same area as Denmark would have a circumference of only 742 kilometres (461 mi). Another feature that shows the close connection between the land and ocean is that no location in Denmark is further from the coast than 52 kilometres (32.3 mi). The size of the land area of Denmark cannot be stated exactly since the ocean constantly erodes and adds material to the coastline, and because of human land reclamation projects (to counter erosion). On the southwest coast of Jutland, the tide is between 1 and 2 metres (3 to 6.5 ft), and the tideline moves outward and inward on a 10 kilometres (6 mi) stretch.
　　
　　Phytogeographically, Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) belongs to the Boreal Kingdom and is shared between the Arctic, Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the Circumboreal Region. According to the WWF, the territory of Denmark can be subdivided into two ecoregions: the Atlantic mixed forests and Baltic mixed forests. The Faroe Islands are covered by the Faroe Islands boreal grasslands, while Greenland hosts the ecoregions of Kalaallit Nunaat high arctic tundra and Kalaallit Nunaat low arctic tundra.
　　
　　The climate is in the temperate zone. The winters are not particularly cold, with mean temperatures in January and February of 0.0 °C, and the summers are cool, with a mean temperature in August of 15.7 °C. There is a lot of wind, which is stronger during the winter and weaker during the summer. Denmark has an average of 121 days per year with precipitation, on average receiving a total of 712 mm per year; autumn is the wettest season, and spring the driest.
　　
　　Because of Denmark's northern location, the length of the day with sunlight varies greatly. There are short days during the winter with sunrise coming around 9:30 a.m. and sunset 4:30 p.m., as well as long summer days with sunrise at 3:30 a.m. and sunset at 10 p.m. The shortest and longest days of the year have traditionally been celebrated. The celebration for the shortest day corresponds roughly with Christmas (Danish: jul) and modern celebrations concentrate on Christmas Eve, 24 December. The Norse word jól is a plural, indicating that pre-Christian society celebrated a season with multiple feasts. Christianity introduced the celebration of Christmas, resulting in the use of the Norse name also for the Christian celebration. Efforts by the Catholic Church to replace this name with kristmesse were unsuccessful. The celebration for the longest day is Midsummer Day, which is known in Denmark as sankthansaften (St. John's evening). Celebrations of Midsummer have taken place since pre-Christian times.
　　
　　Environmental Issues
　　
　　There are also many environmental issues that Denmark currently faces. The following are the problems that Denmark faces:
　　
　　* Air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions
　　* Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea
　　* Drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
　　
　　However the Danish Government has signed many international agreements such as:
　　
　　Antarctic Treaty; Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol; Endangered Species Act; Etc.
　　
　　These agreements have helped in the reduction in CO2 emissions by Denmark. Now Denmark is ranked 10th for the most green countries to live in the world.
　　
　　Government and politics
　　
　　Queen Margrethe II
　　
　　The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. As stipulated in the Danish Constitution, the monarch is not answerable for his or her actions, and his or her person is sacrosanct. The monarch formally appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister and other ministers. The prime minister is customarily chosen through negotiation between the parliament party leaders.
　　
　　Before being validated through royal assent, all bills and important government measures must be discussed in Statsr?det, a privy council headed by the monarch. The Danish privy council's protocols are secret. Although the monarch is formally given executive power this power is strictly ceremonial. The monarch is expected to be entirely apolitical and refrain from influencing the government in any way or form. For example, members of the royal family do not cast their votes in elections and referendums even though they have the right.
　　Prime Minister of Denmark: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
　　
　　While executive authority formally belongs to the monarch (as head of state), legislative authority is vested in the executive (Prime Minister) and the Danish parliament conjointly. Judicial authority lies with the courts of justice.
　　
　　Executive authority is exercised on behalf of the monarch by the prime minister and other cabinet ministers who head departments. The cabinet, including the Prime Minister, and other ministers collectively make up the government. These ministers are responsible to Folketinget (the Danish Parliament), the legislative body, which is traditionally considered to be supreme (that is, able to legislate on any matter and not bound by decisions of its predecessors).
　　
　　The Folketing is the national legislature. It has the ultimate legislative authority according to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, however questions over sovereignty have been brought forward because of Denmark’s entry into the European Union. In theory however, the doctrine prevails. Parliament consists of 175 members elected by proportional majority, plus two members each from Greenland and Faroe Islands. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the Prime Minister to call one at his discretion before this period has elapsed. On a vote of no confidence the parliament may force a single minister or the entire government to resign.
　　
　　The Danish political system has traditionally generated coalitions. Most Danish post-war governments have been minority coalitions ruling with the support of non-government parties.
　　Denmark and its Dependencies.
　　
　　Since November 2001, the Danish Prime Minister has been Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the Venstre party, a center-right liberal party. The government is a coalition consisting of Venstre and the Conservative People's Party, with parliamentary support from the Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti). The three parties obtained a parliamentary majority in the 2001 elections and maintained it virtually unchanged in the 2005 election. On 24 October 2007 an early election was called by the Prime Minister for 13 November. Following the election the Danish People's party was strengthened while Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Venstre lost 6 seats and the Conservative Party retained the same number of seats in Parliament as prior to the election. The result ensured that Anders Fogh Rasmussen could continue as Prime Minister for a third term.
　　
　　Regions and municipalities
　　
　　Denmark is divided into five regions (Danish: regioner, singular: region) and a total of 98 municipalities. The regions were created on 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform to replace the country's traditional thirteen counties (amter). At the same time, smaller municipalities (kommuner) were merged into larger units, cutting the number of municipalities from 270 to 98. The most important area of responsibility for the new regions is the national health service. Unlike the former counties, the regions are not allowed to levy taxes, and the health service is primarily financed by a national 8% (sundhedsbidrag) tax combined with funds from both government and municipalities. Each Regional Council consists of 41 elected politicians elected as part of the 2005 Danish municipal elections.
　　
　　Most of the new municipalities have a population of at least 20,000 people, although a few exceptions were made to this rule.
　　
　　The Ertholmene archipelago (96 inhabitants (2008)) is neither part of a municipality, nor a region but belongs to the Ministry of Defence.
　　
　　Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, as members of Rigsf?llesskabet but have autonomous status and are largely self-governing, and are each represented by two seats in the parliament.
　　Country ↓ Population ↓ Area
　　(km2) ↓ Density
　　(pop per km2) ↓
　　Flag of Denmark Denmark 5,505,995 43,094 128
　　Flag of the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 48,690 1,399 35
　　Flag of Greenland Greenland 57,564 2,175,600 0.026
　　Flag of Denmark Kingdom of Denmark 5,612,249 2,220,093 2.5
　　
　　Economy
　　
　　Denmark's market economy features efficient markets, above average European living standards, and high amount of free trade.
　　
　　Denmark has a GDP per capita higher than that of most European countries, and 15-20% higher than that of the United States. Denmark is one of the most competitive economies in the world according to World Economic Forum 2008 report, IMD, and The Economist. According to World Bank Group, Denmark has the most flexible labor market in Europe; the policy is called flexicurity. It is easy to hire, fire, and find a job. According to rankings by OECD, Denmark has the most free financial markets in EU-15 and also one of the most free product markets, owning to liberalisation in the 1990s.
　　
　　Around 2.9 million residents are in the labor market. The proportion of tertiary degree holders is one of the highest. GDP per hour worked was the 10th highest in 2006 and unemployment at 2.3 percent. Denmark has an advanced telecommunications infrastructure. Denmark has a company tax rate of 25% and a special time limited tax regime for expatriates. The Danish taxation system is both broad based (25% VAT, not including excise, duty and tax) and has the world record for income tax rates (minimum tax rate for adults is 42% scaling to 63%, population average for 2006 was 49.6%).
　　
　　Denmark's national currency, the krone (plural: kroner), is de facto linked to the Euro through ERM. The exchange rate is very steady at approx. 7.45 kroner per euro. Currently the krone converts to American dollars at a rate of about USD 0.17 per krone (about 5.75 kroner per dollar). (Exchange rates updated January 2009) The government has met the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (the common European currency — the Euro) of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (EMU), but Denmark, in a September 2000 referendum, rejected The Monetary Union. The Government of Fogh Rasmussen, re-elected in November 2007, announced a new referendum on the euro for 2008 or 2009 at the latest.
　　Denmark is a member state of the European Union and part of its single market.
　　
　　Denmark is home to many multi-national companies, among them: A. P. Moller-Maersk Group, (Maersk — international shipping), Danfoss (Heating & Cooling), Lego (children's toys), Bang & Olufsen (hi-fi equipment), Carlsberg (beer), Vestas (wind turbines), Novozymes (enzymes and biotech) and the pharmaceutical companies Lundbeck and Novo Nordisk. International companies such as CSC, Dell, Microsoft and Nokia have placed large global business centres in Copenhagen. Denmark is known from the Danish cooperative movement concerning farming, food industry (now Danish Crown), dairies (now Arla Foods), shops Brugsen, which are part of Coop Norden now, wind turbine cooperatives, and co-housing associations.
　　
　　Support for free trade is high - in a recent poll 76% responded that globalisation is a good thing. 70% of trade flows are inside the European Union. Main exports include: animal foodstuffs, chemicals, dairy products, electronic equipment, fish, furniture, leather, machinery, meat, oil and gas, and sugar. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has for a number of years had a balance of payments surplus while battling an equivalent of approximately 39% of GNP foreign debt or more than 300 billion DKK. Also of importance is the sea territory of more than 105,000 km2 (40,000+ sq mi).
　　
　　Denmark has ranked as the world's 11th most free economy, of 162 countries, in an index created by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation, the Index of Economic Freedom 2008. The Index has been categorised as using inappropriately weighted indicators for economic freedom, leading to wealthy and/or conservative countries with barriers to trade placing high on the list, while poor and/or socialist countries with fewer restrictions on trade place low. The Index has only a 10% statistical correlation with a standard measure of economic growth at GDP per capita. Neither does the Index account for the actions of governments to nurture business in the manner of the Japanese Zaibatsus during the late 20th C, that helped lead to the Japanese economic miracle.
　　
　　Education
　　
　　The Danish education system provides access to primary school, secondary school, and most kinds of higher education. Attendance at "Folkeskole" is compulsory for a minimum of 9 years, and a maximum of 10. About 99% of students attend compulsory elementary school, 86% attend secondary school, and 41% pursue further education. All college education in Denmark is free.
　　
　　Primary school in Denmark is called "den Danske Folkeskole" ("Danish Public School"). It runs from 1st to 10th grade, though 10th grade is optional, as is the introductory "kindergarten class" ("b?rnehaveklasse"). Students can alternatively attend "free schools" ("Friskole"), or private schools ("Privatskole"), i.e. schools that are not under the administration of the municipalities, such as christian schools or Waldorf Schools. The Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, ranked Denmark's education as the 24th best in the world in 2006, being neither significantly higher nor lower than the OECD average.
　　
　　Following graduation from Folkeskolen, there are several other educational opportunities, including Gymnasium (academically oriented upper secondary education), Higher Preparatory Examination (HF) (similar to Gymnasium, but one year shorter), Higher Technical Examination Programme (HTX) (with focus on Mathematics and engineering), and Higher Commercial Examination Programme (HHX) (with a focus on trade and business), as well as vocational education, training young people for work in specific trades by a combination of teaching and apprenticeship.
　　
　　Gymnasium, HF, HTX and HHX aim at qualifying students for higher education in universities and colleges.
　　
　　Denmark has several universities; the largest and oldest are the University of Copenhagen (founded 1479) and University of Aarhus (founded 1928).
　　
　　Folkeh?jskolerne, ("Folk high schools") introduced by politician, clergyman and poet N.F.S. Grundtvig in the 19th century, are social, informal education structures without tests or grades but emphasising communal learning, self-discovery, enlightenment, and learning how to think.
　　
　　Energy
　　Offshore wind turbines near Copenhagen
　　
　　Denmark has considerable sources of oil and natural gas in the North Sea and ranks as number 32 in the world among net exporters of crude oil. Most electricity is produced from coal, but Denmark also has a record high share of windpower in the electricity mix.
　　
　　To encourage investment in wind power, families were offered a tax exemption for generating their own electricity within their own or an adjoining commune. While this could involve purchasing a turbine outright, more often families purchased shares in wind turbine cooperatives which in turn invested in community wind turbines. By 2004 over 150,000 Danes were either members of cooperatives or owned turbines, and about 5,500 turbines had been installed, although with greater private sector involvement the proportion owned by cooperatives had fallen to 75%. Wind turbines produce 16-19% of electricity demand (2004-2006 statistics). Denmark is connected by transmission lines to other European countries.
　　
　　Because of energy taxes, Denmark has the highest household electricity prices in the world, while industries pay just below EU average.
　　
　　Transport
　　
　　Significant investment has been made in recent decades in building road and rail links between Copenhagen and Malm?, Sweden (the ?resund Bridge), and between Zealand and Funen (the Great Belt Fixed Link). The Copenhagen Malm? Port was also formed between the two cities as the common port for the cities of both nations.
　　
　　The main railway operator is Danske Statsbaner (Danish State Railways) for passenger services and Railion for freight trains. The railway tracks are maintained by Banedanmark. Copenhagen has a small Metro system and the greater Copenhagen area has an extensive electrified suburban railway network.
　　
　　Denmark's national airline (together with Norway and Sweden) is Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Copenhagen Airport is the country's largest airport, and also the biggest hub in Scandinavia.
　　
　　A ferry link to the Faroe Islands is maintained by Smyril Line. Other international ferry services are mainly operated by DFDS (to Norway and the UK). Scandlines (to Germany and Sweden), Stena Line (to Norway and Sweden), Color Line (to Norway) and FjordLine to (Norway).
　　
　　Private vehicles are increasingly used as a means of transportation, having gone from 1,389,547 registered cars in 1980 to 2,020,013 in 2007. However due to the high registration tax (approx. 180%) and VAT (25%), and the world's highest income tax rate, new cars are very expensive. This has the effect of giving Denmark one of Europe's oldest private vehicle fleets with an average age of 9.1 year in 2007. As another result Denmark has one of Europe's most environmentally harmful vehicle fleets, contrasting to Denmark's general efforts to be perceived internationally as an environmentally friendly and modern nation with a focus on conservation. However it should be noted that whilst this is an unfortunate side effect, the purpose of the tax is to discourage car ownership in the first place. Whether a smaller fleet of aging cars is better than a larger fleet of modern cars is a matter for debate, however as the car fleet has increased by 45% over the last 30 years the effect of high taxation on the fleet size seems small.
　　
　　In 2007 an attempt was made by the government to favor environmentally friendly cars by slightly reducing taxes on high mileage vehicles. However this has had little effect and Denmark has in 2008 experienced an increase in the import of fuel inefficient old cars (mostly older than 10 years), primarily from Germany as their costs including taxes keeps these cars within the budget of many Danes.
　　
　　Public policy
　　
　　After deregulating the labor market in the 1990es, Denmark has one of the most free labor markets in European countries. According World Bank labor market rankings, the labor market flexibility is at the same levels as the United States. Around 80% of employees belong to unions and the unemployment funds that are attached to them, but the percentage is falling. Labor market policies is mainly determined in negotiations between the worker unions and employer unions, and the government only interferes if labor strikes extends for too long.
　　
　　Despite the success of the labor unions in Denmark a growing share of people make contracts individually rather than collectively, and many (four out of ten employees) are contemplating dropping especially unemployment fund but occasionally even union membership altogether. This is due to the fact that the maximum amount (dagpengesats) of unemployment benefit (arbejdsl?shedsdagpenge) per month/day/week is capped at only 15,232 DKK(703 DKK/day;3,515DKK/week) (August 2008)(182,780 DKK per year), and the average employee therefore only receives a benefit at 47% of their wage level if they have to claim benefits when unemployed. With unemployment extremely low (under 50,000 persons August 2008), very few expect to be claiming benefits at all. The only reason then to pay the earmarked money to the unemployment fund would be to retire early and receive early retirement pay (efterl?n), which is possible from the age of 60 provided an additional earmarked contribution is paid to the unemployment fund.
　　
　　The unemployment rate for December 2007 was 2.7%, for a total of 74,900 persons, a reduction by 112,800 persons —2,400 per month — or 60% since December 2003. The Eurostat unemployment number for August 2008 is 2.9%. It should however be noted that this has been achieved by employing more than 38% (800,000 people) of the total workforce in public sector jobs. Another measure of the situation on the labour market is the employment rate, that is the percentage of people aged 15 to 64 (i.e. the working age group) in employment out of the total number of people aged 15 to 64. The employment rate for Denmark in 2007 was 77.1% according to Eurostat. Of all countries in the world, only Switzerland with 78.% and Iceland with 85.1% had a higher employment rate.[dead link]
　　
　　In December 2008 Danmarks Statistik reported that 100,000 Danes were affected by unemployment in the third quarter of 2008. Of these 62% received a job within two months, and 6% had been unemployed for two years or more.
　　
　　The number of unemployed is forecast to be 65,000 in 2015. The number of people in the working age group, less disability pensioners etc., will grow by 10,000 to 2,860,000, and jobs by 70,000 to 2,790,000; part time jobs are included. Because of the present high demand and short supply of skilled labour, for instance for factory and service jobs, including hospital nurses and physicians, the annual average working hours have risen, especially compared with the economic downturn 1987–1993.[dead link] Increasingly, service workers of all kinds are in demand, i.e. in the postal services and as bus drivers, and academics. In the fall of 2007, more than 250,000 foreigners are working in the country, of which 23,000 still reside in Germany or Sweden. According to a sampling survey of over 14,000 enterprises from December 2007 to April 2008 39,000 jobs were not filled, a number much lower than earlier surveys, confirming a downturn in the economic cycle.
　　
　　The level of unemployment benefits is dependent on former employment(the maximum benefit is at 90% of the wage) and at times also on membership of an unemployment fund, which is almost always -but need not be- administered by a trade union, and the previous payment of contributions. However, the largest share of the financing is still carried by the central government and is financed by general taxation, and only to a minor degree from earmarked contributions. There is no taxation, however, on proceeds gained from selling one′s home (provided there was any home equity (da:friv?rdi)), as the marginal tax rate on capital income from housing savings is around 0 percent.
　　
　　The Danish welfare model is accompanied by a taxation system that is both broad based (25% VAT, not including excise, duty and tax) and with a progressive income tax model, meaning the more money that is earned, the higher income tax percentage that gets paid (minimum tax rate for adults is 42% scaling to over 60%, except for the residents of Ertholmene that escape the otherwise ubiquitous 8% healthcare tax fraction of the income taxes). Other taxes include the registration tax on private vehicles, at a rate of 180%, on top of VAT. Lately (July, 2007) this has been changed slightly in an attempt to favor more fuel efficient cars but maintaining the average taxation level more or less unchanged.[dead link]
　　
　　Demographics
　　
　　According to figures from Statistics Denmark, on January 1 2007 91.1% of Denmark’s population of over 5.4 million was of Danish descent. Many of the remaining 8.9% were immigrants, or descendents of recent immigrants, from Bosnia, neighbouring countries, South Asia and Western Asia, many having arrived since an "Alien law" (Udl?ndingeloven) was enacted in 1983 allowing the immigration of family members. There are also small groups of Inuit from Greenland and Faroese. During recent years, anti-mass immigration sentiment has resulted in some of the toughest immigration laws in the European Union. Nevertheless, the number of residence permits granted related to labour and to people from within the EU/EEA has increased since implementation of new immigration laws in 2001. However, the number of immigrants allowed into Denmark for family reunification decreased 70% between 2001 and 2006 to 4,198. During the same period the number of asylum permits granted has decreased by 82.5% to 1,095, reflecting a 84% decrease in asylum seekers to 1,960.
　　
　　Denmark’s population (as at 1 January 2008) was 5,475,791, giving Denmark a population density of 129.16 inhabitants per km2 (334.53 inh/sq mi). As in most countries, the population is not distributed evenly. Although the land area east of the Great Belt only makes up 9,622 km2 (3,715 sq mi), 22.7% of Denmark's land area, as of 1 January 2008 it has 45% (2,465,348) of the population. The average population density of this area is 256.2 inhabitants per km2 (663.6 per sq mi). The average density in the west of the country (32,772 km2/12,653 sq mi) is 91.86/km2 (237.91 per sq mi) (3,010,443 people) (2008).
　　
　　The median age is 39.8 years with 0.98 males per female. 98.2% of the population is literate (age 15 and up). The birth rate is 1.74 children born per woman (2006 est.), which will be reflected in a drop in the ratio of workers to pensioners. Despite the low birth rate, the population is still growing at an average annual rate of 0.33%.
　　
　　Danish is the official language and is spoken throughout the country. English and German are the most widely spoken foreign languages.
　　
　　Religion
　　
　　Burial mound from the 900s in Jelling churchyard
　　
　　There is no official separation of Church and State in Denmark. According to official statistics from January 2009, 81.5% of the population of Denmark are members of the Lutheran state church, the Danish National Church (Den Danske Folkekirke), which is established by the Constitution. If immigrants and descendants of immigrants are excluded from the statistics, the member rate is even higher, approximately 90.3%. According to article 6 of the Constitution, the Royal Family must belong to this Church. Three percent of the Danish population adhere to Islam, and other religions in Denmark include non-Lutheran Christian denominations. The oldest state-recognised religious societies and churches are the following:
　　
　　* Roman Catholicism recognised by the state since 1682
　　* The Reformed Church recognised by the state since 1682.
　　* Judaism, recognised by the state since 1682.
　　
　　Forn Sier (English: The Old Way), based on the much older, native religion, is one of the most recently recognised by the state, gaining official status in November 2003.
　　
　　Religion, religious societies and churches do not need to be state-recognised in Denmark and can be granted the right to perform weddings etc. without this recognition.
　　
　　According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 31% of Danish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 49% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 19% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". According to a 2005 study by Zuckerman, Denmark has the third highest proportion of atheists and agnostics in the world, estimated to be between 43% and 80%.
　　
　　Culture
　　
　　Hans Christian Andersen is known beyond Denmark for his fairy tales, such as The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling. Karen Blixen (pen name: Isak Dinesen), Nobel laureate author Henrik Pontoppidan, Nobel laureate physicist Niels Bohr, the comedic pianist Victor Borge and the philosopher S?ren Kierkegaard have also made a name for themselves outside Denmark.
　　
　　The capital city of Copenhagen includes the Tivoli gardens, the Amalienborg Palace (home of the Danish monarchy), and The Little Mermaid sculpture.
　　
　　The second largest city in Denmark is Aarhus. Aarhus is an old Viking Age city and one of the oldest cities in the country. The largest cathedral in Denmark and the second largest cathedral in Northern Europe is Aarhus Cathedral.
　　
　　Historically, Denmark, like its Scandinavian neighbors, has been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. For example, in 1969, Denmark was the first country to legalise pornography. And in 1989, Denmark enacted a registered partnership law, being the first country in the world to grant same-sex couples nearly all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
　　
　　Cinema
　　
　　The three big internationally important waves of Danish cinema have been:
　　
　　* The erotic melodrama of the silent era.
　　* The increasingly explicit sex films of the 1960s and 1970s.
　　* The Dogme95-movement of the late 1990s.
　　
　　Danish filmmakers of note include:
　　
　　* Carl Th. Dreyer (1889-1968), one of the most acclaimed directors in the history of cinema.
　　* Erik Balling, Oscar-nominated creator of Olsen-banden (1968).
　　* Gabriel Axel, Oscar-winner for Babette's Feast (1987).
　　* Bille August, Oscar-winner for Pelle the Conqueror (1987).
　　* Thomas Vinterberg, celebrated for Festen (1998), co-creator of Dogme95.
　　* Lars von Trier, Oscar-nominated for Dancer in the Dark (2000), co-creator of Dogme95 and of Zentropa.
　　
　　A locally popular film genre is the charmingly simplistic "folkekomedie" (folk comedy), which originated in the 1930s and gained widespread dominance from the 1950s until the 1970s, usually scorned by critics and loved by the audience. Notable folkekomedie-films include Barken Margrethe (1934), De r?de heste (1950), Far til fire (1953) and Olsen-banden (1968).
　　
　　Since the 1980s, Danish filmmaking has been important to changing governments. The National Film School of Denmark has educated a generation of new award-winning directors. The funds for film project has been administrated by Filminstitutet, but their focus on movies that would achieve high tickets-sales locally has been criticized for being both too populist and too narrow-minded, by directors wishing to be artistic or international.
　　
　　Danish cinema remains highly respected internationally, and Danish films receive many awards at major international film festivals.
　　
　　Literature
　　
　　Danish Writers: Hans Christian Andersen, Karen Blixen, S?ren Kierkegaard, Ludvig Holberg, Georg Brandes, Aksel Sandermose, Henrik Pontoppidan, J.P. Jacobsen, Karl Gjellerup, Hans Scherfig, Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, Henrik Pontoppidan, Johannes V. Jensen, Dan Turéll, Gustav Wied, William Heinesen, Martin Andersen Nex?, Tom Kristensen, Peter H?eg etc.
　　
　　Sports
　　
　　The most popular sport in Denmark is football. Sailing and other water sports are popular, as are indoor sports such as badminton, handball and various forms of gymnastics. In Denmark there is also a small group of people doing motorsport, and with some success. The most successful driver on the 24 Hours of Le Mans race ever, with eight 1st places is Tom Kristensen, who comes from Denmark. In speedway Denmark has won several World Championships. Other notable Danish sportspeople include American football's National Football League all-time leading scorer Morten Andersen, cyclists Bjarne Riis, Rolf S?rensen, and Michael Rasmussen, badminton-players Peter Gade and Camilla Martin, table tennis-player Michael Maze, poker Hall of Fame player Gus Hansen and Peter Eastgate, football players Michael and Brian Laudrup and Peter Schmeichel. Teenager Caroline Wozniacki is rising up the rankings on the WTA tennis tour. Denmark is also the home and birthplace of former WBA & WBC Supermiddleweight boxing champion, Mikkel Kessler.
　　
　　1992 European champions
　　
　　In 1992, the national football team were crowned European champions. Remarkably, the team had finished second in their qualifying group behind Yugoslavia and as a result had failed to qualify for the final tournament. They gained their place in the tournament at the last moment when the warring Yugoslavs were expelled from the competition. Once in the finals the Danes reached the final where they defeated reigning World champions Germany.
　　
　　Music
　　
　　Denmark has long been a center of cultural innovation. Its capital, Copenhagen, and its multiple outlying islands have a wide range of folk traditions. Carl Nielsen, with his six imposing symphonies, was the first Danish composer to gain international recognition, while an extensive recording industry has produced pop stars and a host of performers from a multitude of genres. The famous drummer Lars Ulrich from Metallica is from Denmark. Among other names, Whigfield and the '90's pop band Aqua also come from Denmark, as well as current (March 2008) US hitlist top name Ida Corr and group Alphabeat. Natasja Saad was an up-coming star, in the world, but she died in a tragic car accident on Jamaica, 2008. Natasja made reggae, and 'Op Med Hovedet Min Ven' had a lot of succes, as well, as her song; 'I Danmark Er Jeg F?dt' (In Denmark I Was Born)
　　
　　Food
　　
　　The cuisine of Denmark, like that in the other Nordic countries (Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden), as well as that of northern Germany, its neighbour to the south, consists mainly of meat and fish. This stems from the country's agricultural past, as well as its geography and climate of long, cold winters.
　　?bleskiver, Danish pancakes.
　　
　　Traditional Danish food includes frikadeller (fried meatballs, often served with potatoes and various sorts of gravy), karbonader/krebinetter (breaded and fried minced meat), steaks and so on, usually eaten with potatoes. Fish is also widely eaten, especially on the west coast of Jutland. A traditionally favourite condiment, remoulade, is eaten with french fries, on fried plaice, on salami or roast beef sandwiches. Smoked fish dishes (herring, mackerel, eel) from local smoking houses or r?gerier, especially on the island of Bornholm, are increasingly popular.
　　
　　Danish food also includes a variety of open rugbr?d (Rye-bread) sandwiches or sm?rrebr?d traditionally served for the mid-day meal or frokost. This usually starts with fish such as marinated herring, smoked eel or hot fried breaded plaice. Then come meat sandwiches such as cold roast beef with remoulade and fried onions, roast pork and crackling with red cabbage, hot veal medallions, Danish meat balls (frikadeller) or liver paté with bacon and mushrooms. Some typically Danish items are Sol over Gudhjem, literally 'sun over Gudhjem', consisting of smoked herring, chives and with raw egg yolk (the "sun") on top; or Dyrl?gens natmad, 'vet's late-night bite', with liver paté, saltmeat (corned veal), onions and jellied consommé. Finally cheese is served with radishes, nuts or grapes. Lager beer accompanied by small glasses of snaps or aquavit are the preferred drinks for a Danish frokost.
　　
　　International studies show that Denmark is the happiest country in the world.
　　
　　Military
　　
　　HMDS Absalon.
　　
　　Denmark's armed forces are known as the Danish Defence (Danish: Forsvaret). During peacetime, the Ministry of Defence in Denmark employs around 33,000 in total. The main military branches employ almost 27,000: 15,460 in the Royal Danish Army, 5,300 in the Royal Danish Navy and 6,050 in the Royal Danish Air Force (all including conscripts). The Danish Emergency Management Agency (Danish: Beredskabsstyrelsen) employs 2,000 (including conscripts), and about 4,000 are in non-branch-specific services like the Danish Defence Command, the Danish Defence Research Establishment, and the Danish Defense Intelligence Service. Furthermore around 55,000 serve as volunteers in the Danish Home Guard (Danish: Hjemmev?rnet).
　　
　　The Danish Defence currently (as of 9 April 2008) has around 1,400 staff in international missions, not including standing contributions to NATO SNMCMG1. The three largest contributions are in Afghanistan (ISAF, 696 persons), Kosovo (KFOR, 312 persons), and Lebanon (UNIFIL, 50 persons). Between 2003 and 2007, there were approximately 450 Danish soldiers in Iraq.

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