Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Full Name: Kingdom of Denmark
Area: 43,094 sq km (water: 700 sq km, land: 42,394 sq km) - includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Population: 5,484,723 (July 2008 est.)
Capital City: Copenhagen
People: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Language: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
Government Type: Constitutional monarchy
Chief of State Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001)
GDP: $US 203.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 37,200 (2007 est.)
Inflation: 1.7% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 2.8% (2007 est.)
Industries: iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Member of EU: Yes
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