Population (2021): 5,856,733
Gross National Income, Atlas method (Current US$) (Billions) (2021): $398.88
GNI per capita, Atlas method (Current US$) (2021): $68,110
Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (2019): 9.5%
Gross Domestic Product (Current US$) (Billions) (2021): $397.10

Source: World Bank. Country Profile: Denmark. World Development Indicators. Last accessed Nov. 18, 2022.

Gross Domestic Product Per Capita (Current US$) (2010-2019): $60,213
Share of Household Income (2010-2019):
    Bottom 40%: 23.1%; Top 20%: 37.7%; Bottom 20%: 9.3%
Gini Coefficient (2010-2019): 27.5
Palma Index of Income Inequality (2010-2019): 1.0

“The most important sectors of Denmark’s economy in 2020 were public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (21.5%), wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (19.3%) and industry (18.2%).

“Intra-EU trade accounts for 52% of Denmark’s exports (Germany 14% and Sweden 9%), while outside the EU 11% go to the United States and 6% to Norway.

“In terms of imports, 69% come from EU Member States (Germany 22%, Sweden 13% and the Netherlands 9%), while outside the EU 8% come from China and 4% from Norway.”

Source: European Union. EU Member Countries In Brief: Denmark. Last accessed Nov. 21, 2022.

“Denmark can be described as a high-income economy. It is characterized by a relatively even distribution of income across the population (Table 1.2), although socioeconomic inequalities have been shown to be rising (Larsen et al., 2011). Until the 1950s, agriculture provided the biggest share of export and national income; since then, industry and services have dominated, with the latter growing the most rapidly. Except for oil, natural gas and fertile soil, the country is poor in natural resources. The general level of education of the population is fairly high, with 32% of the population between 25 and 64 years having attained tertiary education in 2007 (OECD, 2010). Unemployment decreased from the mid-1990s onwards, but has increased during the recent economic crisis. However, it is still relatively low compared with other European countries, except among some ethnic minority groups. The higher unemployment rate among ethnic minority groups may be changing, however, as more women, particularly from ethnic minority groups, are enrolling in tertiary education. The unemployment rate also varies considerably across different geographical areas, with some areas experiencing a significantly higher unemployment rate than the Denmark average. Denmark does not have an officially established poverty threshold, but this issue is currently being debated both politically and in the media.”

Source: Olejaz M, Juul Nielsen A, Rudkjøbing A, Okkels Birk H, Krasnik A, Hernández-Quevedo C. Denmark: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2012, 14(2):1 – 192.

Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and sixteen other nations.

Page last updated Nov. 21, 2022 by Doug McVay, Editor.