from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.2%,
Social Democrats 25.5%, Danish People's Party 13.9%, Socialist
People's Party 13.0%, Conservative People's Party 10.4%, Social
Liberal Party 5.1%, New Alliance 2.8%, Red-Green Unity List 2.2%,
other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 46, Social Democrats 45,
Danish People's Party 25, Socialist People's Party 23, Conservative
People's Party 18, Social Liberal Party 9, New Alliance 5, Red-Green
Alliance 4; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and
the two seats from the Faroe Islands
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian
People's Party); Conservative Party [Lene ESPERSEN] (sometimes known
as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia
KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Liberal
Alliance [Naser KHADER](formerly known as New Alliance); Red-Green
Unity List (Alliance) [collective leadership] (bloc includes Left
Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers'
Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social
Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER]; Socialist People's Party [Villy
SOEVNDAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Danish Free Press Society (freedom of speech); Danish National
Socialist Movement or DNSB [Jonni HANSEN] (neo-Nazi organization)
other: human rights groups
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James P. CAIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Flag description:
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner
is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the
oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of
the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner
fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by
the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly
talisman inspired the royal army to victory
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Economy ::Denmark
Economy - overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech
agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry,
extensive government welfare measures, an equitable distribution of
income, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, a stable
political system, and high dependence on foreign trade. Unemployment
is low and capacity constraints limit growth potential. Denmark is a
net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of
payments surplus. The government has been successful in meeting, and
even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating
in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so far Denmark has decided
not to join 16 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish
krone remains pegged to the euro. Denmark's fiscal position is among
the strongest in the EU. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and
the upturn continued through 2006. After a long consumption-driven
upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in early 2007 with the end
of a housing boom. This cyclical slowdown has been exacerbated by
the global financial crisis through increased borrowing costs and
lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The
slowing global economy cut GDP by 1.2% in 2008. A major long-term
issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$204.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$206.6 billion (2007 est.)
$203.3 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$340 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
1.6% (2007 est.)
3.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$37,800 (2007 est.)
$37,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 26.1%
services: 72.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.88 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 23.8%
services: 72.7% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
2.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
24 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 132
24.7 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Budget:
revenues: $188.6 billion
expenditures: $176.3 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
33.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
42.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
1.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 126
4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA
Stock of money:
$143 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
$148.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$95.82 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 23
$81.64 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$695.8 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 16
$684.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
$277.7 billion (31 December 2007)
$231 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
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
Industrial production growth rate:
-3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - production:
36.92 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - consumption:
35.79 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - exports:
11.36 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.82 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
288,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - consumption:
181,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - exports:
287,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - imports:
153,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - proved reserves:
1.06 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - production:
10.09 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - consumption:
4.59 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - exports:
5.516 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - proved reserves:
61.3 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Current account balance:
$6.938 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$2.378 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$114.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$100.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,
fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
Exports - partners:
Germany 18%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8.2%, Norway 5.7%, US 5.3%, France
4.8%, Netherlands 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$116.4 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$100.8 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for
industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Germany 20.9%, Sweden 14%, Netherlands 6.7%, Norway 6.3%, China
5.7%, UK 5.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$42.32 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$34.32 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$588.8 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
$567.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$142.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$131.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$181.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$153.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797
(2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)
Communications ::Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.487 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.551 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 75
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, multiple cellular mobile communications systems
international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine
cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth
stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat
(Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station
and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
172 (2008)
Internet country code:
.dk
Internet hosts:
3.991 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
Internet users:
4.579 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
Transportation ::Denmark
Airports:
92 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 61 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,667 km
country comparison to the world: 63
standard gauge: 2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 72,362 km
country comparison to the world: 64
paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
400 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Merchant marine:
total: 327
country comparison to the world: 29
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 63, carrier 2, chemical tanker 78,
container 84, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker
29, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 1, Germany 1, Germany 9, Greece 4, Iceland
2, Norway 3, Sweden 6)
registered in other countries: 534 (Antigua and Barbuda 19, Bahamas
67, Belgium 4, Brazil 2, Cayman Islands 3, Cyprus 4, Egypt 1,
Estonia 1, France 2, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Hong Kong 24, Isle of
Man 29, Italy 3, Jamaica 2, Liberia 12, Lithuania 5, Luxembourg 1,
Malta 30, Marshall Islands 10, Mexico 2, Netherlands 29, Netherlands
Antilles 2, Norway 25, Panama 40, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 16, Singapore 87, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 4, Togo
1, UAE 1, UK 62, US 31, Venezuela 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg
Military ::Denmark
Military branches:
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet,
Island Command Greenland, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12
months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to
mobilization units following completion of their conscript service;
women eligible to volunteer for military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,235,067
females age 16-49: 1,215,418 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,013,223
females age 16-49: 998,837 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 37,231
female: 35,306 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transnational Issues ::Denmark
Disputes - international:
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue
to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with
Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere
Island and Greenland
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Dhekelia (Europe)
Introduction ::Dhekelia
Background:
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the
independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and
jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base
Area.
Geography ::Dhekelia
Location:
Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near
Famagusta
Geographic coordinates:
34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 130.8 sq km
country comparison to the world: 222
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative:
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 103 km (approximately)
border countries: Cyprus 103 km (approximately)
Coastline:
27.5 km
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and
autumn
Geography - note:
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small
off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area
land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry
of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
People ::Dhekelia
Population:
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri
and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK Based
Contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents
country comparison to the world: 219
Languages:
English, Greek
Government ::Dhekelia
Country name:
conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status:
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an
administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri
and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Constitution:
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960,
effective 16 August 1960, functions as a basic legal document
Legal system:
the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to
deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot
population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the
Republic of Cyprus
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Major General Jamie GORDON (since
October 2008); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is
appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
the flag of the UK is used
Economy ::Dhekelia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military
and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured
goods must be imported.
Industries:
none
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008)
note: on 1 January 2008, Dhekelia and Akrotiri adopted the euro
along with the rest of Cyprus
Communications ::Dhekelia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British Forces
Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to
Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)
Military ::Dhekelia
Military - note:
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a
roadway
page last updated on July 2, 2009
======================================================================
@Djibouti (Africa)
Introduction ::Djibouti
Background:
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in
1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party
state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among
the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in
2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels
and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first
multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of
Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in
2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth
of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for
goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present
leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a
significant military presence in the country, but also has strong
ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in
sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on
terrorism.
Geography ::Djibouti
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between
Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 23,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 150
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
314 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources:
geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt,
diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 0.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the
Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to
Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly
wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People ::Djibouti
Population:
516,055 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.3% (male 112,135/female 111,343)
15-64 years: 53% (male 141,298/female 132,360)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 9,502/female 9,417) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 17.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.903% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Birth rate:
38.13 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Death rate:
19.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 97.51 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 104.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.37 years
country comparison to the world: 217
male: 41.89 years
female: 44.89 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.06 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian,
and Italian)
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%