country comparison to the world: 44
1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
2.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.99% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
6.25% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$96.82 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 32
$92.95 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$138.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$139 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$119.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$118.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$52.69 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
$48.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$73.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Industries:
motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - production:
82.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - consumption:
61.65 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - exports:
19.99 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
10,970 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - consumption:
207,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - exports:
29,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - imports:
219,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - production:
176 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - consumption:
8.182 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - exports:
1.111 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - imports:
9.683 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Current account balance:
-$5.956 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
-$2.146 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$116.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$112.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Germany 32.25%, Slovakia 9.02%, Poland 5.8%, France 5.62%, UK 4.93%,
Austria 4.71%, Italy 4.38% (2009)
Imports:
$109.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$103.1 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 30.67%, Poland 6.97%, Slovakia 6.6%, Netherlands 5.99%,
China 5.7%, Austria 5.26%, Russia 4.93%, Italy 3.98% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$38.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$86.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$82.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$126.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$121.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$15.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$14.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 19.737 (2010), 19.063 (2009), 17.064
(2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006)
Communications ::Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.092 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.258 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech
telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
virtually all exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber
systems enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk
systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: access to the fixed-line telephone network expanded
throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line connections has
been dropping since then; mobile telephone usage increased sharply
beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of cellular telephone
subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2
Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2009)
Broadcast media:
roughly 130 television broadcasters operating some 350 television
channels with 4 publicly operated and the remainder in private
hands; 13 television stations have national coverage with 4 being
publicly operated; cable and satellite TV subscription services are
available; about 70 radio broadcasters are registered operating
roughly 85 radio stations with 15 stations publicly operated; 16
radio stations provide national coverage with the remainder local or
regional (2008)
Internet country code:
.cz
Internet hosts:
3.494 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
Internet users:
6.681 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
Transportation ::Czech Republic
Airports:
122 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 18 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 50 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 9,620 km
country comparison to the world: 22
standard gauge: 9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 128,582 km
country comparison to the world: 37
paved: 128,582 km (includes 691 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable
rivers, lakes, and canals) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 162
Ports and terminals:
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Military ::Czech Republic
Military branches:
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes
Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,517,268
females age 16-49: 2,418,163 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,086,662
females age 16-49: 2,003,055 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 55,139
female: 52,440 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Transnational Issues ::Czech Republic
Disputes - international:
while threats of international legal action never materialized in
2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the popular Freedom
Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria
block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes
its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in Temelin, bordering
Austria
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit
point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of
synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money
laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant
consumer of ecstasy (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Denmark (Europe)
Introduction ::Denmark
Background:
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.
Geography ::Denmark
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
country comparison to the world: 133
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
note: 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
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline:
7,314 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel
and sand
Land use:
arable land: 52.59%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 47.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,490 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%)
per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of
Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are
protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and
North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater
Copenhagen
People ::Denmark
Population:
5,515,575 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 511,882/female 485,782)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,817,800/female 1,798,964)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 387,142/female 498,940) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 41.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.267% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Birth rate:
10.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Death rate:
10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Net migration rate:
2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 198
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.47 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 76.11 years
female: 80.97 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and
Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small
minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
7.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 12
Government ::Denmark
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic
components
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region);
Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities
into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007
Independence:
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June
1849 (becomes a constitutional monarchy)
National holiday:
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed
as the National Day
Constitution:
5 June 1953; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral
legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born on 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN (since 5
April 2009)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2
from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held on 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 [Lars BARFOED] (sometimes known
as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia
KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Alliance [Anders SAMUELSEN] (formerly known as
New Alliance); Liberal Party [Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN]; 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:
Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard
LARSEN]; Principal DA member organizations: Confederation of Danish
Industries [CEO Karsten DYBVAD]; Confederation of Danish Labor
Unions [President Harald BORSTING]; Danish Bankers Association [CEO
Joergen HORWITZ]; DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP];
Danish Society for Nature Conservation [President Ella Maria
BISSCHOP-LARSEN]
other: humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
FATF, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN
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 Laurie S. FULTON
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; in actuality, the flag
may derive from a crusade banner or ensign
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
National anthem:
name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong
Christian" (King Christian)
lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER;
Johannes EWALD/unknown
note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; "Der er et
yndigt land," adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while "Kong
Christian," adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal
anthem; "Kong Christian" is also known as "Kong Christian stod ved
hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and
"Kongesangen" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem
is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by
the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national
anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played,
unless the national anthem is requested
Economy ::Denmark
Economy - overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech
agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading
firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy,
and a high dependence on foreign trade. The Danish economy is also
characterized by extensive government welfare measures, an equitable
distribution of income, and comfortable living standards. Denmark is
a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance
of payments surplus. After a long consumption-driven upswing,
Denmark's economy began slowing in 2007 with the end of a housing
boom. Housing prices dropped markedly in 2008-09. The global
financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through
increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer
confidence, and investment. The global financial crises cut Danish
GDP by 0.9% in 2008 and 4.7% in 2009. Historically low levels of
unemployment rose sharply with the recession but remain below 5%,
about half the level of the EU. Denmark made a modest recovery in
2010 in part because of increased government spending. An impending
decline in the ratio of workers to retirees will be a major
long-term issue. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for
many years up to 2008, but the budget balance swung into deficit
during 2009-10. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among
the strongest in the EU. Despite previously meeting the criteria to
join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so far Denmark
has decided not to join, although the Danish krone remains pegged to
the euro.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$204.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$200.5 billion (2009 est.)
$210.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$304.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
-4.7% (2009 est.)
-0.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$36,400 (2009 est.)
$38,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 22.8%
services: 76.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.82 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.5%
industry: 20.2%
services: 77.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
4.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.1% (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 118
24.7 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Public debt:
46.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
41.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
1.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
3.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money: