Government and Politics of Denmark

Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg

Legal System

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024); Heir Apparent Crown Prince CHRISTIAN, elder son of the monarch (born 15 October 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 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) Elections: last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by November 2026) Election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 27.5%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Denmark Democrats 8.1%, Socialist People's Party 8.3%, Moderates 9.3%, Conservative People's Party 5.5%, Red-Green Alliance 5.1%, Social Liberal Party 4.6%, Danish People's Party 2.6%, Liberal Alliance 7.9%, Alternative 3.3%; seats by party - Social Democrats 50, Liberal Party 23, Denmark Democrats 14, Socialist People's Party 15, Moderates 16, Conservative People's Party 10, Red-Green Alliance 9, Social Liberal Party 7, Danish People's Party 0, Liberal Alliance 14, Alternative 6; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)

Political Parties

Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Bodil KORNBEK]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]; Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]

Head of State

King FREDERIK X

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN

Cabinet

Council of State appointed by the monarch

Elections

last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by November 2026)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 27.5%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Denmark Democrats 8.1%, Socialist People's Party 8.3%, Moderates 9.3%, Conservative People's Party 5.5%, Red-Green Alliance 5.1%, Social Liberal Party 4.6%, Danish People's Party 2.6%, Liberal Alliance 7.9%, Alternative 3.3%; seats by party - Social Democrats 50, Liberal Party 23, Denmark Democrats 14, Socialist People's Party 15, Moderates 16, Conservative People's Party 10, Red-Green Alliance 9, Social Liberal Party 7, Danish People's Party 0, Liberal Alliance 14, Alternative 6; note - these figures reflect results from the November 2022 general election and do not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands, which together bring the total membership of the Folketing to 179 seats.

Constitution

1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Independence

first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

National Holiday

none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as the National Day

International Organization Participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Friis 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

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

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

Capital City

Copenhagen

Location

55 40 N, 12 35 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

name derives from the city's Danish appellation Kobenhavn, meaning "Merchant's Harbor"

United States Embassy in Denmark Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24 2100 Copenhagen Telephone: 45 3341 7100 Emergency after-hours telephone: 45 3341 7400 Fax: 45 3538 9616

Military Branches

Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet, Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard

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