Denmark enjoys a modern market economy alongside extensive welfare measures. Incomes are evenly distributed and comfortable living standards have been sustained. The economy depends a great deal on foreign trade and there is a comfortable surplus in its balance of payments. Denmark has a stable currency, but although meeting the economic convergence criteria voted against joining the €uro zone. The Danish krone is however pegged at about 7.45 kroner to the €uro.  Previously low levels of unemployment rose sharply with the current recession and reached about 6% in 2010-12, still lower than average EU unemployment.

Key facts
*  Currency: the krone   £1=8.84 kr,  1€=7.46 kr (September 2013)
*  GDP per capita: $50,100 (2017 estimated)
*  Unemployment rate: 4.9% (Aug 2020)
*  Inflation: 0.6% (Sept 2020)
*  Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Industries and exports
*  Industries - steel, iron and other metals, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, electronics, construction, furniture and wood products, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing.
*  Exports - machinery and instruments, windmills, furniture, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish.
*  Germany 15.5%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 8.2%, US 7.5%, (2017 data).
*  Imports - Denmark is significantly dependent on the import of raw materials for its industries.