medborger_i_danmark_engelsk.pdf - Ny i Danmark

7The Danish realmOne of theNordic CountriesDenmark is a small, flat country betweenthe Baltic Sea and the North Sea with nomountains and almost completelysurrounded by water. It consists of thepeninsula of Jutland and an archipelagoof 406 islands. The largest islands areZealand, Funen, Lolland and Bornholm.Many of the other islands are verysmall with only a few or no inhabitants.The individual parts of Denmark aretotally or partly surrounded by water, andmany of them are connected by bridges.The capital, which is also the majorcity of the country, is Copenhagen on theisland of Zealand. The major cities inJutland are Aarhus, Aalborg and Esbjerg,while Odense is the major city on Funen.When speaking of Denmark, most peoplethink of Jutland and the Danish islands.However, Greenland and the Faroe Islandsin the Atlantic Ocean are also part of theDanish realm, although they enjoyextensive home rule.Denmark is a member of the EU*,whereas Greenland and the Faroe Islandshave decided against EU membership.Denmark is part of the Nordic Countries,which also include Sweden, Norway,Finland and Iceland. To the south,Denmark has a border with Germany.Denmark also maintains close relationswith the Baltic countries: Estonia, Latviaand Lithuania on the other side of theBaltic Sea.There are just over 5.2 million peopleliving in Denmark. Although there aremany different dialects, all Danes speakthe same language – Danish. Approximately260,000 people – or 5% of thepopulation – are foreign nationals. 80,000of them are from the Nordic Countries,the EU or North America.The rest comesfrom Eastern Europe, the Middle East orAfrica, primarily from Turkey, Pakistan,Iraq, Iran, Somalia or the formerYugoslavia.Today, Denmark is a highly industrialised,knowledge-based society that focuses oneducation and innovation. One ofDenmark’s special characteristics is itshigh level of environmental protection,which is also reflected in very highproduction activity in the fields of theenvironmental technologies and windmillsectors.5% foreign nationalsKnowledge-based societyRate of employment by industryDenmark has approximately 2.8 million people in employment.The main sectors of employment are:Percentage (in round figures)Agriculture, fisheries, raw materials 4Manufacture 17Energy and water supply 1Construction 6Trade, hotels, restaurants 18Transport, post, telecommunications 7Finance, business services, etc. 12Public and private services 35Total 100GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATIONDanmark i tal, Danmarks Statistik 2002.