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Denmark Facts for Kids
Interesting Facts for Kids
Here are some interesting Denmark Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.
What you will find on our Denmark Facts page:
First let's have a quick glance at the most important basic facts about Denmark:
Denmark Facts - Snapshot
Last updated: 15.01.2026 |
Facts about Denmark for Kids
Copenhagen's Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid- Population: About 6 million people live in Denmark (2026)
- Capital: Copenhagen, with 1.4 million inhabitants, is Denmark's biggest city.
Flag of Denmark- Name: Kingdom of Denmark, in Danish: Kongeriget Danmark
- Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
- King: Frederik X of Denmark (since 2024)
- Official languages: Danish - and in some regions also Greenlandic, Faroese or German are used
- Literacy: 99% can read and write
- Religion: mainly Christians (of these mainly Lutherans 74%)
- Currency: 1 Danish krone = 100 øre
- National Symbols: Mute swan (national bird), lion (national animal), red and white (national colours).
- History: The first people in the region were hunters and gatherers. They settled in what is now Denmark around 10,000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Iron Age, the Danes traded goods such as amber and animal furs with the Roman Empire. From about 200 AD, runic writing was used in the region. Denmark is known as the home of the Vikings, who settled here from about 800 to 1050 AD. The Vikings were excellent sailors and shipbuilders and are well known for raiding other countries and trading across Europe. They controlled parts of England and northern France, especially during the late Viking Age and the early 11th century. During the reign of King Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century, Denmark converted to Christianity. The Kalmar Union (1397–1523) was a political union that included Denmark, Sweden, and Norway and was established under Queen Margrete I. Power struggles with German states continued over many decades during the 18th and 19th centuries. Denmark remained neutral during World War I. In World War II, neutral Denmark was invaded by Germany in 1940. On 5 May 1945 Denmark was liberated.
- National Day: 5 June (Constitution Day)
Denmark Geography
Where is Denmark?
Denmark lies in Northern Europe. Denmark belongs to the Scandinavian countries and is the smallest country of Scandinavia.
Scandinavia usually includes the three kingdoms Sweden, Denmark and Norway. In a wider regional sense, Scandinavia is often confused with the Nordic countries, which also include Finland and Iceland. The Nordic countries are all highlighted in blue on the map below.
Denmark is a country in ScandinaviaDenmark borders the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, both are part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Denmark is the southernmost country of Scandinavia excluding Greenland and the Faroe islands. Denmark has one land border with Germany which is about 140 km/ 87 miles long.
Map of DenmarkDenmark is also referred to as the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes the peninsula Jutland where it borders Germany, the many islands in the Baltic Sea as well as Greenland and the Faroe islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The kingdom of Denmark is spread over 444 islands. Only 76 of these islands are inhabited. Due to the many islands, Denmark has a remarkably long coastline of 7,314 km/ 4,545 miles - The coastline is almost as long as those of much larger countries such as Brazil or India!
Most of the country is very flat and there are only some low rolling hills. Denmark has a temperate maritime climate with mild but windy winters and cool summers.
Denmark is about twice the size of Bolivia or Massachusetts/USA or about half the size of Ireland. A flight to Copenhagen takes roughly 2 hours from London/England and 7.5 hours from New York/USA.
Want to learn more facts about the Nordic Countries? Read our special page about the Nordic Region including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden here:
Denmark for Kids
Geography Superlatives
Here are some interesting facts about Denmark's geography:
- Denmark's highest natural point is Møllehøj. It is near the town of Skanderborg and is only 171 m/ 561 ft. high. The summit is marked by a millstone.
- Denmark's longest river is the River Gudenå with 149 km/ 93 miles.
- The largest lake in Denmark is Arresø, which is located on the island of Zealand. Denmark has about 1,000 lakes that are named and many thousand more smaller and unnamed lakes and ponds.
- Denmark's Faroe archipelago consists of 18 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The largest lake in the Faroe Islands is Lake Sørvágsvatn which you can see below.
Lake Sorvagsvatn on the Faroer islandsØresund-Bridge links Copenhagen/Denmark with Malmö/Sweden. This is the longest bridge in Europe that combines road and railway tracks in Europe and stretches over 8 km/5 miles. It is also the second longest bridge after Vasco Da Gama bridge in Lisbon/ Portugal.
Øresund-BridgeThe largest island of Denmark is Greenland. Disko Island (off Greenland) and Zealand where the capital city Copenhagen is located are the second and third largest of the Danish islands
Greenland - Disko BayDenmark Facts
Facts about Greenland
Greenland is the world's largest island. In Greenlandic, Greenland is called Kalaallit Nunaat which means "Land of the People".
56,000 people live on the arctic island that is located about 3,400 km/ 2,110 miles off the Danish north western coastline
Nuuk - capital city of Greenland80% of Greenland is covered by ice and snow and most people live along the coastline.
Did you know?
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The Northern Lights are a wonderful spectacle that best can be admired on clear autumn and winter nights.
However, summer is the best time to visit as then the temperatures are a bit warmer. July is also the only month when temperatures reach above freezing and one can experience the warm magical light of the midnight sun.
Find more Facts about Greenland on our separate page here or click on the images below.
Denmark Facts
Landmarks & Attractions
Copenhagen: When visiting the capital city, a stop at the royal palace is a must as is experiencing a stroll along Nyhavn or riding a carousel in Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's oldest amusement centres. The Little Mermaid is a bronze and granite statue at the harbour entrance and is a famous landmark in Copenhagen.
Little Mermaid statue - image by Pocholo CalapreAarhus: Denmark's second largest city is located on Jutland. Aarhus has more than 1.2 million inhabitants. Marvel at the architecture of the Isbjerget or Iceberg building or walk on the Infinity Bridge, a circular bridge along the coast, which will be built up at the coast again in May. Or visit the 'Old Town' open-air museum with timber buildings and learn about the city's history.
Aarhus' unique Iceberg buildingsOdense: Denmark's third largest city is the birthplace of fairytale writer Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875). Today, the city is one of the most liveable and future-proof cities in Europe. More than 120 robotics companies are located in the city. There are regularly fairs and exhibitions in the city that also attract young inventors and robotics enthusiasts.
Hans Christian Anderson Statue in OdenseRåbjerg Mile: The dunes near Skagen are known to be the largest migrating dunes in Northern Europe.
Råbjerg Mile - migrating dunes in DenmarkRoskilde: The city in Zealand houses the famous Viking Ship museum which displays five longships. The largest cathedral of Denmark is located in the city. The cathedral is the official royal burial church and the final resting place of Danish kings and queens.
Tomb of Margarete I in RoskildeFrederiksborg: This castle in Hillerød is known as the largest Renaissance castle in the Nordic region.
Frederiksborg castle and gardens
Fascinating Denmark!
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Denmark Facts | Danish Royals
Denmark is among the oldest monarchies in the world. The Danish royal heritage dates back to the first Viking king in 958.
The current reigning monarch is Frederik X. His mother, Queen Margrethe II, was Queen of Denmark from 1972 until 2024, when her son succeeded her on the royal throne. King Frederik (the Tenth) is married to Queen Mary, who is originally from Australia. They have four children.
The Danish royal family lives most of the times in Amalienborg Palace in the capital city.
Amalienborg Palace in CopenhagenAmalienborg royal palace consists of four identical buildings that are guarded by the Royal Life Guards. Many people come to watch the Changing of the Guards that takes place every day at 12h00 noon.
The duties of the royal family include welcoming foreign state visitors and promoting charitable causes. However, the king only plays a very limited part in the Danish government, but he appoints a new government after national elections.
Denmark Facts | The Danes
About 6 million people live in Denmark, almost half of the population lives in the capital city and on the island of Zealand. Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg are the largest cities in the country.
One of Denmark’s most famous traditions is the midsummer festival, which takes place on 23 June. This festival has pagan roots and has been celebrated for hundreds of years. The main attraction is the community bonfires, where a dummy of a witch is burned to scare away evil spirits. Families and friends gather around the bonfires, and many also celebrate at home with a special family dinner. People often sing songs, play games and enjoy the long summer evening together.
Sankt Hans bonfire - image by Stig AlenasSoccer and handball are the most popular sports in Denmark. Many Danish people are soccer fans.
Famous Danes
Famous Danish People
Among the most well known Danish sculptors, writers and artists are:
- Edvard Eriksen (1876 - 1959) - sculptor of the "Little Mermaid" statue in Copenhagen
- Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) writer, poet and author of fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina and many others. The story of the movie 'Frozen' was initially based on his fairy tale "The Snow Queen'
- Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891 - 1958) - carpenter who founded the Lego company. He first started with interlocking wooden bricks as toys. The name Lego stems from the Danish words leg god meaning 'plays well’ but also is used in the Latin term lego which means 'I put together’. The Lego brick as we buy it today was invented in 1958.
Legoland in Billund - image by Anna Soelberg- Karen Blixen (1885 - 1962) - author of 'Out of Africa'. The famous story is based on her life in Kenya.
- Arne Jacobsen (1902 - 1971) - furniture designer is known for his modernist chairs such as the Egg chair
- Jorn Utzhorn (1918 - 2008) - architect and designer of the Sydney Opera House
Facts about Denmark
Languages in Denmark
Danish is spoken in Denmark and in some regions in northern Germany. Danish speaking minority groups are also found in the other Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden as well as in some countries around the world such as in the USA, Canada and Brazil.
Standard Danish refers to the language based on the dialects spoken around the capital city Copenhagen.
Danish Language
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Most Scandinavians can understand each other fairly well as Norwegian, Swedish and Danish languages are quite close in vocabulary and grammar.
English is the most common second language in Denmark and most young people speak English fluently.
Here are some useful Danish words:
- god dag: Good day
- Hej! Hello!
- Jeg er...: My name is...
- farvel: goodbye
- tak: thank you
- velbekomme: you are welcome
- Jeg elsker dig: I love you
Denmark Facts
Denmark Economy
Denmark has world-leading companies in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, shipping industry and high-tech machinery.
The main export and import partners are Germany, USA, Sweden, the Netherlands and China. Denmark's Maersk shipping company is one of the world's largest container shipping operators and transports over 12 million containers every year!
A giant offshore wind farm is located near the island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. The wind farm was completed in 2022 and produces now enough energy to power about 600,000 households. And there are many more wind farms in Denmark counting several thousand turbines! About 41% of the energy used in the country is produced by wind energy!
Offshore wind farm near CopenhagenDenmark’s main exports include refined petroleum, wind turbines and other energy technology, medicines and fish products.
Although Denmark is a member of the European Union, it is not part of the Eurozone and uses the Danish krone instead of the euro.
Denmark Facts | Animals in Denmark
Arctic wildlife include walruses, polar bears, humpback whales, reindeers and musk oxen.
Musk oxThe Faroe islands which are located between Iceland and Norway are also called 'sheep islands' because on the islands live about twice as many sheep than people. The sheep are used there as 'lawnmowers' as many houses on the island have grass roofs which are mown by sheep!
Faroe islands house with grass roofDenmark Facts | Danish Food
The Danish main dishes contain: potatoes, fish, seafood, meat, vegetables or salad and some fruit.
The national dish is stegt flaesk which is fried pork belly strips with crackling and served with potatoes and a white parsley sauce or red cabbage.
Open faced sandwiches or Smørrebrød are very popular and can be bought in many bistros and coffee shops. Slices of rye bread are topped with cold meat, pickled or fried fish and eggs and onion.
Here is some other typical Danish food:
Smørrebrød in a foodmarket in Copenhagen- Smørrebrød: buttered open sandwich, usually on rye bread with various toppings
- Frikadeller: meatballs made with pork or veal meats
- Rullepoelse: rolled pork sausage cold cuts
- Spegesild: pickled herring
- Rødgrød med fløde: sweet dessert or red berry compote made with strawberries, raspberries and rhubarb and served with cream or ice-cream topping
- Drømmekage: meaning 'dream cake' is a simple sponge cake but with a delicious coconut and brown sugar topping
- Wienerbrød: similar to what we can 'Danish pastry :-)
Typical Danish pastry called WienerbrodDenmark Facts | Did you know...
... that the Bluetooth logo includes the letters H and B of the Scandinavian runes writing system?
H and B were the initials of Harald Bluetooth. The letters were merged and then used as the new logo by the creators of the Bluetooth wireless technology.
... and that Denmark has two national anthems?
The royal anthem (which is normally played internationally) and the national anthem (which is only played in Denmark and only when royalty is not attending the event)
Denmark Facts
Test Your Knowledge
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Test your Denmark knowledge here - simply click on the image to see and download the worksheet (in pdf) form  You will find the answers to all the questions on this page or click here for the answers to above worksheet. Have fun! |
Resources for Denmark Facts
These are useful resources for Denmark Facts:
- Central Intelligence Agency. "Denmark" World Fact Book. Updated 14 January 2026. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "Official Website of Denmark." Denmark.dk. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- Visit Copenhagen. "Official Guide to Copenhagen." VisitCopenhagen. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- StatisticsDenmark. "Population figures." Statistikbanken. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- Government of Greenland. "Explore Greenland." Visit Greenland. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- Innovative Languages. "Danish Key Phrases List." DanishClass101. Last accessed 15 January 2026
- Kim Nielsen. "Recipe for Danish Dream Cake." Nordic Food & Living. Last updated 11 April 2020. Last accessed 15 January 2026
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