Denmark: Flag and Facts
Denmark's flag is red with a white cross that runs to the edges, and the upright bar of the cross sits closer to the left side.
- Official name
- Kingdom of Denmark
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Population
- 6.1 million (2025)
- Languages
- Danish
- Currency
- Danish krone
- Area
- 43,094 km² (16,639 sq mi)
- People
- Danish
- Calling code
- +45
- Highest point
- Store Mollehoj 171 m
- Independence
- ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I…)
- National symbols
- lion, mute swan
- Borders
- Germany
About Denmark
Called the Dannebrog, it ranks among the oldest national flags anywhere. Nobody knows exactly where the design came from. A legend says the banner dropped from the sky during a battle in the early 13th century and spurred the royal army to win, though it may have started as a crusade banner.
Vikings once raided from these shores, and Denmark later became a major power in northern Europe. Harald I Gormsson unified the kingdom around 965. A constitution on 5 June 1849 made it a parliamentary monarchy, and that date is still the national holiday. NATO membership came in 1949, followed by the EEC (today's EU) in 1973. The land is low and flat; Store Mollehoj, the highest point, is only 171 meters, and Lammefjord sits 7 meters below sea level.
Did you know?
- The mute swan and the lion are both national symbols of Denmark.
- A 2022 vote ended a 30-year opt-out from EU defense policy.
- Copenhagen has about 1.381 million people.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Denmark
What currency does Denmark use?
The Danish krone. Denmark opted out of the EU's monetary union.
What is the weather like in Denmark?
Expect mild, windy winters, cool summers and a lot of cloud.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.