Low inflation rate: 2.1% (IMD 2004)
High BNP pr citizen: 39,343 US $ (IMD 2004)
Low company tax: 30%
Low taxation rate for workers from abroad (researchers, managers): 25%
Flexible taxation rules for holding companies allow for the transfer of profits and losses from subsidiary companies to parent companies
Low rate social contribution for employers: 1.6% (IMD 2004)
Financial year: Calendar year
Export: US $ 64.16 billion. Major partners: EU 64.7%, Norway 6%, US 6.4%
Import: US $ 54.47 billion. Major partners: EU 69.91%, Norway 4.7%
Stable economy and currency



Denmark – a Great Place for Living

One of Denmark’s most characteristic features is quality: it is a safe and stable society, with access to free healthcare and education and with a clean unendangered environment. When it comes to the quality of life, Denmark is one of the best choices one can make in the whole of Europe and is seen as such by many workers from abroad.

The Danish quality of life is among the highest in Europe: According to a survey conducted in March 2002 by the international consulting company William Mercer, the Danish capital Copenhagen is second only to Vienna, Austria in its quality of life. A recent study by OECD shows that Denmark tops the list of all the European countries when it comes to support for families. This puts Denmark ahead of not only its Nordic neighbours but also such large European countries as Germany, France, and Britain.
Overseas workers regard Denmark as an extremely attractive country to work and live in. Copenhagen alone houses more than 2,000 foreign subsidiary companies, and its number of foreign employees totals 60,000. Of these, 40,000 come from the EU, the Nordic countries, and Northern America. The attraction undoubtedly lies in the fact that Denmark is a smoothly functioning society with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, effective public services and an unpolluted environment. One of the other reasons that lure foreign work force to Denmark is the Danes’ widespread knowledge of English – more than 75% of the population speaks the language.

What Makes Denmark Such a Great Place To Live…

Fair work place ethics: Danish colleagues are team players, they are flexible, easy to work with and productive. Working conditions imply a deep respect for the family values and family life.
High quality of life: A good balance is sustained between work and time for the family. There are few traffic jams, which also means more time for the family and friends. The public services are speedy and effective.
Denmarkis a safe place to bring up children: Denmark is great for raising children. The crime rate is very low, and children are safe in the streets. The pollution of the environment is also very low.
Great spare time activities: all kinds of entertainment are available; restaurants, concerts, theatres, access to sports facilities, etc.



History And Government

A large number of Danish traditions date all the way back to the Vikings: our passion for travelling and sailing, our agriculture, building and design – to name but a few.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, and it is the oldest one in the world. Our present sovereign is Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. In a company of Danes it is quite unadvisable to talk about the Danish royal family in a disrespectful manner – we are very proud of our royals. On May 14th 2004, His Majesty Crown Prince Frederik wedded Mary Donaldson, a native of Tasmania, known today as Her Majesty Crown Princess Mary.

The kingdom of Denmark also consists of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both of which enjoy home rule. Folketinget (a one-chamber parliament) has 179 members including 2 who are elected on the Faroe Islands and 2 that are elected in Greenland. The right to vote is granted to all who have reached 18 years of age. At the moment, Folketinget consists of 10 parties. The Danish prime minister’s name is Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and he is the highest authority in the country.



Geography

Denmark is situated on 55 degrees north latitude and is therefore the most southern place in the whole of Scandinavia and the so-called Nordic region which also includes Finland and Iceland. Denmark’s geography differs drastically from those of its northern neighbours – there are no mountains and the landscape is flat while the soil is rich and fertile.  The country includes the peninsula of Jutland that borders Germany, and 406 islands, the largest of which are Fyn and Zealand (the latter is the island on which the country’s capital, Copenhagen, is situated). The climate is temperate with mild winters and relatively chilly summers. About 95% of the land is productive; 60% of the soil is cultivated and 10% of the landscape is covered with forest. 
Although Denmark originally started out as an agricultural country, it has over the years evolved into a top-rating commercial power. Its high standing among the rest of the European countries is a proof of that.

One can drive from Denmark’s most northern point to its most southern point in about 6 hours. The Danish coastline is a 7,400 km stretch that includes 5,000 km of bathing beaches. Both the beaches and the seawater are safe and clean, which is why, weather permitting, the Danes love to sunbathe and swim. Some Danes enjoy bathing in the sea all year round even if the water is covered with ice (winter bathing).