Denmark Population

Population

Denmark is a country of ancient human settlement, of which there are conspicuous traces on the territory, dating back to the Neolithic age. Already in Roman times the population, devoted to agriculture, was organized in villages that will remain key points of the country’s human geography even later. With the Viking expansion, the coasts were instead enhanced and in the Middle Ages Copenhagen, Århus, Ålborg were already active commercial centers. Until the whole century. XVIII however the population was never very high and the territorial organization was fixed on a few centers on the basis of a political and social regime that remained of a feudal type, that is, in the hands of a landed aristocracy, increasingly in contrast with the mercantile bourgeoisie of the port cities. In 1781 a law was promulgated with which the first freeing of agricultural lands took place: as a result the traditional organization founded on compact villages and the birth of many farms scattered in the countryside followed. Even today the settlement is characterized, in Denmark, by the great diffusion of isolated farms, scattered throughout the territory, or grouped in small villages around a central square. The prosperous economy and the high standard of living have been the basis of the significant demographic increases registered by the country since the beginning of the century XIX, when it had just over 900,000 residents. At the beginning of the following century the Danes were already 2.5 million, in 1925 just over 3.4 million, in 1951 ca. 4.3 million. Over the last few decades, however, the demographic dynamics have been characterized by a very slow increase in the population, which occurred between an alternation of small drops and slight recoveries. The decisive factor was the albeit slight prevalence of when it had just over 900,000 residents. At the beginning of the following century the Danes were already 2.5 million, in 1925 just over 3.4 million, in 1951 ca. 4.3 million. Over the last few decades, however, the demographic dynamics have been characterized by a very slow increase in the population, which occurred between an alternation of small drops and slight recoveries. The decisive factor was the albeit slight prevalence of when it had just over 900,000 residents. At the beginning of the following century the Danes were already 2.5 million, in 1925 just over 3.4 million, in 1951 ca. 4.3 million. Over the last few decades, however, the demographic dynamics have been characterized by a very slow increase in the population, which occurred between an alternation of small drops and slight recoveries. The decisive factor was the albeit slight prevalence of mortality rate (in 1987) compared to the birth rate; today, on the other hand, annual growth is 0.3%, data for the five-year period 2002-2007). The average density of the population is 128 residents / km² but in the last decades the distribution of the population has changed: thus there has been a slight decrease in the residents in the densest settlements, such as the island of Sjælland, 291 residents / km² in 1976 to the current 300 (in 2002), while an equally modest increase occurred in the less populous regions, such as Jylland, which in the same period went from 76 to 83 residents / km 2 (in 2002).

According to relationshipsplus, over two thirds of the population live in cities and the trend towards urbanization is accentuating; however, this very high percentage is linked above all to the presence of a large metropolis like Copenhagen, while there are only a dozen other large centers (more than 50,000 residents). The pre-eminence of Copenhagen is due to the fact that the city, located on the northeastern coast of the island of Sjælland and overlooking the Øresund, is in an ideal position vis-à-vis both Denmark and southern Sweden, a position that remains valid even today, data the intense traffic that takes place between the two sides. The capital hosts all the main economic activities (it is home to the major industries and a very active trading center, with the largest sea and air port in the country), as well as being one of the most interesting and visited metropolises in Europe for its many cultural and artistic attractions. Denmark’s second largest city, the most important in Jylland, is Århus, located on the east coast of the peninsula at the bottom of the gulf of the same name and also equipped with a port of significant traffic and various industries. Also in Jylland are Ålborg, a very ancient city, located on the southern shore of the Limfjord and today above all a large commercial and industrial center (shipyards, ironworks, distilleries, food complexes, etc.), although it also boasts famous monuments, and Esbjerg, an important base for fishing and largest port in western Denmark. The third largest city in the country is Odense, on the island of Funen, the outlet for the products of the fertile island, located on the railway axis that connects Copenhagen to the continent; finally, the historic city of Roskilde deserves a mention, overlooking the gulf of the same name, 25 km W of the capital, in whose cathedral almost all Danish kings have been buried for many centuries.

Environment

In ancient times the Danish soil was practically covered by deciduous forest (beech, oak, spruce), fed by the rainfall of the Atlantic climate and the limited altitude of the territory; but with the passage of time the continuous exploitation has considerably reduced its extension. Today it covers 11.8% of the territory. There are also coniferous forests (Scots pine, fir trees), mostly planted. Almost 53% of the land has been converted into crops and 8.1% is left to pasture; on the remaining surface the bog and the moor extend, close to the sea and swept by the wind, where rushes, blueberries and heather grow. The local fauna is made up of deer, fallow deer and roe deer, squirrels, porcupines and badgers; the otter was seriously threatened with extinction a few decades ago. There is a high presence of birds, including migratory ones. The most common are ducks and geese, magpies and coots. As for marine fauna, the most common fish are herring and cod. Denmark is a very advanced country in Europe regarding environmental issues, however it too has pollution problems, especially of soils and aquifers, due to the discharge of hydrocarbons and organic solvents. Maritime fauna is also threatened by discharges into the sea from industries and agriculture. In the country, the protected areas occupy an area equal to 4.2% of the territory, and are mainly made up of forest areas.

Denmark Population

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