Social conditions
Like the other Nordic countries, Denmark has a well-developed welfare system with child allowance, parental leave, health insurance, housing allowance, pensions, unemployment insurance, social assistance and more. Social spending corresponds to around one third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). One third of the social budget goes to health care and the like, while two thirds are made up of various contributions.
The retirement age is 65 for people born in 1954 or earlier, but the age limit is gradually increasing to 67 or 68. The national pension’s lowest level was DKK 73,000 per year in 2016 (from the age of 65), but SEK 150,000 if other income does not exceed SEK 68,000.
In case of illness, childbirth and adoption, those who work 90 percent of the salary (2014), however, receive a maximum of DKK 4,180 per week, from the first day of sickness and a maximum of one year. The same amount gets unemployed for a maximum of 102 weeks within a three-year period. Thereafter, various forms of support can be obtained, which, from October 2016, may amount to a maximum of SEK 13,265 per month for a single person, the so-called “cash assistance cap”.
Public health is not quite as good as in the other Nordic countries, mainly because the Danes eat less healthily and drink and smoke more. In the 1950s every other Danish smoked over 13 years, including significantly more men than women. In 2015, 17 percent of both men and women smoked daily.
According to an often quoted, very accurate and detailed World Happiness Report 2013 and 2016, the Danes are the world’s happiest people. A dry comment from a Danish professor was that the Danes’ expectations may be so low that the disappointments will be less. Denmark is in fourth place on the UN Human Development Index, which measures quality of life. Denmark is in any case one of the world’s most corrupt and most equal countries.
FACTS – SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Infant Mortality: 4 per 1000 births (2018)
Percentage of HIV infected: 0.1 percent (2018)
Proportion of HIV infected among young women
0.1 percent (2018)
Proportion of HIV infected among young men: 0.1 percent (2018)
Proportion of population with access to clean water: 100.0 percent (2015)
Proportion of the population having access to toilets: 99.6 percent (2017)
Public expenditure on health care as a percentage of GDP: 10.3 percent (2015)
Public expenditure on health care per person: US $ 5,566 (2016)
Proportion of women in parliament: 37 percent (2018)
2016
November
Tripartite government is formed
November 27th
The left’s minority government is strengthened when the Liberal Alliance and the Conservative People’s Party after negotiations take place among the ministers. Thus, Denmark receives a tripartite government, which, however, still does not have a majority in the parliament. Government reform is taking place after Venstre promised to reduce the marginal tax on the highest incomes by five per cent at year-end.
A break in the reception of UN refugees
November 22
The government decides to withdraw an agreement indefinitely which states that the country will receive around 500 refugees per year through the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The proposal can be adopted after the government has supported it in the parliament of the Danish People’s Party and the Social Democracy. The reason for the decision is stated to be that the municipalities need a break in order to take care of the refugees already in the country.
Just over SEK 100,000 in seizure from asylum seekers
November 3
Danish police announce that a total of 117 600 Danish kroner has been seized from asylum seekers on a handful of occasions. Most cash was seized on the first occasion when SEK 79,600 was confiscated from five Iranians.
September
Scots drama in Christiania
2 September
Two police officers and a civilian are injured when a 25-year-old man shoots them in connection with a drug raid in Christiania in Copenhagen. The 25-year-old later dies of gunshot injuries. After the shooting drama, residents in Christiania choose to dismantle the so-called hash booths in the area where drugs are sold openly.
June
Police seizure against asylum seekers
June 30th
Police seize cash for a total of 79 600 Danish kroner from five Iranian asylum seekers in accordance with the law that was established earlier that year (see January 2016). This is the first time the new disputed law has been applied.
The border controls are extended
June 1st
Denmark, like Sweden, extends border controls to November 2016.
April
The home defense takes over border control
26th of April
As the number of refugees who apply to Denmark has decreased, work on border controls is transferred from the police to the home security.
Denmark is expanding its efforts against IS
April 19
The parliament decides that Denmark should expand its efforts in the US-led coalition against the extreme terrorist group. From mid-2016, Danish F16 planes can be deployed in Syria and 400 militants, including pilots, support personnel and members of certain special forces, can be deployed in Iraq. Denmark should also be able to contribute with transport flights. As a result, Denmark’s efforts are extended to Syria as well. Previously, it has only applied in Iraq. However, no Danish ground troops should be able to deploy in Syria.
Four suspected IS fighters are arrested
April 7
Four people are being detained at the Copenhagen police, suspected of violating Danish terrorist legislation in Syria, where they must have joined the IS. The men are arrested at a strike in Copenhagen where the police also find ammunition and weapons. The four must have been recruited in Syria to commit terrorist offenses, which in Denmark can give six years in prison.
February
Esben Lunde Larsen becomes new Minister of the Environment
February 29th
New Minister for the Environment will be Esben Lunde Larsen, who is currently Education Minister and MP for the Liberal Party. Lunde Larsen is a theology doctor but his doctoral dissertation has been questioned and is being reviewed by the University of Copenhagen.
Minister of the Environment is kicked off to avoid a government crisis
February 27th
Prime Minister Løkke Rasmussen dismisses Environment Minister Eva Kjer Hansen since demands for her resignation have been put forward by the Conservative People’s Party, whose support in the parliament is dependent on the government. The Conservatives have threatened to stop supporting the government if the environment minister was not allowed to go. The reason was that they did not feel well informed about a number of agricultural reforms proposed by the Minister for the Environment. The Conservatives believe that the reforms may threaten the environment and that Kjer Hansen has fallen short of the country’s strong farmers’ lobby.
Four men are charged with terrorist offenses
February 3
Four men are indicted for assisting in terrorist crimes in connection with the Copenhagen attacks in February 2016.
January
Strict laws for asylum seekers
February 26th
The parliament passes a series of laws aimed at making it difficult for asylum seekers and making the country less attractive to refugees. Broadly speaking, the new laws mean three things: it will be more difficult to obtain a permanent residence permit, family reunions will take longer than before and the police will be entitled to seize valuables from asylum seekers if the value exceeds DKK 10,000. The money will contribute to the asylum seeker’s living in Denmark. The third law faces criticism from the UN, among others. The Danish government justifies the change in the law that everyone living in the country must contribute to their own livelihood if they can.
Temporary border checks
February 4th
Denmark faces temporary border controls against Germany as a direct result of Sweden doing the same to Denmark on the same day, including on the Öresund Bridge, with the aim of reducing the refugee flow into the country. The Danish checks are carried out by sampling and begin to apply immediately. The checks are extended on several occasions during the winter and spring.