of life, but Danes pay high taxes to enjoy such a standard of living.

So as a whole, how powerful is Denmark?

As the smallest and southernmost of the Nordic countries, The Kingdom of Denmark covers roughly

16,500 square miles, surrounded by Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The country is very homogeneous, with nearly 90 percent of its roughly five and a half

million people being ethnically Danish.

Denmark has a mixed economy -- it produces high-tech exports in a highly industrialized

market and relies heavily on foreign trade.

Denmark is one of nine European Union countries that has not adopted the euro, per an agreement

to opt out of the currency from 1993.

Nonetheless, Denmark enjoys a stable currency and a GDP of roughly $300 billion dollars

with a focus on high-tech agriculture, maritime shipping, renewable energy and exports in

food, oil and gas.

Once a country that relied almost solely on imported oil, Denmark reportedly now uses

its own fossil fuels more efficiently than anywhere else in the world.

It was the first country to build offshore wind farms, and it ranked first in The World

Energy Council’s 2016 global sustainable energy index.

Denmark is also a model of equality and social welfare: the government is known for equitable

distribution of income, promoting a high standard of living.

Danes get free or heavily subsidized health care, free education, and work compensation

when they’re out sick or on parental leave.

But these benefits come at a high price: Danes are heavily taxed,.

Today, for the highest earners, the average income tax is nearly 56 percent, but in the

past two decades, it has risen higher than 60 percent.

Militarily, Denmark is less powerful than its Scandinavian neighbors Norway and Sweden,

though it maintains more military reserves than both of these countries individually,

although it spends several billion dollars less than each on defense.

With nearly 90,000 defense personnel, Denmark ranks 50th out of 126 worldwide.

It is, distinctively, the only Nordic country which is both a member of the EU and NATO.

As a member of NATO, Denmark hold strong relations with world powers like the United States.

Since 2002, Denmark has continuously been involved in wars and interventions in the

Middle East including the fight against ISIS.

Like many European nations, Denmark is experiencing social and political change.

The country has seen a steady rise in right wing nationalism, especially following the

backlash against the publication of an inflammatory cartoon depicting Islam’s prophet unfavorably

in 2005.

While some called it blasphemy, others called it free speech, rousing debate on the subject

worldwide.

More recently, Denmark has taken a hardline against the migrant crisis, passing several

bills to limit the number of asylum seekers in the country.

In early 2016, the United Nations condemned the country’s proposed anti-migrant measures

including one that would allow police to seize the assets of asylum seekers.

But while Denmark is struggling to deal with the crisis, its citizens seem more open to

accepting asylum seekers than its government.

Despite a rise in right-wing sentiment, the country continues to pride itself on its history

of compassion.

For its population, if quality of life is any indicator, Denmark stands as a powerful

nation.

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Denmark is one of several countries to implement socialism as part of their economic process,

creating a social safety net, while also encouraging private businesses.

Many have pointed to this as the reason for their regularly high marks in economy and

standard of living, but is Denmark really a socialist utopia?

find out in this video.

Well, social democracy is a limited form of socialism.

It differs from outright socialism in that workers do not own the means of production.

Under such a system, sometimes referred to as the "Nordic model," businesses are not

nationalized and private competitio is encouraged.

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