Denmark - 94.29
8
The least libertarian country in Scandinavia
Denmark drew criticism for a decision made in April to allow refugees from Syria to be sent home after the government determined that Syria was safe. The renewals for temporary residence permits for 189 Syrian refugees were stripped and they were sent back to Syria, resulting in mass protests. Denmark’s strict hate speech laws were also of concern, even though they were enforced to a much lesser extent than the law allows for. Denmarks management of its territory Greenland left some far-flung Inuit communities lacking certain amenities or public services.
Human Rights - 96
Denmark has fully abolished the death penalty. In certain neighborhoods designated “ghettos” criminals can face up to double the maximum prison sentences otherwise prescribed for the same crimes. This measure was originally implemented to combat high crime rates in certain neighborhoods but critics argue that it disproportionately targets ethnic minorities, as most ghettos are not majority Danish. A December 2020 law reformed the definition of rape, which is now based on yes/no consent rather than use of force. Denmark guarantees a full gamut of LGBT rights. Abortion is legal to twelve weeks.
Democracy - 95
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, limiting their score to 95. The Queen holds largely ceremonial powers but officially appoints the Prime Minister, who must be approved by parliament. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority coalition. Parliament is directly elected. Elections are free and fair with a strong multi-party system.
Freedom - 83
Denmark has guaranteed freedom of speech, but has an extensive hate speech clause. “Incitement to terrorism” and blasphemy are criminalized, as well as making a statement that “imparts information by which a group of people are threatened.” Several people are convicted of hate crime charges annually. Marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes but remains illegal for recreational use, along with all other drugs. Possession of illegal drugs carries a jail sentence. Denmark may issue gun ownership licenses for bolt-action rifles, shotguns, and handguns for hunting and sport shooting but does not issue self-defense permits.
Economy - 96
Health - 100
Denmark has a life expectancy of 81 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.32%. 19.7% of Danes are obese and 0.25% are malnourished. Denmark’s world-class healthcare system covers its entire population. There were no reported instances of Danish households without access to clean, running water.
Corruption - 97
Favoritism and cronyism were sometimes exercised in awarding public contracts.
Competency - 98
The government is failing to protect migrants.
Future - 95
Denmark’s economy faltered less than many other European countries during COVID.
Actions Abroad - 86
Denmark is a member state of both the EU and NATO. Danish Programme Countries received Danish foreign aid immediately after independence. The program was primarily focused on former Soviet countries but former Yugoslavian countries and Eritrea all saw large influxes of funds after their independence. In 2021, Denmark began returning refugees to Syria after deeming that the country was safe.
Denmark (89/90): No Danish live below the international poverty line, while 2% live below the national poverty line. 5.66% of Danish are unemployed. Denmark has a low economic disparity. Denmark has no minimum wage; all Danish workers are expected to join unions or guilds. However, Danish workers can bring up wage complaints with the courts. Denmark has one of the strongest universal healthcare systems in the world, providing very high-quality care to the entire population. Denmark’s economy shrunk 2.7% in 2020 and grew 2.2% in 2019.
Greenland (8/10): No Greenlandic live below the international poverty line, while 16.2% live below the national poverty line. 9.1% of Greenlandic are unemployed but some are subsistence fishermen. Greenland has a moderate economic disparity. Greenland has a strong universal healthcare system, but some far-flung Inuit communities lack any access to modern medicine. Greenland’s economy grew 3.2% in 2018. There was no more recent data on economy growth in Greenland.