This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Kingdom of Denmark (Kongeriget Danmark), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Denmark’s Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
The Kingdom of Denmark is comprised of the territories of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. It is located in Northern Europe, and is bounded by Baltic Sea to the east and the North Sea to the west and north. Denmark shares a border with Germany to the south. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen. The official language is Danish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 5.7 million. Denmark is a predominantly Christian country, with about 76% of the population Evangelical Lutheran. Islam is a minority religion in Denmark, and Muslims make up about 4% of the country's population.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Denmark is referred to as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Formed in the 10th century, Denmark peacefully became a constitutional monarchy in 1849. The country's current Constitution came into effect in 1953. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Denmark is governed on the basis of its Constitution, which is complemented by Royal Law (Kongeloven), the Act of Succession (Tronfølgeloven), and devolution arrangements in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Although Denmark is a member state of the European Union, it has opted out of certain aspects of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, the European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Denmark.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Denmark.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Denmark has no official school of Islamic law.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English and Arabic translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].