In 1914 there were 82,442 industrial establishments, employing 346,000 per sons. Among the most important pro ductions are distilled liquors and beet sugar. There were, in 1919, 21 distiller ies, which produced 2,390,000 liters of brandy. In the same year the produc tion of beet sugar was 141,300 tons.
Fisheries are important, and the value of the catch in 1918 was £2,318,866. Over 20,000 persons are engaged in the fisheries and over 15,000 boats are em ployed.
The imports in 1919 were valued at £139,390,000, and the exports at £51, 042,000. These figures may be com pared with those of 1914, in which year the imports amounted to £44,182,666, and the exports to £48,191,444. The ex ports of home produce in 1919 amounted to £41,299,000. The principal imports are food substances, fuel, raw products, and industrial products. The chief ex ports are butter, eggs, bacon, and other agricultural and dairy products.
Denmark is one of the most important countries engaged in mercantile marine. There were in 1919 3,366 vessels, with 470,989 tons engaged in foreign com merce. In tie same year 18,965 vessels entered Danish ports from foreign coun tries and 19,224 vessels cleared from Danish ports.
Finances.—The total revenue for 1919 and 1920 was £23,957,514 from current revenue, and £8,662,203 from the state capital. The expenditures amounted to £26,205,779 for current expenditure, and £4,358,072 for the increase of state capital. A reserve fund of a compara tively large amount is maintained. This in 1919 amounted to £623,189. The pub lic debt in 1919 amounted to £43,361,483. The total foreign debt amounted to £14,296,273.
Raiiways.—There were in 1919 about 2,700 miles of railway, of which about 1,275 belonged to the state.
Government.—Denmark was original ly an elective monarchy. In 1661 it be came a hereditary and absolute mon archy, and in 1849 a hereditary consti tutional monarchy, the legislative power being in the king and Diet jointly. The present government is founded on the charter of 1915. The Diet or Rigsdag consists of two chambers, the Lands thing or Upper House, the Folkething or Lower House. The former is a
Senate of 72 members. The members of the Folkething are 140 in number, directly elected by universal suffrage, and hold their seats for four years. The Rigsdag meets every October, and all money bills must be submitted to the Lower House.
Education.—At the head of the educa tional institutions stand the University of Copenhagen and the Holberg Acade my at Soroe. The provinces are well supplied with gymnasia and middle schools, and primary instruction is given at the public expense in the paro chial schools. The public schools, with a few exceptions, are free. There were in 1919 3,466 public elementary schools, with 406,000 pupils. In addition to the elementary schools there are 13 govern ment grammar schools. These, together with 140 private schools, had an attend ance of about 60,000 pupils. Between the ages of 7 and 14 elementary educa tion is free and compulsory. The schools are maintained by communal taxes. For higher instruction there are, besides the institutions mentioned, a veterinary and agricultural college at Copenhagen, agricultural schools, tech nical and commercial schools, and high and Latin schools.
Army and Navy.—The army of Den mark is a national militia, resembling in some points the Swiss system. Every able-bodied man is liable to service in the army and navy, except the inhabitants of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The total peace strength of the army is 78,000 men, with an additional force available on mobilization of 105, 000. About 13,000 recruits are trained annually. The military budget for 1919 1920 was 16,969,613 kroner, with 50,000 kroner additional for the Flying Corps. The navy of Denmark is maintained only for the purpose of coast defense. It consists of monitors, 2 small cruisers, 2 mine layers, 23 first-class torpedo boats, and 12 submarines.
Religion.—The established religion is the Lutheran which was introduced in 1536. The affairs of the national Church are under the superintendence of seven bishops. Complete religious toleration is extended to every sect, and no civil disabilities attach to dissenters.