Denmark vs Spain development indicators, 2024

Indicator	Denmark, Value	Spain, Value	Denmark, Rank	Spain, Rank	Denmark as % of Spain
Current account balance (% of GDP)	13	3.03	8	32	430 %
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)	69.7	37.3	24	66	187 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)	4.21	1.89	26	58	223 %
GDP per capita (current US$)	71,852	35,297	11	34	204 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$)	79,514	56,926	13	32	140 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)	58.9	33	36	87	178 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)	1.37	2.77	129	90	49.5 %
Net migration	25,639	111,674	34	18	23 %
Population, total	5,976,992	48,807,137	114	32	12.2 %

Demography and Health

Denmark and Spain present contrasting demographic profiles. In 2023, Denmark has a crude birth rate of 9.7 per 1,000 people, significantly higher than Spain's 6.7, placing Denmark at a world rank of 24 compared to Spain's 79. Regarding crude death rates, Denmark's figure is 9.8 per 1,000 people, also marginally higher than Spain's 9 per 1,000, resulting in ranks of 54 and 66, respectively. Life expectancy at birth shows a disparity where Denmark scores 81.9 years, ranking 27th globally, while Spain, recognized for its robust healthcare system, leads with a life expectancy of 83.9 years, ranking 1st. Both countries report a prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5% of the population, indicating a focus on food security. Denmark also has slightly lower under-5 mortality rates at 3.4 per 1,000 live births against Spain's 3.1, ranked 47th and 56th, respectively.

Economy

When examining the economic indicators for 2024, Denmark again outshines Spain with a GDP per capita of $71,852, placing it 9th globally against Spain's $35,297 and a rank of 51. Additionally, Denmark exhibits a considerable dependence on exports, with exports constituting 69.7% of GDP compared to Spain's 37.3% (ranks of 50 and 98). Denmark’s inflation rate is notably lower at 1.4%, reflecting a strong economy, contrasted with Spain's 2.8%. Denmark’s current account balance stands at an impressive 13%, far exceeding Spain’s 3%, underscoring better economic stability. The unemployment figures further illustrate economic performance, with Denmark experiencing 5.1% unemployment compared to Spain's much higher 12.2%, resulting in ranks of 52 and 5, respectively.

Trade and Investment

Denmark demonstrates a robust trade landscape characterized by high technology exports amounting to $16.1 billion in 2023, while Spain leads in total high-tech exports at $25.8 billion, although it ranks 27th compared to Denmark's position at 38th. Foreign direct investment inflows for 2024 show Denmark attracting 4.2% of GDP, vastly exceeding Spain's 1.9% (ranks of 36 and 77). The balance of trade indicators highlights Denmark's strong export capacity and economic resilience through higher reliance on global markets, reflective of its innovative output and sophisticated economic strategies.

Governance and Institutions

Denmark is renowned for its strong governance frameworks, achieving high scores in control of corruption (2.4) and government effectiveness (2), topping global ranks at 2nd and 1st, respectively. Conversely, Spain trails significantly with corruption control at 0.6 and effectiveness at 0.8, placing it at ranks of 50 and 51. Regulatory quality is similarly better in Denmark, categorized with a score of 1.8, ranking 5th in the world, while Spain's score of 0.7 positions it at rank 60. Political stability reflects a crucial difference, as Denmark's score of 0.9 ranks it 20th globally, whereas Spain's lower score of 0.3 places it at 78th, indicating greater challenges in governance.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of infrastructure, Denmark shows superior performance with a logistics performance index score of 4.1, which ranks it 5th globally, indicating high-quality trade and transport-related infrastructure. Spain, while still performing reasonably well with a score of 3.8, is ranked 8th. Patent applications highlight Denmark’s innovation capabilities with 1,090 applications, which ranks it 10th, slightly trailing Spain's 1,308 applications, ranked 9th. This indicates a competitive technological landscape where both countries are fostering innovation but Denmark excels in translating that into economic strength.

Environment and Sustainability

Denmark exhibits a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, with 39.5% of total energy consumption derived from renewable sources in 2021, ranking 4th globally, while Spain lags with 19%, achieving 15th rank. Denmark's relatively low level of water stress at 26.4% of freshwater resources utilized signifies responsible water management practices against Spain's higher threshold of 43.3%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Denmark emits 7 tons of CO2e per capita, while Spain's emissions at 5.9 tons reflect a better position, albeit with both countries making strides in addressing climate issues.