Spain and Denmark
Spain expressed support for Denmark regarding Greenland in January 2026, framing it in European solidarity and defence of sovereignty. The Spanish position emphasises territorial integrity and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between Spain and Denmark totalled 5,671 million current USD.
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Spain to Denmark, at 442.3 million USD in 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 5,671.04 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Spain to Denmark | 2,723.14 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Denmark to Spain | 2,947.9 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Spain to Denmark | 0.628 % | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Export share: Denmark to Spain | ||
| Investment stock: Spain in Denmark | ||
| Investment stock: Denmark in Spain |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ESP. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: Spain to Denmark
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ESP. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: Denmark to Spain
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ESP. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Export share: Spain to Denmark
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Exports to the partner / worldwide exports by the same reporter; same year and coverage.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Spain | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 1.91 trillion USD2025 · WB | 462.53 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 38,627.25 USD2025 · WB | 76,970.15 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.82 %2025 · WB | 2.93 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.7 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 1.89 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 4.9 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · INE | |
| Unemployment | 10.38 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 5.53 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 2.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 100.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 27.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 2.94 %2025 · WB | 12.2 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 49,355,1432025 · WB | 6,009,1692025 · WB |
| Area | 505,976 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 42,920 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDSpain: 2025 · World BankDenmark: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personSpain: 2025 · World BankDenmark: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Spain: 2025 · World BankDenmark: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Spain: 2026-09-16 · ECB deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Spain: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankDenmark: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedSpain: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) · Published: 2026-09-29 · provisional · Provisional · Advance indicator of headline CPI; final results pending. Not HICP (5.0%) or core inflation (3.1%). Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionSpain: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Denmark: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Spain: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Denmark: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Spain: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Denmark: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPSpain: 2025 · World BankDenmark: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleSpain: 2025 · World BankDenmark: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceSpain: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAODenmark: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Spain to Denmark
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 442.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 382.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 194.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 162.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 65.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 16.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 8.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0.636 M USD2025 · Source |
Denmark to Spain
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical products | 855.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 369.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 186.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 131.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 112.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 58.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 26.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0.0729 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Spain to Denmark | Denmark to Spain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,042.9 | 2,541.5 | 2,501.4 |
| 2022 | 5,566.7 | 2,628.7 | 2,938 |
| 2023 | 5,364.9 | 2,821.1 | 2,543.8 |
| 2024 | 4,980 | 2,457.8 | 2,522.2 |
| 2025 | 5,671 | 2,723.1 | 2,947.9 |
Connections between people
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Spain living in Denmark | ||
| Residents from Denmark living in Spain | ||
| Study and training: Spain in Denmark | ||
| Study and training: Denmark in Spain | ||
| Academic stays: Spain in Denmark | ||
| Academic stays: Denmark in Spain | ||
| Travel: Spain to Denmark | ||
| Travel: Denmark to Spain |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Spain is 1,906.5 billion USD (2025), compared with 462.5 for Denmark (2025). The reference populations are 49.36 and 6.01 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Spain was 4.12 times that of Denmark in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
Albares stated this position during the Davos Forum on 22 January 2026. He reaffirmed that states’ sovereign equality and territorial integrity were non-negotiable principles and expressed solidarity with Denmark as a European Union partner. [1]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
He linked his position on Greenland with defending multilateralism and international law in other crises too. The communication documents a Spanish statement of political support, not a bilateral military agreement or a joint Danish decision. His statement about Greenlanders’ preferences belongs to the minister’s intervention and is not used here as the result of an opinion survey. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Spain and Denmark) totalled 5,671 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 2,723.1 million; those in the opposite direction, 2,947.9 million. The difference between the two flows was 224.8 million, in favour of Denmark. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from Spain to the partner represented 0.628% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 5,042.9 million USD in 2021 and 5,671 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +12.5 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 5,671 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Spain to Denmark, at 442.3 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, pharmaceutical products stands out in shipments from Denmark to Spain, at 855.9 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — ESP-DNK
www.exteriores.gob.es · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade
2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.