• Small arsenals, high costs, and production backlogs have been a hindrance as Europe arms Ukraine.
• Denmark found a way to get Ukraine weapons that bypassed these issues.
• It funds the weapons manufacturing in Ukraine so they reach soldiers faster and for a lower cost.

A NATO ally figured out a method to get weapons to Ukraine quicker and cheaper and without drawing from Europe's already-low stockpiles.

Its approach may become a lot more important as the US hits the brakes on Ukraine aid, putting the burden squarely on the shoulders of the war-torn country's European partners.

Denmark announced a new plan last year to spend aid money on making weapons in Ukraine. The plan, now referred to as the "Danish model," is aimed at helping Ukraine fight back against Russia's invasion.

The project, which means weapons come from Ukraine itself instead of European stockpiles and manufacturers, is designed to work around key problems for Europe in the provision of weaponry: slowly producing expensive equipment and not having enough in their own arsenals to spare.

In 2024, the model finalized procurements for weaponry, including artillery systems and missiles, worth more than $550 million, according to Denmark's defense ministry, with funding coming from other sources including Sweden, Iceland, and accrued interest on frozen Russian assets.

And signs point to huge growth for the project. Ukraine says it expects $1 billion this year through the model, and other allies, such as Canada, are joining in.

Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's defense minister, told Business Insider that the new weapons-making project so far "has been a great success."

There are three reasons, he said: the speed of getting systems delivered to the battlefield, the price being "quite low compared to buying the artillery systems in Europe," and the fact that Ukraine can produce spare parts and maintenance in the country itself, allowing weapons systems to be active for longer.

Working around Europe's problems

Poulsen said the speed at which Ukraine could produce weapons suggested the West had "a lot to learn." He added that working this way gave Danish companies those insights, making it "a win-win."

His comments reflect what Denmark's prime minister said earlier this month when she warned allies that "we have a problem, friends, if a country at war can produce faster than the rest of us."

The Danish model is designed to overcome some of the biggest barriers Ukraine's European partners face in offering help. Ukraine has repeatedly had to deal with insufficient partner stockpiles, and even as European countries ramp up defense spending, the production is seen as inadequate.

The threat of a Russian attack, as well as questions about the reliability of the US as a partner, has led to many European countries vowing to boost their defense spending even more.

The industry is grappling with shortages, backlogs, and uncertain demand signals. There's a push to increase production though. Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, said earlier this month that companies should start extra production lines and cut red tape as soon as possible.

These problems make projects such as the Danish model absolutely critical, allowing Ukraine to defend itself while Europe also grows its own stockpiles.

Poulsen encouraged even more participation from European allies, saying that "the more finance European countries can give Ukraine, the more they're also able to produce locally."

That removes delays from production and the need to transport goods across Europe, giving Ukraine an advantage "because they're not waiting to get the equipment delivered."

It also clarifies for Ukraine what equipment the country will actually have available to use in battle. Poulsen said it was "a major part of planning in the military operation," knowing "when you receive what you need in a military context."

That inability to plan ahead has been a severe problem for the Ukrainians. Soldiers have been unable to plan future actions because they don't know for sure what sort of weaponry they will receive from partners.

Supporting Ukraine's defense

Sweden's defense minister, Pål Jonson, told BI that investing in Ukraine's defense meant the "Ukrainians can increase their self-help where they can provide assets and capabilities out to the front to their soldiers."

He said the increase in Ukraine's defense production over the past year "has been very impressive," adding that "they transformed a large part of their entire industrial base and put it on war footing, and industrial production has been substantially increased during the last year."

Ukraine's own manufacturing has soared, with the country now making drones, missiles, howitzers, ammunition, and other weaponry. Many Western defense companies have also started to make weaponry in Ukraine, including the German arms maker Rheinmetall, which has opened a plant in Ukraine and said it will open additional factories there.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 30% of the military equipment that Ukraine used last year was made domestically.

But many of the important weapons Ukraine relies on are still made abroad, and Ukraine struggles with shortages, an uneven delivery schedule, and the possibility that partners such as the US could upend their shipments.

Zelenskyy said recently that Ukraine was running out of missiles for its US-made Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine seeks a license from the US to produce Patriot missiles.

Poulsen described Ukraine as having a "huge production capacity in their defense companies," but there's a problem. Ukraine's defense manufacturers say they can produce $20 billion worth of weaponry a year but get only $6 billion of orders.

The Danish model is aimed at giving Ukraine a promising and growable route to a stable weaponry supply, but it still provides just a tiny fraction of the aid Ukraine is getting. It's unclear to what extent this project could be expanded.

Much of Europe has vowed to keep supporting Ukraine, which is standing between Russia and the rest of the continent. But much more needs to be done, especially if the US is backing out.

Sweden announced in January its biggest-ever support package for Ukraine, at more than $1 billion. "We encourage others to do more as well," Jonson said.

President Trump says he wants to buy Greenland. We explore if that could actually happen in a video collaboration between Politico and Business Insider.

• The CEO of Denmark's largest retailer said it will start labeling goods made by European companies.
• A spokesperson told BI that customers had asked for greater clarity, but weren't rejecting US goods.
• However, the move comes amid souring relations over Trump's comments about taking over Greenland.

The CEO of Denmark's largest retailer said that his company will start marking its goods to indicate which ones are made by European companies, in what he described as a response to customer demand.

Anders Hagh, CEO at Salling Group, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Thursday about the move, saying they'd received inquiries from a number of customers who wanted to buy groceries from European brands.

"Our stores will continue to have brands on the shelves from all over the world, and it will always be up to customers to choose," he added.

Hagh shared a sample image showing a black star on a pricing label to show the product's European origin.

The move comes amid strained transatlantic relations and widespread public outrage at President Donald Trump's repeated comments about how the US should take control of Greenland, which is part of Denmark.

Salling Group, which commands about 36% of the Danish market, operates more than 1,700 stores across countries including Denmark, Poland, and Germany, including the Netto supermarket chain, the føtex department store, as well as hypermarket Bilka. They reported a combined revenue of more than $9.8 billion in 2023.

In his post, Hagh made no reference to the tensions with the US but said that the Salling Group had recently received inquiries from customers who wanted to buy goods from European brands.

Christoffer Green Sørensen, a company spokesperson, told Business Insider that the group's customers had "not made inquiries regarding a boycott of the USA," adding: "They have solely requested more explicit information about European ownership."

He added that the change is set to come into its Danish stores "within two to three weeks," with the possibility of rolling it out across German and Polish stores later.

Public sentiment in Denmark has soured since President Donald Trump's Greenland comments.

Mette Heerulff Christiansen, the owner of a delicatessen store, told Danish TV earlier this month that "Trump has only been president for a month, and we have already felt that our customers have an opinion."

She added: "I actually think it's the start of something that could almost become a movement here in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe."

Trump's sharp criticisms of European and NATO policies have also set alarm bells ringing for the status of the transatlantic relationship.

A Danish group titled "Boycott goods from the USA," created in response to what it described as a trade war by Trump, has more than 36,000 members on Facebook.

Meanwhile, an English-language subreddit named r/buyfromEU, set up less than two weeks ago, has 57,000 members and counting.

• Ukraine can make weaponry "faster and cheaper" than elsewhere in Europe, Denmark's prime minister said.
• "We have a problem, friends, if a country at war can produce faster than the rest of us," Mette Frederiksen said at the Munich Security Conference.
• Europe's defense spending has soared in recent years, but problems remain.

Denmark's prime minister has said Ukraine is able to produce weaponry "faster and cheaper" than anywhere else in Europe despite being at war, something she said should alarm the West.

Speaking on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, attended by Business Insider, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Europe must ramp up production efforts going forward, working with the US to do so.

"We have a problem, friends, if a country at war can produce faster than the rest of us," she said. "I'm not saying we are at wartime, but we cannot say we are at peacetime anymore. So, we need to change our mindset."

Frederiksen added that Europe needed "a sense of urgency" and must reduce legislation and bureaucracy to ensure Ukraine "will get what they need, but also to ensure that we are able to protect ourselves."

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has ramped up domestic arms production, producing increasing numbers of homemade products such as missiles, howitzers, and drones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said that 30% of the military equipment Ukraine used in 2024 was domestically made.

Denmark has spearheaded a major project to make more weaponry in Ukraine, giving Frederiksen a particular insight into Ukraine's production efforts.

While Frederiksen did not point to specific figures, Ukraine's defense industry has boomed, matching or even outpacing Europe in some areas.

The widespread use of drones on the battlefield has seen Ukraine become a leader in drone production, with Kyiv saying the country produced more than 1.5 million first-person-view drones in 2024.

Ukraine also said it made 2.5 million mortar and artillery shells from January to November 2024, while the EU said it would make around 2 million artillery shells in 2025.

Europe has significantly increased defense spending and production in recent years, but some officials say much more needs to be done.

Dovilė Šakalienė, the Lithuanian defense minister, told Business Insider in Munich that "Europe needs to up our defense spending very fast and very significantly to be able to stand on equal footing with the United States."

Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, also addressed the issue over the weekend, saying, "The critics are right that we have to do more and that we did too little in the years before, much too little."

Mark Rutte, NATO's Secretary General, has also frequently called on European members of the alliance to boost military spending.

Speaking in Munich, he said the US was "right" to think "we have to step up, we have to spend more."

He added that both the US and Europe were "not producing nearly enough" and that Russia produces more ammunition in three months than NATO does in a year.

But Vice President JD Vance, also appearing in Munich, seemed unmoved by Europe's pledges, and used his speech to attack what he called free speech violations in Europe. Vance said it was "great" that Europe was planning to boost defense spending but that he was more worried about the threat to Europe from "within" rather than Russia.

For his part, Trump has long called for Europe to spend more on defense, threatening to leave NATO if that did not happen and even suggesting before he was re-elected that he would allow Russia to attack NATO members that don't spend enough on defense.

Some countries have already taken big steps toward boosting spending. In 2024, Poland led the alliance in defense spending as a percentage of GDP, with Warsaw investing more than 4% of its economic output in defense.

Lithuania and Estonia have also both pledged to increase their own defense spending to 5% of GDP, saying that while they agreed with Trump's demands, they were not taking that step solely because of the president but because of Russia's threat.

But the future of the US-Europe alliance appears at risk over more than just defense spending. Trump's team in recent days suggested Europe could be sidelined in negotiations between Russia and the US on Ukraine and that it was "unrealistic" that Ukraine could get back all territory occupied by Russia.

Despite rising tensions, many leaders said in Munich that there were still opportunities to keep working with the US to combat Moscow.

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, the prime minister of Iceland, said that "it's easy to become very negative" about the US-Europe relationship and called the situation "uncomfortable" as Ukraine's sovereignty is at stake. But "that doesn't mean relations with the US have to be bad," she continued.

Šakalienė added that while Trump had "unique" and "unexpected" negotiating tactics, that wasn't necessarily a negative thing as "playing by the rules does not work with Russia."

As many other European officials said over the weekend, the US also needs Europe and its capabilities as an ally, she went on.

Surprise! Donald Trump’s big, audacious ambition to buy Greenland from Denmark has a tech angle. Ken Howery, named as U.S. President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next ambassador to the country (and thus chief broker of any deal), is one more part of the rich seam of tech people running through Trump’s upcoming administration.  Part […]

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• Donald Trump Jr. is visiting Greenland, a territory his father said the US should take over.
• President-elect Trump recently resurfaced a first-term idea of his to buy the Arctic island.
• Greenland and Denmark have strongly rebuffed the idea.

Donald Trump Jr. is heading to Greenland shortly after his father renewed remarks that the US should take over the Danish territory.

President-Elect Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday that his eldest son and "various representatives" would be traveling to the Arctic island to "visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights."

Trump added that "the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation."

The post was accompanied by a video featuring someone, seemingly from Greenland, wearing a MAGA hat and saying that the country doesn't want to be "colonized" by Denmark anymore.

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a US ally and NATO member.

A private visit

In a statement provided to Business Insider, Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged Trump Jr.'s trip but said it had no further comment as it was not an "official American visit."

During his first term in office, Trump proposed that the US buy Greenland, which the country's then-Prime Minister, Kim Kielsen, firmly rejected, saying, "Greenland is not for sale and cannot be sold."

In recent weeks, as he gears up for his second term, Trump has once again revisited the idea of buying the massive island, which is replete with natural resources.

On December 23, he said in a Truth Social post that ownership and control of Greenland is an "absolute necessity" for the US.

He made the comments in a post announcing his choice for US Ambassador to Denmark, soon after he threatened to take over the Panama Canal.

Reuters, citing a source familiar with the upcoming trip, said Trump Jr. will not be meeting Greenlandic politicians and is instead traveling to the country to record video footage for a podcast.

Representatives for Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Elon Musk, who is expected to help guide Trump's second term, has also weighed in, posting on X that "the people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they want to be part of America!"

While Greenland residents hold Danish citizenship, the government manages local affairs.

In response to President-Elect Trump's post in December, Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, said, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our struggle for freedom."

In a recent speech, Egede expressed hopes that the territory would pursue independence from Denmark.

Hours after Trump's December post, the Danish government announced a huge boost in defense spending for Greenland. On Monday, King Frederik of Denmark updated the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Trump, who will take office on January 20, has also referred to Canada as the "51st state."

• Denmark plans to invest at least $1.5 billion to enhance Greenland's defense capabilities.
• The announcement follows Donald Trump's renewed interest in purchasing Greenland for strategic reasons.
• Greenland holds strategic value because of its location in the Arctic and its resources.

Denmark's government announced a defense package for Greenland worth at least $1.5 billion after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated that he wanted the US to purchase the Arctic territory.

The Danish defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, told a local media outlet that Denmark would invest "a double-digit billion amount" in kroner to buy two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and extra sled patrols in Greenland.

"It is ironic that it coincides with the announcement from the United States," Poulsen said, suggesting that the two events aren't necessarily related and that the investment was previously planned.

On Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." A 2019 report by The Wall Street Journal said that Trump had repeatedly expressed interest in buying Greenland.

Trump's Monday comments followed a separate post suggesting the US could take over the Panama Canal. He made the comments about Greenland in a post announcing the PayPal cofounder Ken Howery as his pick for US ambassador to Denmark.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans and has a population of roughly 56,000. The island is home to the US military's northernmost base and has strategic value because of natural resources and proximity to the Arctic, where Russia and China are already increasing activity. Denmark is a US ally and NATO member.

Greenland's prime minister, Mute Egede, responded to Trump's post on Monday by saying, "We are not for sale and will never be for sale." The Danish prime minister's office echoed Egede's statement, saying Greenland wasn't for sale but open for cooperation.

• I went to Solvang, a small California town known as the "Danish Capital of America."
• With traditional architecture and replicas of monuments in Denmark, I felt transported to Europe.
• Solvang is full of holiday spirit and feels like one big European Christmas market.

Known as the "Danish Capital of America," Solvang's cuisine and architecture have turned it into a popular tourist destination.

And while the temperature in December rarely dips below 70 degrees in central California, Solvang has continued to earn spots on lists like "The Most Magical Christmas Towns in the US."

With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to plan a weekend in Solvang — and was transported to Europe.

Solvang is a small California town nicknamed "Little Denmark."

Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, Solvang was christened with the Danish word for "sunny field" (very appropriate for the Golden State) and attracted Danish settlers from the US and abroad, according to Elverhøj, the town's history museum.

One of the first things I spotted while walking around Solvang was one of its famous windmills.

Denmark has long been a leading force in wind power and renewable energy, and at one point there were thousands of windmills scattered across the country.

Solvang pays tribute to that history with its own windmills. You'll find four within four blocks of each other, and they make for popular photo opportunities for tourists.

There are gift shops under some of them, while another makes a picturesque backdrop for the town's brewery.

When the sun went down, their lights began to sparkle.

Solvang is all about "hygge," which is not so much a Danish word as it is a national mood. Hygge is about embracing coziness and warmth, like a cup of hot chocolate with your family or cuddling on the couch while watching "The Holiday."

Walking around Solvang at night and seeing its windmills light up the little town, I couldn't help but think of that word and feel its spirit — even in my sundress and flip-flops.

But there's more than windmills. The entire town embraces Danish architecture.

The charming inns and small boutique hotels are named after the likes of Hamlet and King Frederik or Danish towns like Copenhagen.

Everything from the restaurants and shops to the public restrooms and bus stops has Denmark's distinct bindingsvaerk architecture, making you feel like you're in a different era — or at least outside of the US.

You likely won't see a chain restaurant, though I did spot a Subway and Domino's with very subtle signage.

My parents, who came along on my trip after Thanksgiving, said the town reminded them of Disneyland.

I also saw replicas of popular landmarks in Denmark sprinkled across Solvang.

We made it our mission to find all the imitations of famous Danish landmarks recreated in Solvang. This included the Little Mermaid statue, which pays tribute to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name, as well as the Rundetaarn, a re-creation of the 17th-century tower that still stands in Copenhagen.

A horse-drawn trolley, done in the style of a 1915 Danish streetcar, also gave tours of the town. And a number of buildings featured wooden storks — a symbol of happiness — on their rooftops, just like in Denmark.

One of the best parts about Solvang was the chance to sample traditional Danish cuisine.

I have yet to visit Denmark, so I loved spending the weekend trying the Danish food in Solvang.

After reading several travel blogs, I decided to have lunch at Solvang Restaurant, where my family tried the ham and Tilsit cheese sandwich, Danish-style meatballs, and a sausage platter.

For dinner, we went to Bit O'Denmark, which also came highly reviewed, and ate the Flaeskesteg (roast pork stuffed with prunes) and Frikadeller (pan-fried Danish pork meatballs) — two words I'd never heard of before this trip — along with the Wienerschnitzel.

Our plates often came packed with red cabbage and potatoes and were always loaded with gravy. The food at Bit O'Denmark was especially delicious, with each dish packed with tons of flavor. The mashed potatoes were stellar, and the gravy was so good I want it at every Thanksgiving dinner.

The pastries were the best things I tasted in Solvang.

Five authentic Danish bakeries are within five blocks of each other, making it extremely easy (and tempting) to indulge in the many incredible pastries on offer.

My family and I tried Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, one of the most famous bakeries in town, and were wowed by every pastry we ordered.

The Kringle Slice was so perfectly flaky that it instantly melted on my tongue. The Apple Danish was lush and fresh, while the Princess Mocha had a crunchy and sweet stroopwafel base with a deliciously light mocha cream stuffed inside.

Other Danish specialties in Solvang include aebleskiver, ring cake, butter cookies, and loaves of cardamom bread.

Aebleskivers are small, fluffy Danish desserts often topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar. They're a lot like doughnut holes but better.

Solvang Restaurant is well-known for its version of aebleskivers, and there's almost always a line of people waiting to grab some from its to-go window. Believe me, the wait is worth it.

There's even a bakery with gingerbread houses so famous the Kardashians have been repeat customers.

According to the bakery's website, members of the Kardashian clan are regulars, and Kylie, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, and Kris have all posted their gingerbread houses on social media.

Solvang Bakery sells customized gingerbread houses, along with those you can decorate yourself.

You can also buy individual gingerbread men (I tried one, and it was delicious), traditional Danishes in a variety of flavors, and ring cake.

What surprised me most about Solvang were all the shops. The entire town feels like one big European Christmas market.

The only thing there might be more of in Solvang than pastries are the hundreds of stockings, ornaments, and Nutcrackers you can find for sale throughout the year.

It seemed like every other window I walked by had a display of smiling Santas, delicately hand-carved Nativity scenes, and plenty of Christmas trees.

And, without fail, every shop blasted either the "Frozen" soundtrack or Christmas carols.

But the crown jewel is Jule Hus, where you can buy Christmas decorations any day of the year.

Walking into Jule Hus — which has been open for more than 50 years and celebrates Christmas every day — felt magical with over a dozen Christmas trees, plus sparkling lights and tinsel galore. The store was full of people happily debating which ornaments to buy for themselves or their loved ones.

"We're always in the spirit here," I heard one of the store's employees tell a customer.

Solvang loves Christmas so much that it hosts a month of Danish-themed holiday events.

Santa's Village is held in the town's main park every Saturday in December, and there are holiday food tours every weekend.

When I walked around Solvang, there were already Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the town, and every night, the town sparkled with fairy lights strung through the trees and across storefronts.

Throughout December, the town hides an adorable little nisse (the Danish word for gnome) and encourages tourists and locals to try to find him.

The "Nisse Adventure" is part of Julefest and is another feature of Solvang that gives the town some of that European Christmas magic (and lets you win special prizes).

I couldn't help but yelp with excitement when I spotted the nisse relaxing on this tree in the backyard of the Elverhøj museum.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bit of holiday magic all year because Solvang fully embraces its fairy-tale spirit.

I loved how much Solvang is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen. Just look at this entrance to the park bearing his name.

There are also references to his fairy tales throughout town, from the Little Mermaid statue to beautiful murals of "The Princess and the Pea" and "Thumbelina" on the walls of Solvang Restaurant.

After a long day of sightseeing, it was time to relax at my hotel — which was just as charming as the town.

I spent a night at Mirabelle Inn, which was mentioned in numerous travel blogs I read about Solvang.

The boutique hotel — which has only 12 guest rooms — felt like an intimate bed and breakfast.

Filled with beautiful wallpaper and unique touches, my room was delightfully charming.

According to the hotel's website, each room is decorated with a distinctive decor and ambiance.

Mine had lovely blue-and-white printed wallpaper that made the room feel light despite being on the first floor, as well as an antique dresser and mirror.

Soon, it was time to say goodbye to "Little Denmark," but not before having a very big Danish pancake.

Paula's Pancake House seemed to be the most popular restaurant in Solvang, as there was always a huge crowd waiting to try the restaurant's famous Danish pancakes.

As an enormous pancake was set before me in the old-school diner-style restaurant, I could see it wasn't all hype.

My pancakes — topped with fresh strawberries and even fresher whipped cream — were thin and crispy, yet still somehow fluffy and flaky. Each bite immediately transported me back to a breakfast I'd had over 10 years ago in Amsterdam.

After a weekend full of delicious food, good shopping, Christmas spirit, and plenty of photo opportunities, my magical time at Solvang came to an end.

So much about Solvang reminded me of trips to Europe, and I have no doubt it's one of the most Christmas-loving places you'll find in the US.

The affordable shops and free holiday activities are perfect for families, while the delicious food and 15 different wine-tasting rooms could definitely keep you occupied on a weekend away with friends.

Plus, who doesn't love a bit of Christmas magic?

• Height varies widely around the world, but some countries tend to have taller citizens.
• Using medical data, Business Insider found the mean heights for the 25 tallest countries.
• Many European countries made the list, including Germany, Poland, and Croatia

Sultan Kösen, who hails from Turkey, is nearly 8 feet 3 inches tall and may be the tallest person on the planet.

Despite his impressive stature, his country isn't among those with the tallest people, according to the medical database from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.

From 1985 to 2019, the project collected height, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other health metrics from over 2,500 population surveys across 193 countries.

The NCD lists the mean heights for 19-year-old men and women in each country. Averaging these two figures gives a rough idea of how tall the typical person is in the country.

Notably, the US isn't on the list. It ranked 58th for women, at 5 feet 4.29 inches (163.3 cm), and 47th for men at 5 feet 9.65 inches (176.9 cm).

These are the 25 countries that (literally) came out on top.

25. Greece's mean height is 5 feet 7.93 inches (172.55 cm).

The mean height for men from Greece is 5 feet 10.59 inches (179.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Greece is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).

24. Austria's mean height is 5 feet 7.99 inches (172.7 cm).

The mean height for men from Austria is 5 feet 10.28 inches (178.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Austria is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

22. Belarus' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).

The mean height for men from Belarus is 5 feet 10.35 inches (178.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Belarus is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

22. Cook Islands' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).

The mean height for men from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 10.19 inches (178.3 cm).

The mean height for women from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 5.87 inches (167.3 cm).

21. Bermuda's mean height is 5 feet 8.07 inches (172.9 cm).

The mean height for men from Bermuda is 5 feet 10.75 inches (179.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Bermuda is 5 feet 5.39 inches (166.1 cm).

19. Poland's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).

The mean height for men from Poland is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Poland is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).

19. Germany's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).

The mean height for men from Germany is 5 feet 10.98 inches (180.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Germany is 5 feet 5.43 inches (166.2 cm).

18. Norway's mean height is 5 feet 8.29 inches (173.45 cm).

The mean height for men from Norway is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Norway is 5 feet 5.51 inches (166.4 cm).

16. Finland's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).

The mean height for men from Finland is 5 feet 11.1 inches (180.6 cm).

The mean height for women from Finland is 5 feet 5.55 inches (166.5 cm).

16. Dominica's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).

The mean height for men from Dominica is 5 feet 10.94 inches (180.2 cm).

The mean height for women from Dominica is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

 

 

 

15. Sweden's mean height is 5 feet 8.35 inches (173.6 cm).

The mean height for men from Sweden is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Sweden is 5 feet 5.63 inches (166.7 cm).

 

 

 

13. Ukraine's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).

The mean height for men from Ukraine is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Ukraine is 5 feet 5.59 inches (166.6 cm).

13. Croatia's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).

The mean height for men from Croatia is 5 feet 11.18 inches (180.8 cm).

The mean height for women from Croatia is 5 feet 5.67 inches (166.8 cm).

12. Slovakia's mean height is 5 feet 8.52 inches (174.05 cm).

The mean height for men from Slovakia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Slovakia is 5 feet 5.79 inches (167.1 cm).

11. Slovenia's mean height is 5 feet 8.54 inches (174.1 cm).

The mean height for men from Slovenia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Slovenia is 5 feet 5.83 inches (167.2 cm).

10. Lithuania's mean height is 5 feet 8.56 inches (174.15 cm).

The mean height for men from Lithuania is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Lithuania is 5 feet 5.98 inches (167.6 cm).

9. Serbia's mean height is 5 feet 8.7 inches (174.5 cm).

The mean height for men from Serbia is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Serbia is 5 feet 6.26 inches (168.3 cm).

8. Czech Republic's mean height is 5 feet 8.74 inches (174.6 cm).

The mean height for men from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).

The mean height for women from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 6.14 inches (168 cm).

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).

The mean height for men from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 11.85 inches (182.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 5.94 inches (167.5 cm).

6. Latvia's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).

The mean height for men from Latvia is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).

The mean height for women from Latvia is 5 feet 6.46 inches (168.8 cm).

5. Iceland's mean height is 5 feet 9.09 inches (175.5 cm).

The mean height for men from Iceland is 5 feet 11.69 inches (182.1 cm).

The mean height for women from Iceland is 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.9 cm).

4. Denmark's mean height is 5 feet 9.17 inches (175.7 cm).

The mean height for men from Denmark is 5 feet 11.61 inches (181.9 cm).

The mean height for women from Denmark is 5 feet 6.73 inches (169.5 cm).

3. Estonia's mean height is 5 feet 9.19 inches (175.75 cm).

The mean height for men from Estonia is 5 feet 11.97 inches (182.8 cm).

The mean height for women from Estonia is 5 feet 6.42 inches (168.7 cm).

2. Montenegro's mean height is 5 feet 9.55 inches (176.65 cm).

The mean height for men from Montenegro is 6 feet 0.17 inches (183.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Montenegro is 5 feet 6.93 inches (170 cm).

 

 

1. The Netherlands's mean height is 5 feet 9.72 inches (177.1 cm).

The mean height for men from the Netherlands is 6 feet 0.36 inches (183.8 cm).

The mean height for women from the Netherlands is 5 feet 7.09 inches (170.4 cm).

A note on mean versus average heights: Using mean heights instead of averages gives a sense of which countries have the most people who are tall. For example, many Icelandic men are 5 feet 11 inches. 

The list would look different ranked by average heights. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany calculates heights by average, for example, and the results would bump the country up several spots in the rankings. 

This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated on December 18, 2024.

• Western allies are reported to be adopting the "Danish model" to fund Ukraine's arms industry.
• Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Lithuania have provided money in this way, The Wall Street Journal said.
• Those in favor say it will help make Ukraine self-sufficient in the long term.

Ukraine's European allies, hampered by low military production capacity, have been struggling to produce the weapons needed for Kyiv to fight against Russia.

An increasing number are now financing Ukrainian government contracts with Ukrainian weapons manufacturers to make up the shortfall, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The move has been termed the "Danish Model" after Denmark began giving Ukraine aid to boost its defense manufacturing capacity earlier this year.

Those in favor of the model say Ukraine is able to create weapons better suited to its needs at a lower cost than Western countries, the Journal reported.

Ukraine already has a strong weapons manufacturing industry. An Institute for the Study of War report said Ukraine's defense industry employed 300,000 workers within about 500 different companies in 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that the country's defense companies could now produce 4 million drones annually.

By contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Moscow intended to ramp up drone production tenfold to about 1.4 million a year.

"Ukraine was the heart of the Soviet defense industrial base, so they have a lot of know-how when it comes to manufacturing complex systems," Eric Ciaramella, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment's Russia and Eurasia program, told the Journal.

Supporting Ukraine's defense industry lets the West help ensure Ukraine is self-sufficient, he added.

Last week, Denmark made a new donation of $138 million for the development of Ukraine's arms industry, Reuters reported.

Sweden, Lithuania, and Norway have also recently provided money in this way, and other nations could soon follow, the Journal reported.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed frustration with delays in military aid from Ukraine's Western allies, on whom it's dependent for advanced weapons such as Patriot and Storm Shadow missiles.

"Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year," he told Reuters in May.

As Business Insider's Sinéad Baker reported earlier this week, the West has focused on the quality of military equipment over stockpiles, prioritizing high-tech and specialized gear over volume.

But the Ukraine war has shown that both are needed. That has prompted a surge in weaponry manufacturing that some experts fear will still fall short.

Russia has also sourced weapons, troops, and ammunition from allies, with North Korea having provided about 8 million artillery shells and about 10,000 soldiers.

The US has meanwhile accused China of providing dual-use goods for Russia's military industry to overcome sanctions. Reuters reported in September that Russia also had a drone factory in China for the war.

Russia's advantages in manpower and equipment have enabled it to make slow but important gains in east Ukraine in recent weeks.