Denmark has ranked as one of the least feminist countries in the western world following a global poll of 23 countries.

The Scandinavian nation, which is deemed by people as a leading force in equal rights, has surprised many after it was revealed that a mere one in six Danes believed themselves to be a feminist.

The study of more than 25,000 people also showed that a third of Danes also believed that wolf-whistling at women was acceptable.

A global study shows that Denmark ranks as one of the least feminist countries in the western world

The project, conducted by the YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project in partnership with The Guardian, also found the country fell behind Italy and Spain, countries believed to be lagging behind Denmark in terms of gender equality, when it came to identifying as a feminist.

It also found that only two in five people within the country supported the #MeToo movement.

Accountant and Danish citizen Helene Frost Hansen, 37, told The Guardian: 'It’s a difficult question. What is a modern feminist? I don’t want to be equal in all senses.'

Ms Hansen also stated that she did not believe all forms of wolf-whistling were unacceptable.

She added: 'I don’t mind it so long as it’s done in a nice way. I see it as a compliment, actually.

'A lot of Danish women say that they would like men to to be more like in southern Europe and tell you how nice you look'.

The study conducted by the YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project in partnership with The Guardian looked at the data from more than 25,000 people

The results come three years after the country's equality minister Karen Ellemann said she did not consider herself a feminist

The startling results produced by the international study marks a dramatic contrast to Denmark's neighbour Sweden where 46 per cent of its citizens called themselves feminists.

The study's results come three years after the country's equality minister and member of the party Venstre, Karen Ellemann, stated that she did not call herself a feminist.

Professor of Communication Studies at Roskilde University Rikke Andreassen told The Guardian the reason low-level sexual harassment is deemed acceptable in Denmark is due to society believing it is well meant.

The annual YouGov study, which was analysed by journalists at The Guardian, aimed to look at populist attitudes in the realm of politics , democracy, food, travel and technology.

This is not the first time the country's stance on female equality has fallen under scrutiny.

In 2014, a study conducted by the Fundamental Rights Agency, found that 47 per cent of Danish women had suffered violence since the age of 15.

The poll, which analysed the data from 42,000 women across 28 EU member states found that Denmark, Finland and Sweden, the three countries seen by many as a leading force in gender equality, actually ranked the highest in terms of violence against women in the developed world.