5,275,000 (1997).

122.4 per sq km.

Copenhagen

1,362,264 (1996).

Denmark is the smallest Scandinavian country, consisting of the Jutland peninsula, north of Germany, and over 400 islands of various sizes, some inhabited and linked to the mainland by ferry or bridge. The landscape consists mainly of low-lying, fertile countryside broken by beech woods, small lakes and fjords. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, although both have home rule. The Faroe Islands are a group of 18 islands in the north Atlantic inhabited by a population of 43,382 (1995) whose history dates back to the Viking period. Fishing and sheep farming are the two most important occupations. Tórshavn (population 15,272), the capital of the Faroes, is served by direct flights from Copenhagen. During the summer months, there are direct flights from Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: Queen Margarethe II since 1972. Head of Government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen since 1994.

The official language is Danish. Many Danes also speak English, German and French.

Predominantly Evangelical Lutheran with a small Roman Catholic minority.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Continental 2-pin plugs are standard. On many campsites, 110-volt power plugs are also available.

Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 45. Outgoing international code: 00. There are no area codes. Fax: Available from many main post offices and from major hotels. Telegram: The Copenhagen Central Telegraph Office is open 24 hours a day. Telegrams can also be sent by phone; dial 122. Post: All telephone and postal rates are printed at the post offices. All post offices offer Poste Restante facilities. Post offices are open 0900-1730 Monday to Friday, and some are open 0900-1200 Saturday. Press: Newspapers are largely regional; the main papers in the capital include Aalborg Stifstidende, Berlingske Tidende, Ekstra Bladet, Politiken and Aktuelt. English-language newspapers and magazines are also available.