Western Europe.

Mainland: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Faroe Islands and Torshavn: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

43,098 sq km (16,640 sq miles).

5.43 million (UN estimate, 2005).

125 per sq km.

Copenhagen. Population: 1.17 million (2005).

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 46,962 (2005), whose history dates back to the Viking period. Fishing and sheep farming are the two most important occupations. Tórshavn (population 19,282 (2004), the capital of the Faroes, is served by direct flights from Copenhagen. During the summer months, there are direct flights from Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. The constitutional charter of 1953 gives the hereditary monarch and the unicameral Parliament (Folketing) legislative power. The monarch has no personal political power. Members are elected to the parliament by proportional representation.

Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: Queen Margrethe II since 1972. Head of Government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen since 2001. Recent history: The dominant issue in Danish politics during the 1990s was relations with the European Union, which Denmark joined in 1973. Along with the UK, Denmark is the most ‘Eurosceptic’ nation, as became apparent when a 1992 referendum rejected Danish acceptance of the Maastricht Treaty on the future development of the EU. (A repeat plebiscite the following year secured a narrow victory.) Since then, Denmark has decided to stay out of the first wave of countries joining the single European currency. The Government, which generally favours membership, made another attempt to persuade the public prior to a referendum held in September 2000. Once again, however, they failed.
Despite that critical defeat, the Social Democrat Government continued to enjoy broad popular support on most issues. In November 2001, it decided – unwisely, as it transpired – to try and exploit this by calling a snap election. After a closely fought campaign, which was dominated by the issue of immigration policy, the eight-year-old Social Democrat Government was supplanted by a Liberal/Conservative coalition led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Immigration has become a major political factor in Europe in the last few years and this has fuelled the growing popularity of extreme right-wing parties throughout the continent. Denmark is no exception. Despite lacking a seat in Government, the right-wing anti-immigration Danish People’s Party and its leader, Pia Kjaersgaard, have already exercised considerable influence over Government policy during the last two years.
Parliamentary elections held in February 2005 returned the Liberal/Conservative coalition for another term of up to four years.
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. The constitutional charter of 1953 gives the hereditary monarch and the unicameral Parliament (Folketing) legislative power. The monarch has no personal political power. Members are elected to the parliament by proportional representation.

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

Predominantly Evangelical Lutheran with a small Roman Catholic and Muslim minority.

Normal courtesies should be observed. Guests should refrain from drinking until the host toasts his or her health. Casual dress is suitable for most places but formal wear is required at more exclusive dining rooms and social functions. Smoking is restricted on public transport and in some public buildings.

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