Year of EU entry: 1973 / Capital city: Copenhagen / Population: 5.4 million

Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) and some 400 named islands. Of these, 82 are inhabited, with the largest being Funen (Fyn) and Zealand (Sjælland).

Denmark has a large fishing industry, and possesses a merchant fleet of considerable size. The leading manufactured products include food products, chemicals, machinery, metal products, electronic and transport equipment, beer, and paper and wood products. Tourism is also an important economic activity.

Among the best-known Danes are the writer Hans Christian Andersen, famous for his fairy tales, the author Karen Blixen and the designer Arne Jacobsen. Danish cinema has gained international recognition thanks largely to the experimental film director Lars von Trier. Specialities of Danish cooking include open sandwiches, smørrebrød, and boiled or sugar browned potatoes.