Prefectures of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark comprises 11 prefectures (Danish: præfekturer; sg. præfektur), which function as the country's administrative divisions and act as the intermediate level of government, between the municipalities and the national government. All but one prefecture are composed of several municipalities, with the exception being Copenhagen, which is a single amalgamated municipality–prefecture. The prefecture only applies to the Kingdom of Denmark; two autonomous regions of the Danish Realm, namely the Faroe Islands and Danish Antilles, are composed only of two levels of government: the municipalities and the autonomous regional government, which can be thought of as a prefecture, but with significantly more autonomy than the 11 prefectures of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Each prefecture has its own administration, with the seat of government always located in the prefecture's most populous municipality; this municipality is called the "district town" (amtby(en)), and houses the prefectural administration, led by an elected official called the "prefect" (præfekt(en)). Prefectural administrations handle regional matters, such as highways and expressways, public transit, land use and planning, agriculture, energy and sanitation services, and public security, with each prefecture having its own police force with jurisdiction across the prefecture. The Rigspolitiet (National Police) handles only special and nationwide cases. Municipalities are responsible for local services like roads and housing and the national government for services like intercity rail, airports and air transport regulation, healthcare, education, foreign affairs and defence.
