Lower Saxony (German: Niedersachsen [ˈniːdɐzaksn̩] (); Low German: Neddersassen; Saterland Frisian: Läichsaksen) is a German state (Land) situated in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, being larger than Denmark or the Netherlands with 47,624 km2 (18,388 sq mi), and fourth-largest in population (7.9 million) among the 16 Länder federated as the Federal Republic of Germany. In rural areas, Northern Low Saxon (a dialect of Low German) and Saterland Frisian (a variety of the Frisian language) are still spoken, but the number of speakers is declining.