Greenland

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

27,000 (1997)

Telephone system

adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

20,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,308 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)

Televisions

22,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Budget

revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Currency

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Debt - external

$243 million (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$427 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)

Economy - overview

Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a tight fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1990. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.

Electricity - consumption

228 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

245 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995)

Exports

$363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 95%

Exports - partners

Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $945 million (1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $16,100 (1997 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.6% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$421 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force

24,500 (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10.5% (1995 est.)

Area

total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Coastline

44,087 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Environment - current issues

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling; note - Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

Geographic coordinates

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Geography - note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; world's second largest ice cap

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)

Location

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Map references

Arctic Region

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Terrain

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Administrative divisions

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)

Capital

Nuuk (Godthab)

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Data code

GL

Dependency status

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes note: government coalition - Siumut and Atassut

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Government type

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)

International organization participation

NC, NIB

Judicial branch

High Court or Landsret

Legal system

Danish

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate's League 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Political parties and leaders

Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Candidate's League [leader NA]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The world's largest island, about 84% ice-capped, Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,718; female 7,483) 15-64 years: 68% (male 20,860; female 17,272) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,332; female 1,644) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

16.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Greenlander 87% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%

Infant mortality rate

18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.07 years male: 64.52 years female: 71.69 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper

Nationality

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate

-8.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

56,309 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.09% (2000 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.45 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

14 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km

Ports and harbors

Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut

Railways

0 km