Greenland

Broadcast media

the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2007)

Internet country code

.gl

Internet users

total: 40,100 | percent of population: 69.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; totally digital since 1995 | domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite | international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 17,200 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 60,800 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Agriculture - products

sheep, cow, reindeer, fish

Budget

revenues: $1.72 billion | expenditures: $1.68 billion (2010)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.9% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 20

Debt - external

$36.4 million (2010) | $58 million (2009) | country comparison to the world: 196

Economy - overview

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish, income from resource exploration and extraction, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. The subsidy was budgeted to be about $651 million in 2012, approximately 56% of government revenues that year. | The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. Greenland's real GDP contracted about 1% in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but is estimated to have grown marginally in 2010-14. | During the last decade the Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care and retirement systems. | The Greenlandic economy has benefited from increasing catches and exports of shrimp, Greenland halibut and, more recently, crabs. Due to Greenland's continued dependence on exports of fish - which accounted for 89% of exports in 2010 - the economy remains very sensitive to external demand. | The relative ease with which Greenland has weathered the economic crisis is due to increased hydrocarbon and mineral exploration and extraction activities, a high level of construction activity in the Nuuk area and the increasing price of fish and shrimp. International consortia are increasingly active in exploring for hydrocarbon resources off Greenland's western coast, and international studies indicate the potential for oil and gas fields in northern and northeastern Greenland. In May 2007, a US aluminum producer concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Greenland Home Rule Government to build an aluminum smelter and a power generation facility, which takes advantage of Greenland's abundant hydropower potential. Within the area of mining, olivine sand continues to be produced and gold production has resumed in south Greenland, while rare-earth and iron ore mineral projects have been proposed or planned elsewhere on the island. | Tourism also offers another avenue of economic growth for Greenland, with increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season.

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - | 5.6125 (2011) | 5.3687 (2011) | 5.79 (2012 est.) | 5.3687 (2011 est.) | 5.6241 (2010 est.)

Exports

$384.3 million (2010) | $358 million (2009) | country comparison to the world: 178

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 89%, metals 10% (2008 est.)

Exports - partners

Denmark 60.7%, Japan 10.4%, China 8.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.16 billion (2011 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.133 billion (2011 est.) | $2.071 billion (2010 est.) | $1.974 billion (2009 est.) | note: data are in 2011 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 193

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 13.9% | industry: 19.2% | services: 67% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,400 (2008 est.) | $36,600 (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2011 est.) | 4.9% (2010 est.) | -2.7% (2009 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$814.2 million (2010) | $726 million (2009) | country comparison to the world: 186

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Denmark 60.4%, Sweden 16.9%, Iceland 10.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2012 est.) | 2.8% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Labor force

26,990 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 13.9% | industry: 19.2% | services: 67% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

9.2% (2007 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

79.6% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 2

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2013 est.) | 4.2% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

604,900 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity - consumption

292 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - installed generating capacity

106,000 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - production

314 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,971 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Area

total: 2,166,086 sq km | land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) | country comparison to the world: 12

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 Fjeld 3,700 m

Environment - current issues

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

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; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 0.6% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.6% | forest: 0% | other: 99.4% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Arctic Region

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line | continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

4 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Kujalleq, Qaasuitsup, Qeqqata, Sermersooq | note: the North and East Greenland National Park (Avannaarsuani Tunumilu Nuna Allanngutsaaliugaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - make it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly

Capital

name: Nuuk (Godthab) | geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W | time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | note: Greenland has four time zones

Citizenship

see Denmark

Constitution

previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act) (2015)

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Greenland | local long form: none | local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat | note: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in 985 in order to entice settlers to the island

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 Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011) | head of government: Prime Minister Kim KIELSEN (since 30 September 2014) | cabinet: Home Rule Government elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister indirectly elected by Parliament | election results: Kim KIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 34.3%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 33.2%, Anda ULDUM (D) 11.8%, other 20.7%

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; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark

Government type

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Independence

none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

International organization participation

Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s): High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen) | judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 | subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts

Legal system

the laws of Denmark apply

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (Landsting) (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 15 September 2011 (next to be held by September 2015); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1 | elections: last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held by 2018) | election results: percent of vote by party - S 34.6%, IA 33.5%, D 11.9%, PN 11.7%, A 6.6%, other 1.7%; seats by party - S 11, IA 11, D 4, PN 3, A 2 (2013)

National anthem

name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" ("Our Country, Who's Become So Old" also translated as "You Our Ancient Land") | lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN | note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem

National holiday

June 21 (longest day)

National symbol(s)

polar bear; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens B. FREDERIKSEN] | Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Aleqa HAMMOND] | Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Kuupik KLEIST] | Inuit Party (Partii Inuit) or PI [Nikku OLSEN] | Partii Naleraq or PN [Hans ENOKSEN] | Solidarity Party (Atassut) or A [Gerhardt PETERSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: conservationists; environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 15,280 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 10,765 | females age 16-49: 11,399 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 488 | female: 478 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military branches

no regular military forces

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.35% (male 6,263/female 6,064) | 15-24 years: 16.2% (male 4,736/female 4,615) | 25-54 years: 42.03% (male 12,751/female 11,516) | 55-64 years: 11.87% (male 3,858/female 2,996) | 65 years and over: 8.55% (male 2,640/female 2,294) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

14.48 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Death rate

8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Inuit 88%, Danish and other 12% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

5.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.23 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Languages

Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.1 years | male: 69.41 years | female: 74.92 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Major urban areas - population

NUUK (capital) 17,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 33.7 years | male: 34.9 years | female: 32.5 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greenlander(s) | adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate

-5.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Physicians density

1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

57,733 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Population growth rate

0% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female | total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Urbanization

urban population: 86.4% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission

Airports

15 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 147

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 | 2 (2013)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 1 (Denmark 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 156

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Sisimiut

Roadways

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air (2012)