1985 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1985 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
arable areas largely in hay; sheep grazing; garden produce
Airfields
10 total, 7 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Area
2,175,600 km2; larger than contiguous US; 84% permanent ice and snow, less than 1% arable (of which only a fraction cultivated), 15% other Water
Branches
legislative authority rests jointly with the elected 26-seat Landsting and Danish parliament; executive power vested in Premier and four-person council; 19 lower courts
Capital
Godthab (Nuuk)
Civil air
2 major transport aircraft
Coastline
approx. 44,087 km (includes minor islands) People
Elections
held every four years; most recent, 6 June 1984
Electric power
80,000 kW capacity (1984); 168 million kWh produced (1984), 3,170 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
86% Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), 14% Danish
Exports
$168.4 million (f .o.b., 1980); fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
Fishing
catch 105,830 tons (1982); exports $108.6 million (1980)
GNP
included in that of Denmark
Government leaders
MARGRETHE II, Queen (since January 1972); Jonathan MOTZFELDT, Prime Minister (since May 1979)
Highways
80 km
Imports
$259.4 million (c.i.f., 1980); petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Labor force
21,378; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, and sheep breeding Government
Language
Danish, Eskimo dialects
Legal system
Danish law; transformed from colony to province in 1953; limited home rule began in spring 1979
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
3 nm (fishing 200 nm)
Literacy
99%
Major industries
mining, fishing, sealing
Major trade partners
(1980) Denmark 49.4%, Finland 9.5%, FRG 8.1%, US 6.3%, UK 2.9%
Military manpower
included with Denmark
Monetary conversion rate
10.80 Danish Kroner=US$l (November 1984 average)
Nationality
noun — Greenlander(s); adjective— Greenlandic
Official name
Greenland
Political parties
Siumut, 11 seats (moderate socialist, advocating more distinct Greenland identity and greater autonomy from Denmark); Atassut Party, 1 1 seats (more conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark); Inuit Ataqatigiit, 3 seats (Marxist-Leninist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) Economy
Political subdivisions
3 counties, 19 communes
Population
54,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 1.2%
Ports
1 major, 16 minor
Railroads
none
Religion
Evangelical Lutheran
Suffrage
universal, but not compulsory, over age 21
Telecommunications
adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and radio relay; 15,300 telephones (30.9 per 100 popl.); 9 AM, 13 FM, 4 TV stations; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces Defense is responsibility of Denmark
Type
self-governing province of Kingdom of Denmark; two representatives in Danish parliament; separate Minister for Greenland in the Danish Cabinet