2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

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

total

2,175,600 sq km

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

highest point

Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

99% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

1%

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

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

female

71.69 years (2000 est.)

male

64.52 years

total population

68.07 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

note

similar to Denmark proper

total population

NA%

Nationality

adjective

Greenlandic

noun

Greenlander(s)

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.)

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

cabinet

Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)

election results

Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes

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)

head of government

Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997)

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)

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

elections

last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

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 ; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) ; Candidate's League ; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) ; Issituup (Polar Party) ; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$706 million

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.)

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)

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

paved

60 km

total

150 km

unpaved

90 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Disputes - international

none

GRENADA