Greenland

part of the Danish realmIndependence part of the Danish realm

Greenland as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNuuk (Godthab)

Area2,175,600 km2

Populationas each edition published it

56,078 people July 1990 · 57,751 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 66.19 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.2 children per woman 1990 · 1.87 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

28 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 8.3 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $9,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -10% in 1993

Geography

15 fields

Land useshare of 2,175,600 km2

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 1%other 99%arable land 0% in allNEGL% forest and woodland

Total area

2,175,600km2

land area: 341,700 km2 (ice free)Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Coastline

44,087km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes

Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain

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

Natural resources

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish

Environment

sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe

People

14 fields

Population

56,078

(July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

20Death

8Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians) 86%Danish 14%

Literacy

99%

Nationality

noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic

Labor force

22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Government

Part of the Danish realm

15 fields

Parliament, 27 seats, elected 27 May 1987one dot, one seat

Siumut 11Atassut Party 11Inuit Ataqatigiit 4Polar Party 1

Percent of vote

Siumut 39.8%Atassut Party 40.1%Inuit Ataqatigiit 15.3%Polar Party 4.5%

Type

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Administrative divisions

3 municipalities (kommuner, singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Executive branch

Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyre)

Judicial branch

High Court (Landsret) Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);
Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA May 1979)

Political parties

Siumut (moderate socialist, advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark);
Atassut Party (more conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark);
Inuit Ataqatigiit (Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule);
Polar Party (Conservative-Greenland Nationalist)

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Parliament--last held on 27 May 1987 (next to be held by 27 May 1991);
results--Siumut 39.8%, Atassut Party 40.1%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 15.3%, Polar Party 4.5%;
seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 11, Inuit Ataqatigiit 4, Polar Party 1;
Danish Parliament--last held on 10 May 1988 (next to be held by 10 May 1992);
Greenland elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament;
results--(percent of vote by party NA; seats--(2 total) number of seats by party NA

Diplomatic representation

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Economy

Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on foreign trade.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

2.9%

(1987)

Unemployment rate

10%

External debt

$445million

(1988)

Budget

Revenues

$380 millionExpenditures

$380 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)

Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry, accounting for over two-thirds of exports and about 25% of the population's income. Exploitation of mineral resources is limited to lead and zinc.

Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy. Greenland is heavily dependent on an annual subsidy of about $400 million from the Danish Government.

GNP

$500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)

Exports

$386.2 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates;
partners--Denmark 76%, FRG 7%, Sweden 5%

Imports

$445.6 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products;
partners--Denmark 66%, Norway 5%, Sweden 4%, FRG 4%, Japan 4% US 3%