Greenland
part of the Danish realmIndependence none (part of the Danish realm
Greenland as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Northern North America, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada | and Norway
23 fieldstotal area
2,175,600 sq km
land area
383,600 sq km (ice free)
comparative area
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
territorial sea
3 nm
International disputes
dispute betwen Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
1%
forest and woodland
0%
other
99%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
NA
international agreements
NA
Note
- dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
- sparse population confined to small settlements along coast;
- continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
People
20 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
66.91 years
male
62.55 years
female
71.28 years (1994 est.)
noun
Greenlander(s)
adjective
Greenlandic
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
by occupation
largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
Government
Part of the Danish realm
24 fieldsLegislature, 27 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 2 seatsone dot, one seat
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Greenland
local long form
none
local short form
Kalaallit Nunaat
Administrative divisions
3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland
chief of state
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)
head of government
Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
cabinet
Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties
Parliament (Landsting)
- elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Danish Folketing
- last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994);
- Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing;
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
Political parties and leaders
- two-party ruling coalition;
- Siumut (a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman;
- Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE;
- Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA;
- Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ;
- Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA
Flag
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
Economy
Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult.
25 fieldsOverview
Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports.
Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government.
revenues
$381 million
expenditures
$381 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1989)
commodities
fish and fish products 95%
partners
Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
commodities
manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%
partners
Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%
capacity
84,000 kW
production
176 million kWh
consumption per capita
3,060 kWh (1992)
Industries
fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining
Agriculture
- sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising;
- crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables;
- 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989)
Communications
11 fieldstotal
150 km
paved
60 km
unpaved
90 km
Ports
Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay
total
11
usable
8
with permanent-surface runways
5
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
2
Telecommunications
- adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay;
- 17,900 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters) FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV;
- 2 coaxial submarine cables;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Defense Forces
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Greenland.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greenland/1994.