Greenland

part of the Danish realmIndependence none (part of the Danish realm

Greenland as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 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)

Position72 00 N, 40 00 W

Area2,175,600 sq km

LocationNorthern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean

Populationas each edition published it

58,203 people July 1996 est. · 56,078 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1% 1996 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.24 years 1996 est. · 66.19 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.22 children per woman 1996 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

23.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 28 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$15,500 1995 est. · $9,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -10% in 1993

Geography

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

15 fields

Land useshare of 2,175,600 sq km

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 1%forest and woodland 0%other 99%arable land 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km

Area

2,175,600sq km

land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free)comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Coastline

44,087km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm

Location

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

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain

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

lowest point:: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
international agreements:: NA

Geographic note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast

People

15 fields

Population

58,203

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

17.06Death

7.11Net migration

Age structure

0-14 years:: 27% (male 7,871; female 7,723)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 21,755; female 17,961)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 1,307; female 1,586) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

23.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 68.24 years
male:: 63.97 years
female:: 72.53 years (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Greenlander(s)
adjective:: Greenlandic

Ethnic divisions

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

Government

Part of the Danish realm; Queen MARGRETHE II (of Denmark since 14 January 1972), a constitutional monarch, is represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993); Prime Minister Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) was elected by the Landsting

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

38.5%

Siumut 38.5%Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%Atassut Party 29.7%

Legislature, 31 seatsone dot, one seat

Siumut 12Atassut Party 10Inuit Ataqatigiit 6conservative splinter grouping 2independent 1

Legislature, 2 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberals 1Social Democrats 1

Name of country

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Greenland
local long form:: none
local short form:: Kalaallit Nunaat

Data code

Type of government

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

Capital

Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system

Danish

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen MARGRETHE II (of Denmark since 14 January 1972), a constitutional monarch, is represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
head of government:: Prime Minister Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) was elected by the Landsting
cabinet:: Landsstyre is formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties

Legislative branch

unicameral

Parliament (Landsting)

election last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held NA 5 March 1999);
results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%;
seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1

Danish Folketing

election last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998);
Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1;
note - Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Judicial branch

High Court (Landsret)

Political parties and leaders

two-party ruling coalition;
Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman;
Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Josef MOTZFELDT;
Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), Daniel SKIFTE;
Akulliit Party, Bjarne KREUTZMANN;
Issituup (Polar Party), Nicolai HEINRICH

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

US diplomatic representation

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

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.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$15,500

(1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.6%

(1993 est.)

Labor force

22,800

Budget

Revenues

$667 millionExpenditures

$635 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $103.8 million

Installed generating capacity, 84,000 kW

Electricity production

210 millionElectricity consumption per capita

3,361 (1993)

Economic overview

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, 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, an important supplement of GDP.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $892 million (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead, zinc, handicrafts, small shipyards

Agriculture

forage crops, small garden vegetables;
sheep;
1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons

Exports

$330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: fish and fish products 95%
partners:: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%

Imports

$369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

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%