Greenland
NAIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Greenland as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and | the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
18 fieldsLand useshare of 2,175,600 sq km
Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Natural resources
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Environment-current issues
- protection of the arctic environment;
- preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling;
- note-Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Environment-international agreements
- party to:
- Whaling (extended through Denmark)
- signed, but not ratified:
- NA
Geography-note
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 26% (male 7,814; female 7,709)
- 15-64 years:
- 68% (male 22,099; female 18,487)
- 65 years and over:
- 6% (male 1,476; female 1,724) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.2 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Government
NA; Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995); Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Landsting, 31 seats, elected 4 March 1995one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Greenland
- local long form:
- none
- local short form:
- Kalaallit Nunaat
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Administrative divisions
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997); note - named to post to replace Gunnar MARTENS, who retired ahead of scheduled election
- cabinet:
- Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties
- elections:
- the queen is a constitutional monarch;
- high commissioner appointed by the queen;
- prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party);
- election last held NA September 1997 (next to be held NA 1999)
- election results:
- Jonathan MOTZFELDT replaced Gunnar MARTENS who retired; percent of parliamentary vote-NA
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party-Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%;
- seats by party-Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1
note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party-NA;
seats by party-Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
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 or 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 the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
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
Economy
Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the | early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved.
28 fieldsEconomy-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 light 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 1989.
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.
Exports
- total value:
- $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
- commodities:
- fish and fish products 95%
- partners:
- Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports
- total value:
- $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
- commodities:
- machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6%
- partners:
- Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1-6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
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)
Radio broadcast stations
one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Television broadcast stations
one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Greenland.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greenland/1998.