Greenland

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchyIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Greenland as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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 and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Populationas each edition published it

56,309 people July 2000 est. · 56,078 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.09% 2000 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.07 years 2000 est. · 66.19 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.45 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

18.26 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 28 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$16,100 1997 est. · $9,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.6% 1997 est. · -10% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 2,175,600 sq km

permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 1%forests and woodland 0%other 99% (1993 est.)arable land 0% in all

Area

2,175,600sq km

land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Coastline

44,087km

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

Highest point

3,700m

Gunnbjornlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Natural resources

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

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)

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

People

15 fields

Population

56,309

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.09% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

16.85Death

7.55Net migration

-8.38

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.)

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.)

Infant mortality rate

18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 68.07 years
male:: 64.52 years
female:: 71.69 years (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Greenlander(s)
adjective:: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups

Greenlander 87% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%

Languages

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Literacy

definition:: NA
total population:: NA%
male:: NA%
female:: NA%

note: similar to Denmark proper

Government

Parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy; 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)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35.2%

Siumut 35.2%Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%Atassut Party 25.2%Candidate's League 12.3%last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

Parliament or Landsting, 31 seats, elected 17 February 1999one dot, one seat

Siumut 11Atassut Party 8Inuit Ataqatigiit 7Candidate's League 4independent 1

Percent of vote

Siumut 35.2%Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%Atassut Party 25.2%Candidate's League 12.3%

Country name

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

Data code

Dependency status

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Capital

Nuuk (Godthab)

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)

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), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
head of government:: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997)
cabinet:: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties
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)
election results:: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes

note: government coalition - Siumut and Atassut

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)

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

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

Judicial branch

High Court or Landsret

Political parties and leaders

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

International organization participation

NC, NIB

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.

30 fields

Real growth rate

0.6%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.5%

(1995 est.)

Labor force

24,500

(1995 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

89%

Denmark

7.5%

Japan

3.3%

Iceland

3.8%

Norway

3.1%

2.4%

Germany

2.4%

Sweden

1.8%

Exports $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)Imports $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Budget

Revenues

$706 millionExpenditures

$697 million (1995)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

245 million (1998)Electricity consumption

228 million (1998)

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.