Greenland

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

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

Greenland as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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 land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)

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

Populationas each edition published it

56,352 people July 2001 est. · 56,078 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.06% 2001 est. · 0.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.37 years 2001 est. · 66.19 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.44 children per woman 2001 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.77 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 28 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$20,000 2000 est. · $9,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -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. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.

Geography

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

17 fields

Coastline

44,087km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line territorial sea: 3 NM

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map references

Arctic Region

Area

total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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 and seal hunting

Geography - note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;
world's second largest ice cap

People

18 fields

Population

56,352

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 0.06% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

16.52Death

7.58Net migration

-8.38

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.69% (male 7,649; female 7,392) 15-64 years: 67.87% (male 20,868; female 17,376) 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 1,385; female 1,682) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.37 years male: 64.82 years female: 72.01 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100 (1999)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

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

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35.2%

Siumut 35.2%Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.1%Atassut Party 25.2%Candidate's League 12.3%independent 5.2%

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Capital

Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland

National holiday

June 21 (longest day)

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 19 September 1997) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landstinget) 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 16 February 1999 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister following the 16 February 1999 elections;
percent of parliamentary vote - 57.3% note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA)

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 16 February 1999 (next to be held by NA February 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.1%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%, independent 5.2%;
seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate List 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by not later than March 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 (Siamut with Social Democratic Party and Atassut with Liberal Party)

Judicial branch

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Political parties and leaders

Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN];
Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE];
Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT];
Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH];
Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Jonathan MOTZFELDT]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ICC, 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

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues.

31 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

1.6%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1999 est.)

Labor force

24,500

(1999 est.)

Debt - external

$25million

(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production

250 million (1999)Electricity consumption

232.5 million (1999)

Economy - overview

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy.

Despite 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Budget

revenues: $646 million expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85 million (1999)

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 41% hydro: 59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydroelectric power production (1999)

Agriculture - products

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables;
sheep, reindeer;
fish

Exports

$276 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 94%

Exports - partners

EU (mainly Denmark) 85%, Japan 8%, US 2% (1999)

Imports

$400 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Imports - partners

EU (mostly Denmark), Norway, US, Canada

Economic aid - recipient

$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1999)

Currency

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code

DKK

Exchange rates

Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

12,676

(end 1999)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

25,617

(end 1999) · country code .gl

Telephone system

general assessment:: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay;
totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite international: satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)