Greenland
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Greenland as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year.
Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired complete responsibilty for internal affairs in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.
Geography
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
17 fieldsLand useshare of 2,166,086 sq km
Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Natural resources
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
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;
- close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;
- world's second largest ice cap
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.16 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.12 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy; Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005); Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Landsting, 31 seats, elected 2 June 2009one 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
Capital
- name:
- Nuuk (Godthab)
- geographic coordinates:
- 64 11 N, 51 45 W
- time difference:
- UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Independence
none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
- cabinet:
- Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- high commissioner appointed by the monarch;
- prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party)
- election results:
- Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister
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 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit 43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%;
- Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%;
- seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9, Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1,
Inuit Ataqatigiit 1
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
- Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark);
- Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN];
- Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule);
- Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform);
- Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)
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;
- the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice;
- the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark
Economy
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $700 million in 2008-09 - from the Danish Government, which supplies about 60% of government revenues.
37 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $700 million in 2008-09 - from the Danish Government, which supplies about 60% of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy.
Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing and in 2007 a US firm signed an agreement with the Greenland Home Rule government to study the feasibility of building a multi-billion dollar aluminum smelter and hydropower plant. Denmark plans to reduce its subsidies to Greenland as revenues from oil exports come onstream.
Industries
- fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut);
- gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining;
- handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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:
- country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)
Television broadcast stations
1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 2 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2008)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Roadways
note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)
Military
No regular military forces
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Greenland.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greenland/2009.