1981 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1981 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Elections
held every four years
Political parties
Siumut — leading party in present government with 13 seats (moderate socialist, advocating more distinct Greenland identity and greater autonomy from Denmark; the Atassut Party, which controls the remaining eight seats, is more conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark and the EC; Sulissartut Partiat, the political wing of the Greenland labor movement; and the Inuit Atagatigik, a Marxist-Leninist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule
Suffrage
universal, but not compulsory, over age 21
Economy
Agriculture
arable areas largely in hay; sheep grazing; garden produce
Electric power
77,000 kW capacity (1980); 125 million kWh produced (1980), 2,500 kWh per capita
Exports
$101.4 million (f.o.b., 1978); fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates
Fiscal year
calendar year beginning 1 January 1979
Fishing
catch 82,000 tons (1979); exports $53.7 million (1978)
GNP
included in that of Denmark
Imports
$177.8 million (c.i.f., 1978); petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Major industries
mining, slaughtering, fishing, sealing
Major trade partners
(1978) Denmark 67.2%, US 7.9%, Finland 5.3%, West Germany 5.3%, UK 5.3%
Monetary conversion rate
5.6359 Danish Kroner=US$l (1980)
Communications
Airfields
12 total, 7 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
2 major transport aircraft
Highways
80 km
Military manpower
included with Denmark PUERTO At/antic Ocean Caribbean Sea
Ports
7 major, 16 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and radio relay; 9,000 telephones (18.4 per 100 popl.); 9 AM, 11 FM, and 2 TV stations; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station DEFENSE FORCES