1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Coastline
44,087 km
Comparative area
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Contiguous zone
4 nm;
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Disputes
Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen
Environment
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 99% other
Natural resources
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Note
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe
Terrain
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
2,175,600 km2; land area: 341,700 km2 (ice free)
People and Society
Birth rate
20 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
86% Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), 14% Danish
Infant mortality rate
28 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
Language
Eskimo dialects, Danish
Life expectancy at birth
62 years male, 68 years female (1990)
Literacy
99%
Nationality
noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
NA
Population
56,078 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990)
Religion
Evangelical Lutheran
Total fertility rate
2.2 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 municipalities (kommuner, singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland
Capital
Nuuk (Godthab)
Constitution
Danish
Diplomatic representation
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Elections
Parliament--last held on 27 May 1987 (next to be held by 27 May 1991); results--Siumut 39.8%, Atassut Party 40.1%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 15.3%, Polar Party 4.5%; seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 11, Inuit Ataqatigiit 4, Polar Party 1; Danish Parliament--last held on 10 May 1988 (next to be held by 10 May 1992); Greenland elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament; results--(percent of vote by party NA; seats--(2 total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch
Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyre)
Flag
the flag of Denmark is used
Independence
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Judicial branch
High Court (Landsret)
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA); Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Jonathan MOTZFELDT
Legal system
Danish
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (Landsting)
Long-form name
none
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties
Siumut (moderate socialist, advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark); Atassut Party (more conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark); Inuit Ataqatigiit (Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Polar Party (Conservative-Greenland Nationalist)
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Economy
Agriculture
sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1987 fish catch of 101,000 metric tons
Aid
none
Budget
revenues $380 million; expenditures $380 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)
Currency
Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 ore
Electricity
84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,180 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.560 (January 1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)
Exports
$386.2 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates; partners--Denmark 76%, FRG 7%, Sweden 5%
External debt
$445 million (1988)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GNP
$500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)
Imports
$445.6 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products; partners--Denmark 66%, Norway 5%, Sweden 4%, FRG 4%, Japan 4% US 3%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
fish processing, lead and zinc mining, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (1987)
Overview
Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry, accounting for over two-thirds of exports and about 25% of the population's income. Exploitation of mineral resources is limited to lead and zinc. Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy. Greenland is heavily dependent on an annual subsidy of about $400 million from the Danish Government.
Unemployment rate
10%
Communications
Airports
11 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
2 major transport aircraft
Highways
80 km
Merchant marine
1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note--operates under the registry of Denmark
Ports
Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay, and at least 10 minor ports
Telecommunications
adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and radio relay; 17,900 telephones; stations--5 AM, 7 (35 relays) FM, 4 (9 relays) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Note
defense is responsibility of Denmark