1996 Edition

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

Location

72 00 N, 40 00 W -- Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

land area

383,600 sq km (ice free)

total area

2,175,600 sq km

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Coastline

44,087 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Geographic coordinates

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Geographic note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

1%

other

99%

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Arctic Region

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural resources

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish

Terrain

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

highest point

Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,871; female 7,723) 15-64 years: 68% (male 21,755; female 17,961) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,307; female 1,586) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

17.06 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish 14%

Infant mortality rate

23.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Eskimo dialects, Danish

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.53 years (1996 est.)

male

63.97 years

total population

68.24 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Greenlandic

noun

Greenlander(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

58,203 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1% (1996 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

all ages

1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.22 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Capital

Nuuk (Godthab)

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Danish Folketing

election last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note - Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Data code

GL

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch

cabinet

Landsstyre is formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II (of Denmark since 14 January 1972), a constitutional monarch, is represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)

head of government

Prime Minister Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) was elected by the Landsting

Flag

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

Independence

none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)

Judicial branch

High Court (Landsret)

Legal system

Danish

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Greenland

local long form

none

local short form

Kalaallit Nunaat

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Parliament (Landsting)

election last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held NA 5 March 1999); results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

US diplomatic representation

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Agriculture

forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons

Budget

expenditures

$635 million, including capital expenditures of $103.8 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$667 million

Currency

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Economic aid

note

substantial annual subsidy from Denmark

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland, accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.

Electricity

capacity

84,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,361 kWh (1993)

production

210 million kWh

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)

Exports

$330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

fish and fish products 95%

partners

Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%

External debt

$297.1 million (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $892 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$15,500 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

commodities

manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%

partners

Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead, zinc, handicrafts, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (1993 est.)

Labor force

22,800

Unemployment rate

6.6% (1993 est.)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 7 (repeaters 35), shortwave 0

Radios

23,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system

adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay

domestic

microwave radio relay

international

2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

17,900 (1984 est.)

Television broadcast stations

4 (repeaters 9)

Televisions

12,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

total

8

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

1

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

60 km

total

150 km

unpaved

90 km

Merchant marine

total

1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,162 GRT/610 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports

Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondre Stromfjord

Railways

0 km