1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area-comparative
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Coastline
44,087 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Environment-current issues
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note-Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Environment-international agreements
party to: Whaling (extended through Denmark) signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Geography-note
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Natural resources
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Terrain
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 26% (male 7,814; female 7,709) 15-64 years: 68% (male 22,099; female 18,487) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,476; female 1,724) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
15.83 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Infant mortality rate
21.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.46 years male: 65.29 years female: 73.65 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
NA note: similar to Denmark proper
Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
59,309 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.9% (1998 est.)
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.17 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Constitution
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code
GL
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
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 NA September 1997); note - named to post to replace Gunnar MARTENS, who retired ahead of scheduled election cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held NA September 1997 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT replaced Gunnar MARTENS who retired; percent of parliamentary vote-NA
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
Judicial branch
High Court or Landsret 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 or 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] 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)
Legal system
Danish
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%; seats by party-Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
National capital
Nuuk (Godthab)
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep, fish
Budget
revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Currency
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Debt-external
$243 million (1995)
Economic aid
substantial annual subsidy from Denmark-$427 million (1995)
Economy-overview
Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of 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. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
Electricity-capacity
106,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
4,253 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
245 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1-6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
Exports
total value: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$945 million (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$16,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
0.6% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6% partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Inflation rate-consumer price index
0.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force
total: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Radio broadcast stations
one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Radios
23,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system
adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
19,600 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations
one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Televisions
12,000 (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate
10.5% (1995 est.)
Transportation
Airports
10 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none