1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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: NA 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 7,789; female 7,728) 15-64 years: 68% (male 22,248; female 18,678) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
15.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Infant mortality rate
20.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.1 years male: 65.98 years female: 74.24 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
NA note: similar to Denmark proper
Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
59,827 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
0.84% (1999 est.)
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio
at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Capital
Nuuk (Godthab)
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) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote--23 out of 31 votes
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)
International organization participation
NC, NIB 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)
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) Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors
Legal system
Danish
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 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%; seats by party--Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidates' League 4, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party--Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party--Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
forage crops, 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--recipient
$427 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (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--consumption
245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.401 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)
Exports
$363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities
fish and fish products 95%
Exports--partners
Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Fiscal year
calendar year
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.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports--commodities
machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6%
Imports--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 prices)
0.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force
24,500 (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
10.5% (1995 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
1 publicly-owned station 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
1 publicly-owned station and some local low-power stations; in addition, there are three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations which broadcast in the NTSC system (1997)
Televisions
12,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Airports
13 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 9 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: 4 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Merchant marine
total: 1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none