2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Age structure
0-14 years: 26.69% (male 7,649; female 7,392) 15-64 years: 67.87% (male 20,868; female 17,376) 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 1,385; female 1,682) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Airports
13 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) Greenland Military
Area
total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Background
The world's largest island, about 84% ice-capped, Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs. Greenland Geography
Birth rate
16.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $646 million expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85 million (1999)
Capital
Nuuk (Godthab)
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Coastline
44,087 km
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
Currency
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code
DKK
Death rate
7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$25 million (1999)
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1999)
Economy - overview
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Despite 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.
Electricity - consumption
232.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
250 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 41% hydro: 59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydroelectric power production (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Environment - current issues
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Ethnic groups
Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996)
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 19 September 1997) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 16 February 1999 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister following the 16 February 1999 elections; percent of parliamentary vote - 57.3% note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA)
Exports
$276 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities
fish and fish products 94%
Exports - partners
EU (mainly Denmark) 85%, Japan 8%, US 2% (1999)
Fiscal year
calendar year Greenland Communications
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 Greenland Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
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, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap Greenland People
Government type
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Highways
total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
100 (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$400 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
Imports - partners
EU (mostly Denmark), Norway, US, Canada
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Infant mortality rate
17.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.6% (1999 est.)
International organization participation
ICC, NC, NIB
Internet country code
.gl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
4,008 (1999) Greenland Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Labor force
24,500 (1999 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1998 est.)
Languages
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Legal system
Danish
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 16 February 1999 (next to be held by NA February 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.1%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%, independent 5.2%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate List 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by not later than March 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 (Siamut with Social Democratic Party and Atassut with Liberal Party)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.37 years male: 64.82 years female: 72.01 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper Greenland Government
Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Map references
Arctic Region
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,289 GRT/1,500 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Denmark Greenland Transnational Issues
National holiday
June 21 (longest day)
Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
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, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Net migration rate
-8.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Jonathan MOTZFELDT]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
56,352 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.06% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq (March 2001)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
30,000 (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite international: satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
25,617 (end 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular
12,676 (end 1999)
Television broadcast stations
1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions
30,000 (1998 est.)
Terrain
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Total fertility rate
2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
7% (1999 est.)
Waterways
none