Greenland

Radio broadcast stations

one publically-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.)

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. Nonetheless, prospects for substantial economic growth in the near future are poor. 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

92,500 kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

2,691 kWh (1994-95)

Electricity - production

274.4 million kWh

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.117 (January 1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992)

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

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry : NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,500 (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

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

1.8% (1995)

Labor force

total: 24,500 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.5% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions

3 districts (landsdele); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, 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 Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

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)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) 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; election last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA) election results: Gunnar MARTENS elected prime minister; 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 Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)

Judicial branch

High Court or Landsret

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)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military manpower - military age

16 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

494

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,843; female 7,711) 15-64 years: 68% (male 21,931; female 18,237) 65 years and over : 5% (male 1,393; female 1,653) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

16.39 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%

Infant mortality rate

22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.84 years male: 64.62 years female: 73.08 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

NA note: similar to Denmark proper

Nationality

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

58,768 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (1997 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none GRENADA

Airports

8 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 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: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Highways

total : 150 km paved: 60 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 and harbors

Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Saamiut, Sisimiut

Railways

0 km