Greenland

Internet country code

.gl

Internet hosts

14,134 (2009) country comparison to the world: 111

Internet users

36,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 177

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2008)

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: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

Telephones - main lines in use

22,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Telephones - mobile cellular

55,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 191

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Agriculture - products

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Budget

revenues: $1.36 billion expenditures: $1.27 billion (2005)

Debt - external

$25 million (1999) country comparison to the world: 196

Economy - overview

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $700 million in 2008-09 - from the Danish Government, which supplies about 60% of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing and in 2007 a US firm signed an agreement with the Greenland Home Rule government to study the feasibility of building a multi-billion dollar aluminum smelter and hydropower plant. Denmark plans to reduce its subsidies to Greenland as revenues from oil exports come onstream.

Electricity - consumption

302.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

325 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)

Exports

$480 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 164

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%) (2001 est.)

Exports - partners

Denmark 63.5%, Japan 11.1%, China 4.9%, Canada 4.8% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.7 billion (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.1 billion (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$712 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 181

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Denmark 59.1%, Sweden 20.9%, Norway 4.7%, UK 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Labor force

32,120 (2004) country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - exports

149.5 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Oil - imports

4,172 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

9.3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Area

total: 2,166,086 sq km country comparison to the world: 13 land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered)

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 the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

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; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Capital

name: Nuuk (Godthab) geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

Constitution

(November 2008) Act on Greenland Self Government

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

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)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party) election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister

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; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark

Government type

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Independence

none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

International organization participation

Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU

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)

Legal system

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

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 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit 43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%; Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%; seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9, Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1

National holiday

June 21 (longest day)

Political parties and leaders

Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: conservationists; environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired complete responsibilty for internal affairs in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 15,221 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 10,809 females age 16-49: 11,437 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 532 female: 491 (2009 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military branches

no regular military forces

Age structure

0-14 years: 23% (male 6,727/female 6,533) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 21,696/female 18,669) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 2,000/female 1,975) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

14.76 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Death rate

8.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100 (1999) country comparison to the world: 164

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 151 male: 12.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.07 years country comparison to the world: 143 male: 67.44 years female: 72.85 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2001 est.)

Median age

total: 33.5 years male: 34.9 years female: 31.9 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate

-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Population

57,600 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Population growth rate

0.062% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Urbanization

urban population: 84% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Airports

15 (2009) country comparison to the world: 146

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 144 by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals

Sisimiut

Roadways

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)