Airports [time series]

11 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

2 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

80 km

Merchant marine [time series]

1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note--operates under the registry of Denmark

Ports [time series]

Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and radio relay; 17,900 telephones; stations--5 AM, 7 (35 relays) FM, 4 (9 relays) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Note [time series]

defense is responsibility of Denmark

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons

Budget [time series]

revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1989)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Danish krone (plural--kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 ore

Economic aid [time series]

none

Electricity [time series]

84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--5.817 (January 1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$417 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--fish and fish products 78%, metallic ores and concentrates 19%; partners--Denmark 74%, FRG 11%, Sweden 6%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$480 million (1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GNP [time series]

$500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)

Imports [time series]

$394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities--manufactured goods 36%, machinery and transport equipment 26%, food products 13%, petroleum and petroleum products 10%; partners--Denmark 69%, Norway, FRG, Japan, US, Sweden

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp), potential for platinum and gold mining, handicrafts, shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.4% (1989)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry, accounting for over 75% of exports and about 25% of the population's income. Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy. In 1990, the economy became critically dependent on shrimp exports and an annual subsidy (now about $355 million) from the Danish Government because cod exports had fallen, the zinc and lead mine closed, and a large promising platinum and gold mine was not yet operational. Greenland has signed a contract for its largest construction project, a power plant to supply the capital. To avoid a decline in the economy, Denmark has agreed to pay 75% of the costs of running Sondrestrom Airbase and Kulusuk Airfield as civilian bases after the US withdraws in 1992.

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1990 est.)

Climate [time series]

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Coastline [time series]

44,087 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 99%

Natural resources [time series]

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish

Note [time series]

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe

Terrain [time series]

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

Area (Total area) [time series]

2,175,600 km2; land area: 341,700 km2 (ice free)

Administrative divisions [time series]

3 municipalities (kommuner, singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Capital [time series]

Nuuk (Godthab)

Constitution [time series]

Danish

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch [time series]

Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyre)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court (Landsret) Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA); Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)

Legal system [time series]

Danish

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Landsting

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

none

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

NC

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

two-party ruling coalition--Siumut (a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), leader NA; Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 Landsting--last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1; Danish Folketing--last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Birth rate [time series]

20 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians) 86%, Danish 14%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

28 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Languages (Language) [time series]

Eskimo dialects, Danish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

63 years male, 69 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

56,752 (July 1991), growth rate 1.2% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.2 children born/woman (1991)