Airports [time series]

total: 11 usable: 8 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km

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 microwave radio relay; 17,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters) FM, 4 (9 repeaters) 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]

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Economic aid [time series]

none

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 84,000 kW production: 176 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,060 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$340.6 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$480 million (1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$403 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12% partners: Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%

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

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.6% (1991)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1988)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$9,000 (1988)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-10% (1990)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government.

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1990 est.)

Area [time series]

total area: 2,175,600 sq km land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free) comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Coastline [time series]

44,087 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

dispute betwen Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Northern North America, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway

Map references [time series]

Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Nuuk (Godthab)

Constitution [time series]

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legislative branch (Danish Folketing) [time series]

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

Digraph [time series]

GL

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

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA) head of government: Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) cabinet: Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties

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]

none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court (Landsret)

Legal system [time series]

Danish

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Legislative branch (Parliament (Landsting)) [time series]

elections 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

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; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Birth rate [time series]

18.6 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

26.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

22,800 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Languages [time series]

Eskimo dialects, Danish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.91 years male: 62.55 years female: 71.28 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

57,040 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.94% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)