Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7 (repeaters 35), shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

17,900 telephones; adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 4 (repeaters 9) televisions: NA

Note [time series]

defense is responsibility of Denmark GRENADA

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: $667 million expenditures: $635 million, including capital expenditures of $103.8 million (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Economic aid [time series]

none

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 84,000 kW production: 210 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,361 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$297.1 million (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) 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]

1.3% (1993 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA

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

$NA

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

NA%

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]

6.6% (1993 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: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Arctic Region

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

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 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note - Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

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 Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) 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 4 March 1995 (next to be held 5 March 1999); results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1

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

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 (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, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar Party), Nicolai HEINRICH

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)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (female 7,664; male 7,881) 15-64 years: 68% (female 17,761; male 21,580) 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,500; male 1,225) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.7 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

25.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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: 67.65 years male: 63.33 years female: 71.98 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

57,611 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.05% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 10 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondrestrom

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km