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Communications

Military - note (Defense note) [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 7 (repeaters 35), shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

23,000 (1991 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

17,900 (1984 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (repeaters 9)

Televisions [time series]

12,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep; 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]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual subsidy from Denmark

Economic 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, 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, an important supplement of GDP.

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 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)

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

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

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

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

$15,500 (1995 est.)

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

NA%

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 [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead, zinc, handicrafts, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.3% (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

22,800

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.6% (1993 est.)

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast

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

Terrain [time series]

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Government

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]

election last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA 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

Data code [time series]

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 (of Denmark since 14 January 1972), a constitutional monarch, is represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) was elected by the Landsting cabinet: Landsstyre is 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 (Name of country) [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]

election last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held NA 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 Party, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar Party), Nicolai HEINRICH

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [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)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,871; female 7,723) 15-64 years: 68% (male 21,755; female 17,961) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,307; female 1,586) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.06 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

23.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Eskimo dialects, Danish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.24 years male: 63.97 years female: 72.53 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

58,203 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female all ages: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.22 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 8 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: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,162 GRT/610 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondre Stromfjord

Railways [time series]

0 km