Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

one publically-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations

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; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay international : 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

19,600 (1995 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations

Televisions [time series]

12,000 (1991 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep, fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Debt - external [time series]

$243 million (1995)

Economic aid [time series]

substantial annual subsidy from Denmark - $427 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. Nonetheless, prospects for substantial economic growth in the near future are poor. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

92,500 kW

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

2,691 kWh (1994-95)

Electricity - production [time series]

274.4 million kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.117 (January 1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%

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]

purchasing power parity - $15,500 (1995 est.)

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

NA%

Imports [time series]

total value: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6% partners : Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

1.8% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

total: 24,500 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.5% (1995 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 2,175,600 sq km land : 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note - Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Whaling (extended through Denmark) signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources [time series]

zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

3 districts (landsdele); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Constitution [time series]

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

GL

Dependency status [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation in the 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), represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament; election last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA) election results: Gunnar MARTENS elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

NA

Independence [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court or Landsret

Legal system [time series]

Danish

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%; seats by party - Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Nuuk (Godthab)

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

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 or 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

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military manpower - military age [time series]

16 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

494

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,843; female 7,711) 15-64 years: 68% (male 21,931; female 18,237) 65 years and over : 5% (male 1,393; female 1,653) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.39 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.84 years male: 64.62 years female: 73.08 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA note: similar to Denmark proper

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

58,768 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.94% (1997 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: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none GRENADA

Airports [time series]

8 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 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 (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Saamiut, Sisimiut

Railways [time series]

0 km