Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

27,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

20,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,308 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)

Televisions [time series]

22,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep, reindeer; 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 (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a tight 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 1990. 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 - consumption [time series]

228 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

245 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish and fish products 95%

Exports - partners [time series]

Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $945 million (1997 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 - $16,100 (1997 est.)

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

0.6% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$421 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

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) [time series]

1.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

24,500 (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.5% (1995 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 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 the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling; note - Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

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; world's second largest ice cap

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); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)

Capital [time series]

Nuuk (Godthab)

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 Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

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 Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes note: government coalition - Siumut and Atassut

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]

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)

International organization participation [time series]

NC, NIB

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 by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate's League 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

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

Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Candidate's League [leader NA]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

The world's largest island, about 84% ice-capped, Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 7,718; female 7,483) 15-64 years: 68% (male 20,860; female 17,272) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,332; female 1,644) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.07 years male: 64.52 years female: 71.69 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

56,309 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.09% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.45 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

14 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut

Railways [time series]

0 km