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

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.gl

Internet users [time series]

4,008 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

30,000 (1998 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite international: satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

25,617 (end 1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

12,676 (end 1999)

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]

30,000 (1998 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $646 million expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85 million (1999)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Danish krone (DKK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

DKK

Debt - external [time series]

$25 million (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Despite 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

232.5 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

250 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 41% hydro: 59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydroelectric power production (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$276 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish and fish products 94%

Exports - partners [time series]

EU (mainly Denmark) 85%, Japan 8%, US 2% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2000 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 - $20,000 (2000 est.)

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

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$400 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

EU (mostly Denmark), Norway, US, Canada

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.6% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

24,500 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7% (1999 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 and seal hunting

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, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; 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% (1998 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]

continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line 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, hydropower, possible oil and gas

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) note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

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

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 19 September 1997) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landstinget) 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 16 February 1999 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister following the 16 February 1999 elections; percent of parliamentary vote - 57.3% note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA)

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) note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland

International organization participation [time series]

ICC, NC, NIB

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Legal system [time series]

Danish

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 16 February 1999 (next to be held by NA February 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.1%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%, independent 5.2%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate List 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by not later than March 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 (Siamut with Social Democratic Party and Atassut with Liberal Party)

National holiday [time series]

June 21 (longest day)

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

Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Jonathan MOTZFELDT]

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

NA

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. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.69% (male 7,649; female 7,392) 15-64 years: 67.87% (male 20,868; female 17,376) 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 1,385; female 1,682) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

100 (1999)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.37 years male: 64.82 years female: 72.01 years (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

56,352 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.06% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

13 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 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: 4 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,289 GRT/1,500 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2000 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq (March 2001)

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none