Internet country code [time series]

.gl

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

14,132 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

52,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

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: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)

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

36,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

66,400 (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.36 billion expenditures: $1.27 billion (2005)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Danish krone (DKK)

Debt - external [time series]

$25 million (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and a substantial subsidy 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. Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing. Press reports in early 2007 indicated that two international aluminum companies were considering building smelters in Greenland to take advantage of local hydropower potential. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. Air Greenland began summer-season direct flights to the US east coast in May 2007, potentially opening a major new tourism market.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

283.7 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

305 million kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$480 million f.o.b. (2006)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%) (2001 est.)

Exports - partners [time series]

Denmark 61.8%, Japan 9.9%, Canada 7.3%, China 5.8% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.7 billion (2005)

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

$1.1 billion (2001 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$20,000 (2001 est.)

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

2% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$712 million c.i.f. (2006)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Denmark 68.1%, Sweden 19.3%, Canada 2.5% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

32,120 (2004)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

3,927 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

149.5 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

4,089 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.3% (2005 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 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; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

Irrigated land [time series]

NA

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Natural hazards [time series]

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources [time series]

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, 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]

name: Nuuk (Godthab) geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

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 Soren MOLLER (since April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002) cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election results: Hans ENOKSEN reelected prime minister note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit

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 (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

International organization participation [time series]

Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU

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]

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

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 15 November 2005 (next to be held by December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%, Demokratiit 22.8%, IA 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%; Katusseqatigiit 4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Demokratiit 7, IA 7, Atassut 6, Katusseqatigiit 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1

National holiday [time series]

June 21 (longest day)

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

Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Finn KARLSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Josef MOTZFELDT] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)

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

other: conservationists; environmentalists

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 15,221 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 10,739 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 534 female: 503 (2008 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.5% (male 6,867/female 6,634) 15-64 years: 69.9% (male 21,683/female 18,575) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,892/female 1,913) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.46 years male: 66.81 years female: 72.25 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2001 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 33.5 years male: 34.9 years female: 31.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

57,564 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.064% (2008 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: 1.17 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Airports [time series]

14 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Sisimiut

Roadways [time series]

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)