Total area:
2,175,600 km2
Land area:
341,700 km2 (ice free)
Comparative area:
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
Disputes:
Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
Mayen
Climate:
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous,
barren, rocky coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and
woodland NEGL%; other 99%
Environment:
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous
permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Note:
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe
:Greenland People
Population:
57,407 (July 1992), growth rate 1.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
19 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
27 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
63 years male, 69 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Greenlander(s); adjective - Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions:
Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians) 86%, Danish 14%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
Organized labor:
NA
:Greenland Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Capital:
Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
3 municipalities (kommuner, - singular - kommun); - Nordgronland,
Ostgrnland, Vestgronland
Independence:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Constitution:
Danish
Legal system:
Danish
National holiday:
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Executive branch:
Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister,
Cabinet (Landsstyre)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Landsting)
Judicial branch:
High Court (Landsret)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner
Bent KLINTE (since NA)
Head of Government:
Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
two-party ruling coalition - Siumut (a moderate socialist party that
advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from
Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; - Inuit - Ataqatigiit - (IA; - a -
Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather
than home rule), leader NA; Atassut Party (a more conservative party that
favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party
(conservative-Greenland nationalist), leader NA; Center Party (a new
nonsocialist protest party), leader NA
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Danish Folketing:
last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland
elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
Landsting:
last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Member of:
NC
Diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
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
:Greenland Economy
Overview:
Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from one based on
subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on foreign trade.
Fishing is still the most important industry, accounting for over 75% of
exports and about 25% of the population's income. Maintenance of a social
welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant
role in the economy. In 1990, the economy became critically dependent on
shrimp exports and on an annual subsidy (now about $500 million) from the
Danish Government because cod exports dropped off and commercial mineral
production stopped. As of 1992, the government also has taken control of the
health sector from Denmark. The new Home Rule government installed in March
1991 has decided to end much of the central control of the economy and to
open it wider to competitive forces.
GNP:
purchasing power equivalent - $500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth
rate 5% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
l.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
9% (1990 est.)
Budget:
revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including capital
expenditures of $36 million (1989)
Exports:
$435 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
fish and fish products 83%, metallic ores and concentrates 13%
partners:
Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
Imports:
$420 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live
animals 12.4%, petroleum and petroleum products 12%
partners:
Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%
External debt:
$480 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,180 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
fish processing (mainly shrimp), potential for platinum and gold mining,
handicrafts, shipyards
Agriculture:
sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and
small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
Danish krone (plural - kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 re
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.447 (March 1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189
(1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Greenland Communications
Highways:
80 km
Ports:
Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab),
Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay
Merchant marine:
1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note
- operates under the registry of Denmark
Civil air:
2 major transport aircraft
Airports:
11 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and
microwave; 17,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters)
FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
:Greenland Defense Forces