*Greenland, Header
Affiliation: (part of the Danish realm)
*Greenland, Geography
Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway
Map references:
Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
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:
0 km
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International 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:
0%
other:
99%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
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:
56,533 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
19.62 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
66.19 years
male:
61.79 years
female:
70.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Greenlander(s)
adjective:
Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions:
Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA% female:
NA%
Labor force:
22,800
by occupation:
largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
*Greenland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Greenland
local long form:
none
local short form:
Kalaallit Nunaat
Digraph:
GL
Type:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Capital:
Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland,
Vestgronland
Independence:
none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
division)
Constitution:
Danish
Legal system:
Danish
National holiday:
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
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), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more conservative party
that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party
(conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new
nonsocialist protest party), leader NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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
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
Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)
*Greenland, Government
Head of Government:
Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US 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