Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Environment-current issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note-Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

Environment-international agreements: party to: Whaling (extended through Denmark) signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography-note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast

@Greenland:People

Population: 59,309 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 7,814; female 7,709) 15-64 years: 68% (male 22,099; female 18,487) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,476; female 1,724) (July 1998 est.)