other: 99% (1998 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 the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Geography - note: 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

Greenland People

Population: 56,352 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 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.)