Map of Greenland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: The world's largest island about 84% ice-capped Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 44,087 km

Maritime claims: Contiguous zone:4 nm; Continental shelf:200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish

Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 99% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark


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Population: 56,078 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Greenlander(s); adjective--Greenlandic

Ethnic groups: 86% Greenlander (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), 14% Danish

Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 20 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 28 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 68 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular--kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Dependent areas

Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: Danish

Legal system: Danish

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA); Head of Government--Home Rule Chairman Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA May 1979)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Landsting)

Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: the flag of Denmark is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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 two-thirds of exports and about 25% of the population's income. Exploitation of mineral resources is limited to lead and zinc. Maintenance of a social welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public sector a dominant role in the economy. Greenland is heavily dependent on an annual subsidy of about $400 million from the Danish Government.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1987 fish catch of 101,000 metric tons

Industries: fish processing, lead and zinc mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 22,800; largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Unemployment rate: 10%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $380 million; expenditures $380 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1985)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $386.2 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates
Partners: Denmark 76%, FRG 7%, Sweden 5%

Imports: $445.6 million (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Partners: Denmark 66%, Norway 5%, Sweden 4%, FRG 4%, Japan 4% US 3%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $445 million (1988)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.560 (January 1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)


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Electricity
Capacity: 84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,021 GRT/1,778 DWT; note--operates under the registry of Denmark

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs