Statistical information Greenland 1999

Greenland in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map reference:
Arctic RegionAreaTotal: total:2,175,600 km²; land:2,175,600 km² (341,600 km² ice-free, 1,834,000 km² ice-covered) (est.)
Comparative: 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
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
ElevationExtremes: lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m; highest point:Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
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 km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
GeographyNote: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
top of pagePopulation: 59,827 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.84% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
Nationality: noun:Greenlander(s); adjective:Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Demographic profileAge structure: 0-14 years:26% (male 7,789; female 7,728); 15-64 years:68% (male 22,248; female 18,678); 65 years and over:6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.23 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note_Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
International agreements: party to:NA; signed, but not ratified:NA
Air pollutantsSex ratio: at birth:1 male(s)/female; under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female; 15-64 years:1.19 male(s)/female; 65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female; total population:1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 20.06 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:70.1 years; male:65.98 years; female:74.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: NA; note:similar to Denmark proper
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none; conventional short form: Greenland; local long form: none; local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Government type: NA
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state:Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995); head of government:Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997); cabinet:Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties; elections:the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); election results:Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote_23 out of 31 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); elections:last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003); election results:percent of vote by party_Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%; seats by party_Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidates' League 4, independent 1; note:2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party_Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party_Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: NC, NIB
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
From the us: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_$16,100 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep; fish
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$706 million; expenditures:$697 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1995)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodities: fish and fish products 95%
Partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6%
Partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $243 million (1995)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1_6.401 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 245 million kWh (1996)
Production by source: fossil fuel:100%; hydro:0%; nuclear:0%; other:0% (1996)
Consumption: 245 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995; domestic:microwave radio relay; international:2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 13 (1998 est.)
With paved runways: total:9; over 3,047 m:1; 2,438 to 3,047 m:1; 1,524 to 2,437 m:1; 914 to 1,523 m:2; under 914 m:4 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways: total:4; 1,524 to 2,437 m:1; 914 to 1,523 m:2; under 914 m:1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: total:1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs