Map of Greenland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 79% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland remains a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the EU. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.


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Location: 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 Region

Area
Total: 2,166,086 km²
Land: 2,166,086 km²
Note: (approximately 1,710,000 km² ice-covered)
Rank: 13
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 44,087 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Exclusive fishing zone: 200
Note: nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

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

Elevation
Mean elevation: 1792 m
Elevation extremes: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use
Agricultural land: 0.6% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 99.4% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land
Note: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

Geography
Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million km² (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million km³ (684 thousand m³i) of ice (this is almost 7% of all of the world's fresh water); if all this ice were converted to liquid water, one estimate is that it would be sufficient to raise the height of the world's oceans by 7.2 m (24 ft)


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Population
Distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited: 57,691 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 206
Growth rate: -0.04% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 200
Below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Greenlander(s)
Adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish (official), English

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 21% (male 6,151 /female 5,962)
15-24 years: 15.1% (male 4,388 /female 4,321)
25-54 years: 40.83% (male 12,349 /female 11,209)
55-64 years: 13.5% (male 4,259 /female 3,529)
65 years and over: 9.57% (male 2,944 /female 2,579) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 34 years
Male: 35 years
Female: 32.9 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 89

Population growth rate: -0.04% (2018 est.)
Rank: 200

Birth rate: 14.3 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 133

Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 69

Net migration rate: -6 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 197

Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited

Urbanization
Urban population: 86.8% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: especially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 1.26 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.7 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 9.9 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 7.4 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 147

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.9 years (2018 est.)
Male: 70.2 years (2018 est.)
Female: 75.8 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 145

Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 122

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 1.73 physicians/1000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density: 8.2 beds/1000 population (2015)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 100% (2015 est.)
Male: 100% (2015 est.)
Female: 100% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Greenland
Local long form: none
Local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat: note: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island

Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Capital
Name: Nuuk (Godthaab)
Geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October: note: Greenland has four time zones

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

National holiday: National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

Constitution: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act) (2018)

Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see Denmark

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011)
Head of government: Premier Kim KIELSEN (since 30 September 2014)
Cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut) on the basis of the strength of parties
Electionsappointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
Election results: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8% note - general election 24 April 2018 with KIELSEN (Siumut party) retaining largest number of seats (9)

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) (2013)
Elections: last held on 24 April 2018 (next to be held by 2022) (2013)
Election results: percent of vote by party - S 27.2%, IA 25.5%, D 19.5%, PN 13.4%, A 5.9%, SA 4.1%, NQ 3.4% other 1%; seats by party - S 9, IA 8, D 6, PN 4, A 2, SA 1, NQ 1 (2013): note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament on 18 June 2015 (next to be held by June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1

Judicial branch
Highest courts: High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates courts

Political parties and leaders: Collabotation Party (Samarbejdspartiet) or SA [Tillie MARTINUSSEN]Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Randi VESTERGAARD EVALDSEN]Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Kim KIELSEN]Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Sara OLSVIG]Nunatta Qitornai or NQ [Vittus QUJAUKITSOQ]Partii Naleraq or PN [Hans ENOKSEN]Solidarity Party (Atassut) or A [Siverth Karl HEILMANN]

International organization participation: Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark): note - Greenland has an office in the Danish Embassy to the US; it also has offices in the Danish consulates of Chicago and New York
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; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark

National symbols: polar bear; national colors: red, white

National anthem
Name: Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit (Our Country, Whos Become So Old also translated as You Our Ancient Land)
Lyricsmusic: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN: note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes 'Nuna asiilasooq' as a secondary anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP.The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season.The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017-20 period.Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 193

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 11

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 44

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68.1% (2015 est.)
Government consumption: 28% (2015 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 14.3% (2015 est.)
Investment in inventories: -13.9% (2015 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2015 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2015 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.)
Industry: 10.1% (2015 est.)
Services: 73.9% (2015)

Agriculture products: sheep, cow, reindeer, fish, shellfish

Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); anorthosite and ruby mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Industrial production growth rate
Note: NA

Labor force: 26,840 (2015 est.)
Rank: 207
By occupation agriculture: 15.9%
By occupation industry: 10.1%
By occupation services: 73.9% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 132

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 107

Budget
Revenues: 1.719 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: 1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 5

Taxes and other revenues: 77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Rank: 3

Public debt: 13% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 196

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 19

Central bank discount rate: NA

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:
Rank: 183
Partners: Denmark 82.5%, Iceland 4.4% (2017)
Commodities: fish and fish products 91% (2015 est.)

Imports:
Rank: 190
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
Partners: Denmark 69.7%, Sweden 10.6% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:
Rank: 197

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2016)
Production: 538 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 163
Consumption: 468 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 170
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 141
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 153
Installed generating capacity: 187,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 167
Generation sources fossil fuels: 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 149
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 99
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 42
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 189

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 141
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 130
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 133
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 138

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 150
Products consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 184
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 159
Products imports: 3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 177

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 138
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 151
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 113
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 131
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 140

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 613,800 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 179

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 16,000 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 186
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 61,000 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 199

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; microwave radio relay and satellite; the fundamental telecommunications infrastructure consists of a digital radio link from Nanortalik in south Greenland to Uummannaq in north Greenland; satellites cover north and east Greenland for domestic and foreign telecommunications; a marine cable connects south and west Greenland to the rest of the world, extending from Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Canada and Iceland (2017)
Domestic: 28 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 106 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2017)
International: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2015)

Broadcast media: the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2015)

Internet
Country code: .gl
Users total: 39,544 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 68.5% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 199

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
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Note: (registered in Denmark) (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H (2016)

Airports: 15 (2013)
Rank: 146
With paved runways total: 10 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 5 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways: note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 8 (2017)
By type: general cargo 1, other 7 (2017)
Rank: 157

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Sisimiut


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Disputes international: managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and GreenlandDenmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs