GROELÂNDIA

Background:

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark 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 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 in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Geography ::GREENLAND
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 references:

North America
Area:

total: 2,166,086 sq km
country comparison to the world: 13
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered)
Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:

0 km
Coastline:

44,087 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:

Current Weather
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:

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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources:

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

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:

NA
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; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

People ::GREENLAND
Population:

57,600 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Age structure:

0-14 years: 23% (male 6,727/female 6,533)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 21,696/female 18,669)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 2,000/female 1,975) (2010 est.)
Median age:

total: 33.5 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

0.062% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Birth rate:

14.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Death rate:

8.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Net migration rate:

-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Urbanization:

urban population: 84% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 151
male: 12.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.07 years
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 67.44 years
female: 72.85 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA
Nationality:

noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (2000)
Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:

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

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:

NA

Government ::GREENLAND
Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Dependency status:

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:

name: Nuuk (Godthab)
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 is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions:

4 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Kujalleq, Qaasuitsup, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: the North and East Greenland National Park (Avannaarsuani Tunumilu Nuna Allanngutsaaliugaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - make it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
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:

June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:

(November 2008) Act on Greenland Self Government
Legal system:

the laws of Denmark where applicable apply
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soeren Hald MOELLER (since April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
cabinet: Home Rule Government elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party)
election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister
Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit 43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%; Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%; seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9, Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2011); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1
Judicial branch:

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:

Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Gerhardt PETERSEN] (a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Jens B. FREDERIKSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood) [Kuupik KLEIST] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List) (an independent right-of-center party with no official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Hans ENOKSEN] (a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)
Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: conservationists; environmentalists
International organization participation:

Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation 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

Economy ::GREENLAND
Economy - overview:

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $650 million in 2009 - from the Danish Government, which supplies nearly 60% of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. Greenland's GDP contracted about 2% in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown. Budget surpluses turned to deficits beginning in 2007 and unemployment has risen. During the last decade the Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care and retirement systems. The Greenlandic economy has benefited from increasing catches and exports of shrimp, Greenland halibut and, more recently, crabs. Due to Greenland's continued dependence on exports of fish - which account for 82% of exports - the economy remains very sensitive to foreign developments. International consortia are increasingly active in exploring for hydrocarbon resources off Greenland's western coast, and international studies indicate the potential for oil and gas fields in northern and northeastern Greenland. In May 2007 a US aluminum producer concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Greenland Home Rule Government to build an aluminum smelter and a power generation facility, which takes advantage of Greenland's abundant hydropower potential. Tourism also offers another avenue of economic growth for Greenland, with increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.03 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.03 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
4% (2007 est.)
2.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$35,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2%
Labor force:

28,240 (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:

6.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
7.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:

9.2% (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:

revenues: $1.47 billion
expenditures: $1.51 billion (2007)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
1% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Industries:

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate:

NA%
Electricity - production:

310.3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - consumption:

285.6 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - exports:

1,183 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - imports:

5,172 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Exports:

$485 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 167
$428 million (2007)
Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 72%, metals 10% (2008)
Exports - partners:

Denmark 61.13%, Japan 13.69%, China 6.15%, Sweden 5.21% (2009)
Imports:

$867 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 173
$669 million (2007)
Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
Imports - partners:

Denmark 74.93%, Sweden 11.73%, Norway 2.29% (2009)
Debt - external:

$58 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
$25 million (1999)
Exchange rates:

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.4742 (2009), 5.0236 (2008), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005)

Communications ::GREENLAND
Telephones - main lines in use:

22,800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 189
Telephones - mobile cellular:

55,800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 191
Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digital since 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)
Broadcast media:

the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and television services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local television and radio stations broadcast; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2007)
Internet country code:

.gl
Internet hosts:

14,134 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111
Internet users:

36,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 177

Transportation ::GREENLAND
Airports:

15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 145
Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:

note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)
Merchant marine:

total: 2
country comparison to the world: 147
by type: cargo 1, passenger 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:

Sisimiut

Military ::GREENLAND
Military branches:

no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,474 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,833
females age 16-49: 11,439 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 511
female: 484 (2010 est.)
Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues ::GREENLAND
Disputes - international:

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland