World Facts Index
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 over stringent fishing quotas.
Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into
effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign
affairs.
Geography of Greenland
|
Location:
|
Northern North America,
island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast
of Canada |
|
Coordinates:
|
72 00 N, 40 00 W |
|
Area:
|
total: 2,166,086 sq
km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km
ice-covered) (2000 est.) |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly more than three
times the size of Texas |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
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44,087 km |
|
Maritime claims:
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continental shelf:
200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median
line
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 |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m |
|
Natural resources:
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zinc, lead, iron ore, coal,
molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower,
possible oil and gas |
|
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
|
Population of Greenland
|
Population:
|
57,564 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 7,072/female 6,740)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 20,904/female 17,919)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,768/female 1,958) |
|
Median age:
|
34 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
-0.03% |
|
Infant mortality:
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15.4 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 69.94 years
male: 66.36 years
female: 73.6 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
2.4 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born
whites), Danish and others 12% |
|
Religions:
|
Evangelical Lutheran |
|
Languages:
|
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English |
Government
|
Country name:
|
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:
|
Nuuk (Godthab) |
|
Administrative divisions:
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3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa
(Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland |
|
Independence:
|
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively
participates in international agreements relating to Greenland |
|
National holiday:
|
June 21 (longest day) |
|
Constitution:
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5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) |
|
Legal system:
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Danish |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark
(since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since
April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the
basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the
monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the
majority party). |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members
are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms). |
|
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) |
Economy
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and a
substantial subsidy from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of
government revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises
and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Several
interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are ongoing. Press
reports in early 2007 indicated that two international aluminum companies were
considering building smelters in Greenland to take advantage of local
hydropower potential. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term
potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. Air
Greenland began summer-season direct flights to the US east coast in May 2007,
potentially opening a major new tourism market.
|
GDP:
|
$1.1 billion (2001 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
1.8% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
purchasing power parity -
$20,000 |
|
Inflation rate:
|
1.6% |
|
Labor force:
|
24,500 |
|
Unemployment:
|
10% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $646
million
expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85
million |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
nuclear: 0%
note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from
fossil fuel to hydropower production
other: 0%
hydro: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
fish processing (mainly
shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts, hides and skins, small
shipyards, mining |
|
Agriculture:
|
forage crops, garden and
greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish |
|
Exports:
|
fish and fish products 94%
(prawns 63%) |
|
Export partners:
|
Denmark 62.4%, Japan 12.2%, China 5.2% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and transport
equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products |
|
Import partners:
|
Denmark 75.2%, Sweden 12%, Canada 2.7% |
|
Currency:
|
Danish krone (DKK) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |