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 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 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.
Geography
- Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
- Geographic coordinates
- Area 12/257
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)
- 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
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:
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 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
agricultural land: 0.6%
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.6%
forest: 0%
other: 99.4% (2011 est.)
- 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 and Society
- Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
- Ethnic groups
Inuit 88%, Danish and other 12% (2010 est.)
- Languages
Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish (official), English
- Religions
Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
- Population 206/238
57,733 (July 2015 est.)
- Age structure
0-14 years: 21.35% (male 6,263/female 6,064)
15-24 years: 16.2% (male 4,736/female 4,615)
25-54 years: 42.03% (male 12,751/female 11,516)
55-64 years: 11.87% (male 3,858/female 2,996)
65 years and over: 8.55% (male 2,640/female 2,294) (2015 est.)
- Median age
total: 33.7 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 32.5 years (2015 est.)
- Population growth rate 196/233
0% (2015 est.)
- Birth rate 135/224
14.48 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Death rate 77/225
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Net migration rate 198/222
-5.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
- Urbanization
urban population: 86.4% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- Major urban areas - population
NUUK (capital) 17,000 (2014)
- Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
- Infant mortality rate 143/224
total: 9.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth 144/224
total population: 72.1 years
male: 69.41 years
female: 74.92 years (2015 est.)
- Total fertility rate 118/224
2.03 children born/woman (2015 est.)
- Physicians density
1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
- Hospital bed density
5.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
- Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
- Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
- HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
- HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
- HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Government
- 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 985 in order to entice settlers to the island
- 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 has 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
previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act) (2015)
- Legal system
the laws of Denmark apply
- 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: Prime Minister Kim KIELSEN (since 30 September 2014)
cabinet: Home Rule Government elected by the Parliament (Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister indirectly elected by Parliament
election results: Kim KIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 34.3%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 33.2%, Anda ULDUM (D) 11.8%, other 20.7%
- Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (Landsting) (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 15 September 2011 (next to be held by September 2015); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1
elections: last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held by 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - S 34.6%, IA 33.5%, D 11.9%, PN 11.7%, A 6.6%, other 1.7%; seats by party - S 11, IA 11, D 4, PN 3, A 2 (2013)
- Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens B. FREDERIKSEN]
Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Aleqa HAMMOND]
Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Kuupik KLEIST]
Inuit Party (Partii Inuit) or PI [Nikku OLSEN]
Partii Naleraq or PN [Hans ENOKSEN]
Solidarity Party (Atassut) or A [Gerhardt PETERSEN]
- Political pressure groups and leaders
other: conservationists; environmentalists
- International organization participation
Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
- 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 symbol(s)
polar bear; national colors: red, white
- National anthem
name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" ("Our Country, Who's Become So Old" also translated as "You Our Ancient Land")
lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN
note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem
Economy
- Economy - overview
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish, income from resource exploration and extraction, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. The subsidy was budgeted to be about $651 million in 2012, approximately 56% of government revenues that year.
The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. Greenland's real GDP contracted about 1% in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but is estimated to have grown marginally in 2010-15.
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 accounted for 89% of exports in 2010 - the economy remains very sensitive to external demand.
The relative ease with which Greenland has weathered the economic crisis is due to increased hydrocarbon and mineral exploration and extraction activities, a high level of construction activity in the Nuuk area and the increasing price of fish and shrimp. 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. Within the area of mining, olivine sand continues to be produced and gold production has resumed in south Greenland, while rare-earth and iron ore mineral projects have been proposed or planned elsewhere on the island.
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) 193/230
$2.173 billion (2011 est.)
$2.154 billion (2010 est.)
$2.165 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
- GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.16 billion (2011 est.)
- GDP - real growth rate 182/225
0.9% (2011 est.)
-0.5% (2010 est.)
1.5% (2009 est.)
- GDP - per capita (PPP) 43/230
$37,900 (2008 est.)
$38,100 (2007 est.)
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 13.9%
industry: 19.2%
services: 67% (2012 est.)
- Agriculture - products
sheep, cow, 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%
- Labor force 207/233
26,990 (2012 est.)
- Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 13.9%
industry: 19.2%
services: 67% (2012 est.)
- Unemployment rate 107/207
9.4% (2013 est.)
4.2% (2010 est.)
- Population below poverty line
9.2% (2007 est.)
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
- Budget
revenues: $1.72 billion
expenditures: $1.68 billion (2010)
- Taxes and other revenues 4/219
79.6% of GDP (2010)
- Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) 14/220
1.9% of GDP (2010)
- Fiscal year
calendar year
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 103/226
1.8% (2012 est.)
2.8% (2011 est.)
- Exports 178/224
$384.3 million (2010)
$358 million (2009)
- Exports - commodities
fish and fish products 89%, metals 10% (2008 est.)
- Exports - partners
Denmark 60.7%, Japan 10.4%, China 8.4% (2014)
- Imports 184/223
$814.2 million (2010)
$726 million (2009)
- Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
- Imports - partners
Denmark 60.4%, Sweden 16.9%, Iceland 10.6% (2014)
- Debt - external 196/206
$36.4 million (2010)
$58 million (2009)
- Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
6.588 (2015 est.)
5.6125 (2014 est.)
5.3687 (2013 est.)
5.79 (2012 est.)
5.3687 (2011 est.)
Energy
- Electricity - production 175/220
314 million kWh (2012 est.)
- Electricity - consumption 180/219
292 million kWh (2012 est.)
- Electricity - exports 145/218
0 kWh (2013 est.)
- Electricity - imports 156/219
0 kWh (2013 est.)
- Electricity - installed generating capacity 173/214
106,000 kW (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from fossil fuels 12/214
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from nuclear fuels 101/214
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from hydroelectric plants 176/214
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Electricity - from other renewable sources 179/212
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - production 142/214
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
- Crude oil - exports 131/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - imports 198/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Crude oil - proved reserves 140/215
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - production 189/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - consumption 160/212
7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - exports 185/214
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Refined petroleum products - imports 146/213
6,971 bbl/day (2012 est.)
- Natural gas - production 195/216
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - consumption 149/215
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - exports 108/215
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - imports 203/214
0 cu m (2013 est.)
- Natural gas - proved reserves 145/212
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
- Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy 177/212
604,900 Mt (2012 est.)
Communications
- Telephones - fixed lines 191/219
total subscriptions: 17,200
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2014 est.)
- Telephones - mobile cellular 200/217
total: 60,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2014 est.)
- 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 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 (2007)
- Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2008)
- Television broadcast stations
1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)
- Internet country code
.gl
- Internet hosts 123/232
15,645 (2012)
- Internet users 192/217
total: 40,100
percent of population: 69.5% (2014 est.)
Transportation
- Airports 147/236
15 (2013)
- 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 (2013)
- Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
- 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 (2012)
- Merchant marine 156/156
registered in other countries: 1 (Denmark 1) (2010)
- Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Sisimiut
Military and Security
- Military branches
no regular military forces
Transnational Issues
- Disputes - international
managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (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