Greenland

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

72.00° N, 40.00° W

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)

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

0 km

44,087 km

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

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

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

mean elevation:

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,700 m

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

agricultural land: 0.6%

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.6%

forest: 0%

other: 99.4% (2011 est.)

NA

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

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

noun: Greenlander(s)

adjective: Greenlandic

Inuit 88%, Danish and other 12% (2010 est.)

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

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

57,733 (July 2015 est.)

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.)

total: 33.7 years

male: 34.9 years

female: 32.5 years (2015 est.)

0% (2015 est.)

14.48 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

-5.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

urban population: 86.4% of total population (2015)

rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

NUUK (capital) 17,000 (2014)

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.)

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.)

total population: 72.1 years

male: 69.41 years

female: 74.92 years (2015 est.)

2.03 children born/woman (2015 est.)

1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

5.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)

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.)

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.)

NA

NA

NA

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

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

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

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

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)

June 21 (longest day)

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)

the laws of Denmark apply

see Denmark

18 years of age; universal

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%

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)

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

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]

other: conservationists; environmentalists

Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

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

polar bear; national colors: red, white

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

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.

$2.173 billion (2011 est.)

$2.154 billion (2010 est.)

$2.165 billion (2009 est.)

note: data are in 2011 US dollars

$2.16 billion (2011 est.)

0.9% (2011 est.)

-0.5% (2010 est.)

1.5% (2009 est.)

$37,900 (2008 est.)

$38,100 (2007 est.)

agriculture: 13.9%

industry: 19.2%

services: 67% (2012 est.)

sheep, cow, reindeer, fish

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

NA%

26,990 (2012 est.)

agriculture: 13.9%

industry: 19.2%

services: 67% (2012 est.)

9.4% (2013 est.)

4.2% (2010 est.)

9.2% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

revenues: $1.72 billion

expenditures: $1.68 billion (2010)

79.6% of GDP (2010)

1.9% of GDP (2010)

calendar year

1.8% (2012 est.)

2.8% (2011 est.)

$384.3 million (2010)

$358 million (2009)

fish and fish products 89%, metals 10% (2008 est.)

Denmark 60.7%, Japan 10.4%, China 8.4% (2014)

$814.2 million (2010)

$726 million (2009)

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Denmark 60.4%, Sweden 16.9%, Iceland 10.6% (2014)

$36.4 million (2010)

$58 million (2009)

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.)

314 million kWh (2012 est.)

292 million kWh (2012 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

106,000 kW (2012 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

7,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

6,971 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

604,900 Mt (2012 est.)

total subscriptions: 17,200

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2014 est.)

total: 60,800

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2014 est.)

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)

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)

AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2008)

1 (plus some local low-power stations, and 3 American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) stations (1997)

.gl

15,645 (2012)

total: 40,100

percent of population: 69.5% (2014 est.)

15 (2013)

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)

total: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2013)

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)

registered in other countries: 1 (Denmark 1) (2010)

major seaport(s): Sisimiut

no regular military forces

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