Greenland Population: 57,691
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History | |
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% 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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Geography | |
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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 |
Area: | total: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered) Size comparison: 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 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 |
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.) arable land: 0% (2011 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2011 est.) forest: 0% (2011 est.) other: 99.4% (2011 est.) |
Irrigated land: | n/a |
Natural hazards: | continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island |
Current Environment 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 |
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People | |
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Nationality: | noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic |
Ethnic groups: | Greenlandic 89.7%, Danish 7.8%, other Nordic 1.1%, and other 1.4% (2018 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth |
Languages: | Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language), Danish, English |
Religions: | Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs |
Population: | 57,691 (July 2018 est.) |
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.) |
Median age: | total: 34 years male: 35 years female: 32.9 years (2018 est.) |
Population growth rate: | -0.04% (2018 est.) |
Birth rate: | 14.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
Death rate: | 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
Net migration rate: | -6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
Urbanization: | urban population: 86.8% of total population (2018) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) |
Major urban areas - population: | 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018) |
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2018 est.) |
Infant mortality rate: | total: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 72.9 years male: 70.2 years female: 75.8 years (2018 est.) |
Total fertility rate: | 1.97 children born/woman (2018 est.) |
Physicians density: | 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016) |
Hospital bed density: | 8.2 beds/1,000 population (2015) |
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 (2015 est.) rural: 100% of population (2015 est.) total: 100% of population (2015 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.) rural: 0% of population (2015 est.) total: 0% of population (2015 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | n/a |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | n/a |
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | n/a |
Education expenditures: | n/a |
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2015 est.) |
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Government | |
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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 etymology: "nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord |
Administrative divisions: | 5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) 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 - makes 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: | 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) |
Legal system: | the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas |
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 elections/appointments: 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% |
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) Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms elections: Greenland Parliament - last held on 24 April 2018 (next to be held by 2022) Greenland members to Danish Parliament - last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held by June 2019) election results: Greenland Parliament 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; composition - men 19, women 12, percent of women 38.7% Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women |
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: | Cooperation Party (Suleqatigiissitsisut or Samarbejdspartiet) or SA [Michael ROSING] Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Niels THOMSEN] Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Kim KIELSEN] Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Sara OLSVIG] Our Country's Future (Nunatta Qitornai) or NQ [Vittus QUJAUKITSOQ] Signpost Party (Partii Naleraq) or PN [Hans ENOKSEN] Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Siverth Karl HEILMANN] |
International organization participation: | Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU |
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 |
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 |
Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) |
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Economy | |
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. | |
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $2.413 billion (2015 est.) $2.24 billion (2014 est.) $2.203 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars |
GDP (official exchange rate): | $2.221 billion (2015 est.) (2015 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: | 7.7% (2016 est.) 1.7% (2015 est.) -0.8% (2014 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $41,800 (2015 est.) $38,800 (2014 est.) $38,500 (2013 est.) 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: | n/a |
Labor force: | 26,840 (2015 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 15.9% industry: 10.1% services: 73.9% (2015 est.) |
Unemployment rate: | 9.1% (2015 est.) 10.3% (2014 est.) |
Population below poverty line: | 16.2% (2015 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: n/a highest 10%: n/a |
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 33.9 (2015 est.) 34.3 (2014 est.) |
Budget: | revenues: 1.719 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: 1.594 billion (2016 est.) |
Taxes and other revenues: | 77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.) |
Public debt: | 13% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Fiscal year: | calendar year |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 0.3% (January 2017 est.) 1.2% (January 2016 est.) |
Exports: | $407.1 million (2015 est.) $599.7 million (2014 est.) |
Exports - commodities: | fish and fish products 91% (2015 est.) |
Exports - partners: | Denmark 82.5%, Iceland 4.4% (2017) |
Imports: | $783.5 million (2015 est.) $866.1 million (2014 est.) |
Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products |
Imports - partners: | Denmark 69.7%, Sweden 10.6% (2017) |
Debt - external: | $36.4 million (2010) $58 million (2009) |
Exchange rates: | Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.586 (2017 est.) 6.7309 (2016 est.) 6.7309 (2015 est.) 6.7326 (2014 est.) 5.6125 (2013 est.) |
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Energy | |
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Electricity - production: | 538 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption: | 468 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity: | 187,000 kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels: | 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: | 49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources: | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Crude oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
Crude oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Crude oil - imports: | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Crude oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production: | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption: | 4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports: | 3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: | 613,800 Mt (2017 est.) |
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Communications | |
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Cellular Phones in use: | total subscriptions: 61,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.) |
Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; 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 (2018) domestic: 14 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 111 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2018) international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) |
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 (2019) |
Internet country code: | .gl |
Internet users: | total: 39,544 percent of population: 68.5% (July 2016 est.) |
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Transportation | |
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Airports: | 15 (2013) |
Airports (paved runways): | total 10 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) under 914 m: 6 (2017) |
Airports (unpaved runways): | total 5 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) 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 |
Merchant marine: | total 8 by type: general cargo 1, other 7 (2018) |
Ports and terminals: | major seaport(s): Sisimiut |
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Military | |
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Defense is the responsibility of Denmark | |
Military branches: | no regular military forces or conscription; the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for territorial defense of Greenland (2016) |
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Transnational Issues | |
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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 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 |
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook