North America :: Greenland

- Introduction :: Greenland
- Background:
  Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 79% 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.
- 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:
  Arctic Region
  Area:
  total: 2,166,086 sq km
  land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  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
  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
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 1,792 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
  3694 highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld
  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:
  NA
  Population distribution:
  settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
  Natural hazards:
  continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
  Environment - current 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
  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 sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million sq km (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million cu km (684 thousand cu mi) of ice (this is almost 7% of all of the world's fresh water); if all this ice were converted to liquid water, one estimate is that it would be sufficient to raise the height of the world's oceans by 7.2 m (24 ft)
- People and Society :: Greenland
- Population:
  57,691 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Nationality:
  noun: Greenlander(s)
  adjective: Greenlandic
  Ethnic groups:
  Greenlandic 89.6%, Danish 7.8%, other Nordic 1.1%, and other 1.4% (2018 est.)
  note: data represent population by country of birth
  Languages:
  Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish (official), English
  Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  North America :: Greenland Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Greenland. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Median age:
  total: 34 years
  male: 35 years
  female: 32.9 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Population growth rate:
  -0.04% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Birth rate:
  14.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Death rate:
  8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Net migration rate:
  -6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Population distribution:
  settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
  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 (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 1.26 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 72.9 years (2018 est.)
  male: 70.2 years (2018 est.)
  female: 75.8 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Total fertility rate:
  1.97 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Physicians density:
  1.73 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  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:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 100% (2015 est.)
  male: 100% (2015 est.)
  female: 100% (2015 est.)
- Government :: Greenland
- 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

  Dependency status:
  part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
  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

  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) (2018)
  Legal system:
  the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas
  Citizenship:
  see Denmark
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  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
  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% note - general election 24 April 2018 with KIELSEN (Siumut party) retaining largest number of seats (9)
  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) (2013)
  elections: last held on 24 April 2018 (next to be held by 2022) (2013)
  election results: 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 (2013)

  note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament on 18 June 2015 (next to be held by June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1

  Political parties and leaders:
  Collabotation Party (Samarbejdspartiet) or SA [Tillie MARTINUSSEN]
  Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Randi VESTERGAARD EVALDSEN]
  Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Kim KIELSEN]
  Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Sara OLSVIG]
  Nunatta Qitornai or NQ [Vittus QUJAUKITSOQ]
  Partii Naleraq or PN [Hans ENOKSEN]
  Solidarity Party (Atassut) or A [Siverth Karl HEILMANN]
  International organization participation:
  Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
  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)
  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 :: Greenland
- Economy - overview:

  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

  country comparison to the world: 193
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $41,800 (2015 est.)
  $38,800 (2014 est.)
  $38,500 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  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:
  NA
  Labor force:
  26,840 (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Population below poverty line:
  16.2% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  33.9 (2015 est.)
  34.3 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Budget:
  revenues: 1.719 billion (2016 est.)
  expenditures: 1.594 billion (2016 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Public debt:
  13% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.3% (January 2017 est.)
  1.2% (January 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Central bank discount rate:

  NA

  Exports:
  $407.1 million (2015 est.)
  $599.7 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Exports - partners:
  Denmark 82.5%, Iceland 4.4% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  fish and fish products 91% (2015 est.)
  Imports:
  $783.5 million (2015 est.)
  $866.1 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  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.)
- Energy :: Greenland
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  538 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Electricity - consumption:
  468 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  187,000 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  613,800 Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
- Communications :: Greenland
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 16,000 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 61,000 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; microwave radio relay and satellite; 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 (2017)
  domestic: 28 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 106 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2017)
  international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2015)
  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 (2015)
  Internet country code:
  .gl
  Internet users:
  total: 39,544 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 68.5% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
- Transportation :: Greenland
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 1 (registered in Denmark) (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark) (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  OY-H (2016)
  Airports:
  15 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Airports - with 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 - with 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 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 1, other 7 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Sisimiut
- Military and Security :: Greenland
- 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)
  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 GreenlandDenmark (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