Country name conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
local long form: none Background The world"s largest non-continental island, about 81% ice-capped, Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland"s foreign affairs.Location Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada 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 Coastline 44,087 km 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 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 56,385 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 25.9% (male 7,463; female 7,161)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 20,885; female 17,605)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,508; female 1,763) (2003 est.) Median age total: 33.1 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 31.7 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic Ethnic groups Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000) Religions Evangelical Lutheran Languages Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English Internet country code .gl Literacy definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper Government type parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy National holiday June 21 (longest day) Legal system Danish International organization participation NC, NIB Economy - overview The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support 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. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. Exports - partners Denmark 60.3%, Japan 15.5%, US 6%, Thailand 5%, Germany 4% (2002) Currency Danish krone (DKK) Currency code DKK Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.8947 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998) Airports 14 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002) Disputes - international uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland |
