Country Name: Greenland

Capital: Nuuk (Godthaab)

Government Type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Background: 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.

Continent: Northern North America

Population: 57,777 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)

Languages: Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are two other native languages, considered dialects of Kalaallisut, spoken by approximately 10% of Greenlanders), Danish, English

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

Economic Overview: large self-governing Danish territorial economy; preferential EU market access; high-income economy; dependent on Danish financial support, even for whaling and sealing industries; growing tourism; hydropower-fueled but environmentally fragile economy

Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $2.413 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 1.29% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $41,800 (2015 est.)

Exports: 

• $407.1 million (2015 est.)

• Comparison Ranking: 193

Export Commodities: shrimp, halibut, fish fillets, crabs, cod, mackerel (2021)

Export Partners: Denmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019)

Imports: 

• $783.5 million (2015 est.)

• Comparison Ranking: 195

Import Commodities: fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019)

Import Partners: Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019)

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

Agricultural Products: sheep, cattle, 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: 

• -10.63% (2021 est.) NA; note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 212

Labor Force: 26,840 (2015 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 9.1% (2015 est.)

Natural Hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Geography:

• Total: 2,166,086 sq km

• Land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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