Where is Greenland located?

What countries border Greenland?

Greenland Weather

What is the current weather in Greenland?


Greenland Facts

What is the capital of Greenland?

Capital Nuuk (Godthaab)
Government Type Parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Currency Danish Krone (DKK)
Total Area 836,326 Square Miles
2,166,086 Square Kilometers
Location Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Language Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
GDP - real growth rate 0.9%
GDP - per capita (PPP) $37,900.00 (USD)

Greenland Demographics

What is the population of Greenland?

Ethnic Groups Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12%
Nationality Noun Greenlander(s)
Population 57,616
Population Growth Rate 0.03%
Population in Major Urban Areas NUUK (capital) 16,000
Urban Population 84.700000

Greenland Government

What type of government does Greenland have?

Executive Branch Chief of State: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011) (2024)

Head of Government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)

Cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)

Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term

Election results:

2021: Mute B. EGEDE elected premier; Parliament vote - Mute B. EGEDE (Inuit Ataqatigiit) unanimous

2014: 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%
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship See Denmark
National Holiday National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Constitution History: Previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act)
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)

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Greenland Geography

What environmental issues does Greenland have?

Climate Arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Environment - Current Issues Protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Terrain Flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Greenland Economy

How big is the Greenland economy?

Economic 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.
Industries FIsh processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards, mining
Currency Name and Code Danish Krone (DKK)
Export Partners Denmark 63.7%, Japan 14.4%, US 5.4%, Thailand 4.6%
Import Partners Denmark 82.5%, Norway 8.5%, Russia 1.8%

Greenland News and Current Events

What current events are happening in Greenland?
Source: Google News

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