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Football (soccer) at the town of Uumannaq (pop 1,300) on the west coast in central Greenland. Courtesy of Wikimedia
Greenland (capital Nuuk, population 15,487 in 2010)
World Factbook: "The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and fish and on a substantial subsidy -- about $650 million in 2009 -- from the Danish Government, which supplies nearly 60% of government revenues."
Estimated per capita GDP:
2007: $35,900
Motorized boats control fishing and older kayaks are becoming extinct. Shrimp fishing has been 80 percent of Greenland's fish industry, the fish exports dominate Greenland’s export income. Greenland has a handicrafts industry, small shipyards and is developing an ice industry.
Many Inuits pursue their traditional economic activity -- hunting and fishing.
Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)
2011: 10.05 deaths
2010: 10.26 deaths
2009: 10.72
2008: 14.56
Average life expectancy at birth
2011: 70.96 years
2010: 70.67 years
2009: 70.07
2008: 70.53
2005: 69.65
Population
July 2011: 57,670
Living in an urban area
2010: 84%
Birth rate per 1,000 population:
2011: 14.6
per year
The Inuit people (formerly called Eskimos) are about 84 percent of the population.
Migration
2011: More leaving than arriving. A net loss of 5.98 per
1,000 population
2009: Inuit 89%, Danish and other 11%
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Northeast of Canada. The world's largest island, about 80 percent ice-capped (at least until recently). Cool summers and cold winters.
Parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy. Chief of state: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Unicameral parliament of 31 seats with members popularly elected to four-year terms.
Denmark controls Greenland's foreign affairs and is responsible for military defense.
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab).
In 1953 an international court ratified Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland.
Denmark's parliament granted Greenland self-government that became effective in 1980.
2011: Greenland's economy is tied to fluctuations in the fishing industry and to international price fluctuations. Fish stocks are depleting. From Denmark, Greenland has inherited a well-functioning welfare system. Education, pension, health service and unemployment benefit are taken for granted.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2009-2011 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.