3.556 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - proved reserves:
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Current account balance:
-$17.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
-$34.43 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$21.14 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$21.34 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.11%, Italy 11.05%, Cyprus 7.28%, Bulgaria 6.74%, US
4.95%, UK 4.4%, Turkey 4.23% (2009)
Imports:
$44.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$64.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.73%, Italy 12.71%, China 7.08%, France 6.1%, Netherlands
6.02%, South Korea 5.68%, Belgium 4.34%, Spain 4.08% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$5.546 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$532.9 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
$504.6 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$48.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$44.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$38.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$40.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.93 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.295 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good
mobile telephone and international service
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire
connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables
provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East,
and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2
Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private
TV channels, about a dozen of the private channels broadcast at the
national or regional level; 3 publicly-owned terrestrial TV channels
with national coverage, 1 publicly-owned satellite channel, and 3
stations designed for digital terrestrial transmissions;
multi-channel satellite and cable TV services obtainable; upwards of
1,500 radio stations broadcasting, nearly all of them
privately-owned; state-run broadcaster has 7 national stations, 2
international stations, and 19 regional stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.gr
Internet hosts:
2.574 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
Internet users:
4.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Transportation ::Greece
Airports:
81 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 68
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,197 km; oil 75 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,548 km
country comparison to the world: 66
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 117,533 km
country comparison to the world: 38
paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)
Waterways:
6 km
country comparison to the world: 108
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens
sea voyage by 325 km (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 886
country comparison to the world: 12
by type: bulk carrier 263, cargo 53, carrier 1, chemical tanker 72,
container 34, liquefied gas 13, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 116,
petroleum tanker 312, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 62 (Belgium 16, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 4, Italy 5, UK 27,
US 7)
registered in other countries: 2,391 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas
209, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 2, Brazil 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman
Islands 11, Comoros 3, Cyprus 216, Denmark 1, Dominica 9, Egypt 8,
Georgia 3, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22,
Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 57, Italy 8, Jamaica 8, Liberia 454, Malta
458, Marshall Islands 358, Mexico 1, Moldova 4, Panama 402,
Philippines 4, Portugal 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 63, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 19, Slovakia 1, Togo
1, UAE 3, UK 1, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 4, Venezuela 4, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Agioi Theodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
Military ::Greece
Military branches:
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos
Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki
Aeroporia, EPA) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime
the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of
inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of
age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all
services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,502,268
females age 16-49: 2,486,171 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,050,018
females age 16-49: 2,033,450 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 53,222
female: 49,828 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Transnational Issues ::Greece
Disputes - international:
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex
maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;
Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed
Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly
Greece and Italy
Illicit drugs:
a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin
from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor
chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is
consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and
organized crime
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Greenland (North America)
Introduction ::Greenland
Background:
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice capped.
Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish
colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an
integral part of Denmark 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 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 in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to
exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and
financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home 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:
North America
Area:
total: 2,166,086 sq km
country comparison to the world: 13
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km
ice-covered)
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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
continental shelf: 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 extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,700 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum,
niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower,
possible oil and gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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; close
to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's
second largest ice cap
People ::Greenland
Population:
57,637 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 6,727/female 6,533)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 21,696/female 18,669)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 2,000/female 1,975) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.5 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.064% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Birth rate:
14.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Death rate:
8.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Net migration rate:
-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Urbanization:
urban population: 84% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 151
male: 11.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.67 years
country comparison to the world: 141
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.43 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:
Inuit 89%, Danish and other 11% (2009)
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Greenland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
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 is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions:
4 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Kujalleq, Qaasuitsup,
Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: the North and East Greenland National Park (Avannaarsuani
Tunumilu Nuna Allanngutsaaliugaq) 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 - make 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:
June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:
(November 2008) Act on Greenland Self Government
Legal system:
the laws of Denmark where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Soeren Hald MOELLER (since
April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
cabinet: Home Rule Government elected by the Parliament (Landsting)
on the basis of the strength of parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; prime minister elected by parliament (usually the
leader of the majority party)
election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit
43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%;
Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%; seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9,
Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 1
Judicial branch:
High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or
Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:
Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Gerhardt PETERSEN] (a conservative party
favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Jens
B. FREDERIKSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood)
[Kuupik KLEIST] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from
Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List)
[Anthon FREDERIKSEN] (an independent right-of-center party with no
official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Alega HAMMOND] (a social
democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and
greater autonomy from Denmark)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: conservationists; environmentalists
International organization participation:
Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
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 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:
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. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises
and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's
economy. Greenland's GDP contracted about 2% in 2009 as a result of
the global economic slowdown. Budget surpluses turned to deficits
beginning in 2007 and unemployment has risen. During the last decade
the Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) pursued conservative
fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for
better schools, health care and retirement systems. The Greenlandic
economy has benefited from increasing catches and exports of shrimp,
Greenland halibut and, more recently, crabs. Due to Greenland's
continued dependence on exports of fish - which account for 82% of
exports - the economy remains very sensitive to foreign
developments. International consortia are increasingly active in
exploring for hydrocarbon resources off Greenland's western coast,
and international studies indicate the potential for oil and gas
fields in northern and northeastern Greenland. In May 2007 a US
aluminum producer concluded a memorandum of understanding with the
Greenland Home Rule Government to build an aluminum smelter and a
power generation facility, which takes advantage of Greenland's
abundant hydropower potential. Within the area of mining, olivine
sand continues to be produced and gold production has resumed in
south Greenland. Tourism also offers another avenue of economic
growth for Greenland, with increasing numbers of cruise lines now
operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak
summer tourism season.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.03 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.03 billion (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
4% (2007 est.)
2.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
28,240 (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
7.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
9.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
1% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Industries:
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold,
niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts,
hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
310.3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - consumption:
285.6 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - exports:
1,183 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - imports:
5,172 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Exports:
$485 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 167
$428 million (2007)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 72%, metals 10% (2008)
Exports - partners:
Denmark 61.13%, Japan 13.69%, China 6.15%, Sweden 5.21% (2009)
Imports:
$867 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
$669 million (2007)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Denmark 74.93%, Sweden 11.73%, Norway 2.29% (2009)
Debt - external:
$58 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
$25 million (1999)
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2009), 5.0236 (2008),
5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)
Communications ::Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Telephones - mobile cellular:
53,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate domestic and international service
provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally
digital since 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12
Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)
Broadcast media:
the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and
television services throughout the island with a broadcast station
and a series of repeaters; a few private local television and radio
stations broadcast; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.gl
Internet hosts:
15,668 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 116
Internet users:
36,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Transportation ::Greenland
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 145
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads
between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or
air (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 159
by type: passenger 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Sisimiut
Military ::Greenland
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,474 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,833
females age 16-49: 11,439 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 511
female: 484 (2010 est.)
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 Greenland
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Grenada (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Grenada
Background: