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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 over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
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Common Name: Greenland
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Local Official Name: Kalaallit Nunaat
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Abbreviated Name: Greenland
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Official Name: Greenland
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Official Script Name: Greenland
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Local Common Name: Greenland
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Former Name: Greenland
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark
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Government Type: parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
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Independence: none (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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Constitution: 1953 June 5 (Danish constitution)
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National Holiday: June 21 (longest day)
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International Organization Participation: Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU
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Administrative Divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: Danish
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002 (next to be held December 2006)
election results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime minister
note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit
Legislative Branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 November 2005 (next to be held by December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%, Demokratiit 22.8%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%; Katusseqatigiit 4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Demokratiit 7, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Atassut 6, Katusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); 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)
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Party Leaders: Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Finn KARLSEN]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]
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International Disputes: managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Greenland: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
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Continent: North America
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Land Area Total: 2,166,086 sq km
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Region: Northern American |
Land Area Land: 2,166,086 sq km
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Capitol City: Nuuk (Godthab)
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current:
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Latitude: 072 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 040 00 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 44,087 km
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Arable Land: 0.00 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 3,700 m
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Location: Gunnbjorn
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Atlantic Ocean
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Largest City in Greenland:
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Largest City Population: 0
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Threatened Species: 0
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Environmental Issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
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Environmental Agreements: NA
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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
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Geographical Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
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Comparative Area of Greenland: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
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Greenland's Geography: 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
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Greenland.
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General Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
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Natural Hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
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Economic 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 mineral exploration activities, it will take a number of 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.
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GDP: $1,100,000,000 USD
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Currency: Danish krone
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GDP per Capita: $20,000 USD
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Currency Code: DKK
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GDP Growth Rate: 1.80 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% DKK
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 0.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 0.00 %
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GDP of Services: 0.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 1.60 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 10.00 %
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Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $646,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $629,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 242,200,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 225,300,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 3,850 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $25,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $380,000,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
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Primary Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $601,000,000 USD - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products
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Import Partners: Denmark 66.8%, Sweden 19.3%, Ireland 3.6%
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Export Amount in USD: $480,000,000 USD - fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
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Export Partners: Denmark 62.5%, Japan 12.3%, China 5.3%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 24,500
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Labor Force by Occupations: NA
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 17 |
Number of People with Radios: 30,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 30,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 25,300 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 32,200 |
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Internet Service Providers: 8,851 |
Internet Users: 38,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .gl |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: GL |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 299 |
Electricity Voltage: 220 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
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Highways: 60 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 9 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,540 GRT/2,540 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger 2
registered in other countries: 2 (Cyprus 1, Denmark 1)
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Ports and Harbors: Sisimiut
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Population: 56,361 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 15.93 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.84 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: -0.03% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.40 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 7,072 |
Population Female 0-14: 6,740 |
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Population Male 15-64: 20,904 |
Population Female 15-64: 17,919 |
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Population Male 65+: 1,768 |
Population Female 65+: 1,958 |
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Population 0-14: 24.50% |
Literacy Rate: 100.00% |
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Population 15-64: 68.90% |
Literacy rate of Males: 100.00% |
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Population 65+: 6.60% |
Literacy rate of Females: 100.00% |
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Population that is Male: 51.00
% |
Population that is Female: 49.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 69.94 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 15.40 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 66.36 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 73.60 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 100
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -8.37
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Nationality: GREENLANDIC
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Ethnic Groups: Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12%
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Primary Language: Greenlandic (East Inuit)
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Other Languages: Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
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Primary Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
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Other Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
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Branches: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 14,653 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 10,199 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 440 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Greenland Spa and Resort Directory
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Greenland Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Greenland Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Greenland City Information Game Earn Real Money
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