Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Data code GL

Dependency status part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Government type NA

National capital Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions 3 districts (landsdele); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrativedivision)

National holiday Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system Danish

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented byHigh Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strengthof parties
elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed bythe queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament; election last heldNA 1991 (next to be held NA)
election results: Gunnar MARTENS elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote- NA

Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected onthe basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, AtassutParty 30.1%; seats by party - Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1
note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketingon 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of voteby party - NA; seats by party - Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Judicial branch High Court or Landsret

Political parties and leaders two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialistparty that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomyfrom Denmark) [Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (EskimoBrotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence fromDenmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Atassut Party (Solidarity,a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark)[Daniel SKIFTE]; Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Issituup (Polar Party)[Nicolai HEINRICH]

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 diskslightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

NOTE: The information regarding Greenland on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Greenland Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Greenland Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.