Home Rule Chairman Jonathan MOTZFELDT
(since NA May 1979)

Political parties: Siumut (moderate socialist, advocates more distinct
Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark); Atassut Party (more
conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark);
Inuit Ataqatigiit (Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from
Denmark rather than home rule); Polar Party (Conservative-Greenland Nationalist)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
Parliament--last held on 27 May 1987 (next to be held by 27 May
1991);
results--Siumut 39.8%, Atassut Party 40.1%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 15.3%,
Polar Party 4.5%;
seats--(27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 11, Inuit Ataqatigiit
4, Polar Party 1;

Danish Parliament--last held on 10 May 1988 (next to be held by
10 May 1992); Greenland elects two representatives to the Danish
Parliament;
results--(percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) number of seats by party NA

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas administrative
division of Denmark)

Flag: the flag of Denmark is used

- Economy
Overview: Over the past 25 years, the economy has changed from
one based on subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing to one dependent on
foreign trade. Fishing is still the most important industry, accounting
for over two-thirds of exports and about 25% of the population's income.
Exploitation of mineral resources is limited to lead and zinc. Maintenance
of a social welfare system similar to Denmark's has given the public
sector a dominant role in the economy. Greenland is heavily dependent
on an annual subsidy of about $400 million from the Danish Government.

GNP: $500 million, per capita $9,000; real growth rate 5% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 10%

Budget: revenues $380 million; expenditures $380 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1985)

Exports: $386.2 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--fish and fish products, metallic ores and concentrates;
partners--Denmark 76%, FRG 7%, Sweden 5%

Imports: $445.6 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport
equipment, food products;
partners--Denmark 66%, Norway 5%, Sweden 4%, FRG 4%, Japan 4%
US 3%

External debt: $445 million (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced,
3,180 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: fish proc