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Geography Stats: compare key data on Greenland & United Kingdom

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Definitions

  • Area > Comparative: The area of various small countries expressed in comparison to various areas within the United States of America.
  • Area > Comparative to US places: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
  • Area > Land: Total land area in square kilometres
  • Area > Land > Per capita: Total land area in square kilometres Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Area > Total: Total area in square kilometers
  • Average rainfall in depth > Mm per year: Average rainfall is the long-term average in depth (over space and time) of annual precipitation in the country. Precipitation is defined as any kind of water that falls from clouds as a liquid or a solid.
  • Climate: A brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
  • Coastline: The total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  • Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August 1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.
  • Land area > Sq. km: Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes."
  • Location: The country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
  • Natural resources: A country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.
  • Population density > People per sq. km: Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.
  • Surface area > Sq. km: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.
  • Terrain: A brief description of the topography
  • Elevation extremes > Highest point: Highest point above sea level
  • Total area > Sq. km: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways."
  • Land use > Arable land: The percentage of used land that is arable. Arable land is land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest like wheat, maize, and rice
  • Natural hazards: Potential natural disasters.
  • Maritime claims > Territorial sea: territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal State extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the LOS Convention (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles. A full and definitive definition can be found in the Law of the Sea (LOS) Convention.
  • Area > Land per 1000: Total land area in square kilometres. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Elevation extremes > Lowest point: This entry is derived from Geography > Elevation extremes, which includes both the highest point and the lowest point.
  • Coastline per 1000: The total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Population density: People per square kilometre, in 1999. At this time the world average was 14.42.
  • Land area > Sq. km > Per capita: Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes." Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Map references: The name of the CIA World Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
  • Forest area > Sq. km: Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens."
  • Surface area > Sq. km per 1000: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Environment > Current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
    Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
    Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
    Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
    Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
    Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
    Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
    Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
    Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
    Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
    Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
    DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.
    Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
    Deforestation - ...
    Full definition
  • Land use > Other: The percentage share of used land that is not arable or under permanent crops. This includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.
  • Area > Total per 1000: Total area in square kilometers. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Maritime claims > Exclusive fishing zone: Exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the LOS Convention, some States (e.g. the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ, but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used.
  • Land use > Permanent crops: The percentage share of used land on which permanent crops are grown. This is land cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each harvest like citrus, coffee, and rubber. It includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber.
  • Surface area > Sq. km > Per capita: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Note: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
  • Marine Coastline: Length of each country's coastline in kilometers.
  • Area > Total > Per capita: Total area in square kilometers Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Low-lying areas > Elevation under 5 metres > % of land area: Land area where elevation is below 5 meters (% of total land area). Land area below 5m is the percentage of total land where the elevation is 5 meters or less.
  • Arable land > % of land area: Arable land (% of land area). Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.
  • Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters > % of total population: Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters (% of total population). Population below 5m is the percentage of the total population living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.
  • Forest area > % of land area: Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens."
  • Terrestrial protected areas > % of total land area: Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area). Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.
  • Terrestrial and marine protected areas > % of total territorial area: Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.
  • Agricultural land > % of land area: Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.
STAT Greenland United Kingdom HISTORY
Area > Comparative slightly more than three times the size of Texas slightly smaller than Oregon
Area > Comparative to US places slightly more than three times the size of Texas slightly smaller than Oregon
Area > Land 2.17 million sq km
Ranked 13th. 9 times more than United Kingdom
241,590 sq km
Ranked 77th.

Area > Land > Per capita 38,044.89 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 1st. 9598 times more than United Kingdom
3.96 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 176th.

Area > Total 2.17 million sq km
Ranked 13th. 9 times more than United Kingdom
243,610 sq km
Ranked 81st.

Average rainfall in depth > Mm per year 350
Ranked 143th.
1,220
Ranked 70th. 3 times more than Greenland
Climate arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Coastline 44,087 km
Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than United Kingdom
12,429 km
Ranked 14th.

Geographic coordinates 72 00 N, 40 00 W 54 00 N, 2 00 W
Land area > Sq. km 410,450 sq km
Ranked 55th. 70% more than United Kingdom
241,930 sq km
Ranked 76th.

Location Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France
Natural resources coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
Population density > People per sq. km 0.14 people/m²
Ranked 202nd.
248.94 people/m²
Ranked 39th. 1778 times more than Greenland

Surface area > Sq. km 410,450 km²
Ranked 58th. 68% more than United Kingdom
243,610 km²
Ranked 78th.

Terrain flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Elevation extremes > Highest point Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,700 m Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Total area > Sq. km 410,450
Ranked 56th. 68% more than United Kingdom
243,610
Ranked 76th.

Land use > Arable land 0.0
Ranked 227th.
24.88%
Ranked 38th.

Natural hazards continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island winter windstorms; floods
Maritime claims > Territorial sea 3 nautical mile
Ranked 189th.
12 nautical mile
Ranked 108th. 4 times more than Greenland

Area > Land per 1000 38,044.89 sq km
Ranked 1st. 9668 times more than United Kingdom
3.94 sq km
Ranked 159th.

Elevation extremes > Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m The Fens -4 m
Coastline per 1000 774.75 km
Ranked 1st. 3912 times more than United Kingdom
0.198 km
Ranked 77th.

Population density 0.03 people per sqkm
Ranked 231st.
244.69 people per sqkm
Ranked 48th. 8156 times more than Greenland
Land area > Sq. km > Per capita 7,130.32 per 1,000 people
Ranked 1st. 1796 times more than United Kingdom
3.97 per 1,000 people
Ranked 160th.

Map references Arctic Region Europe
Forest area > Sq. km 2
Ranked 193th.
28,658
Ranked 88th. 14329 times more than Greenland

Surface area > Sq. km per 1000 7,209.1 km²
Ranked 1st. 1782 times more than United Kingdom
4.05 km²
Ranked 162nd.

Environment > Current issues protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015
Land use > Other 100%
Ranked 11th. 33% more than United Kingdom
74.93%
Ranked 188th.

Area > Total per 1000 38,044.89 sq km
Ranked 1st. 9541 times more than United Kingdom
3.99 sq km
Ranked 162nd.

Maritime claims > Exclusive fishing zone 200 nautical mile
Ranked 3rd. The same as United Kingdom
200 nautical mile
Ranked 11th.

Land use > Permanent crops 0.0
Ranked 222nd.
0.18%
Ranked 172nd.

Surface area > Sq. km > Per capita 7,209.1 km² per 1,000 people
Ranked 1st. 1782 times more than United Kingdom
4.04 km² per 1,000 people
Ranked 166th.

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 lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
Marine Coastline 44,087 km
Ranked 3rd. 4 times more than United Kingdom
12,429 km
Ranked 14th.
Area > Total > Per capita 38,044.89 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 1st. 9471 times more than United Kingdom
4.02 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 181st.

Low-lying areas > Elevation under 5 metres > % of land area 16.27%
Ranked 32nd. 2 times more than United Kingdom
7.61%
Ranked 56th.

Arable land > % of land area 0.00219%
Ranked 204th.
25.06%
Ranked 40th. 11427 times more than Greenland

Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters > % of total population 52.19%
Ranked 15th. 6 times more than United Kingdom
8.64%
Ranked 76th.

Forest area > % of land area 0.0
Ranked 195th.
11.85%
Ranked 140th.

Terrestrial protected areas > % of total land area 41.09%
Ranked 11th. 47% more than United Kingdom
27.91%
Ranked 31st.

Terrestrial and marine protected areas > % of total territorial area 40.59%
Ranked 8th. 74% more than United Kingdom
23.37%
Ranked 42nd.

Agricultural land > % of land area 0.57%
Ranked 196th.
72.94%
Ranked 19th. 128 times more than Greenland

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Food and Agriculture Organisation, electronic files and web site.; World Development Indicators database; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; Heal The World Foundation.; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA Factbook: List of countries by coastline size; Center for International Earth Science Information Network; Food and Agriculture Organization; United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.

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