North America
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice capped. The Inuit came to Greenland from North America in a series of migrations that stretched from 2500 BC to the11th century. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became part of the Kingdom 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 remains a member of the EU's Overseas Countries and Territories Association. The Danish parliament granted Greenland home rule in 1979; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009. The Kingdom of Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy, in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Arctic Region
Total : 2,166,086 km²
Land: 2,166,086 km² (approximately 1,710,000 km² ice-covered)
Slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Total: 0 km
44,087 km
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 1,792 m
Coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 99.4% (2018 est.)
NA
Settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
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 sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million km² (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million cu km (684 thousand cu mi) of ice (this is almost 7% of all of the world's fresh water); if all this ice were converted to liquid water, one estimate is that it would be sufficient to raise the height of the world's oceans by 7.2 m (24 ft)
Total: 57,751
Male: 29,843
Female: 27,908 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 206; male 206; total 206
Noun: Greenlander(s)
Adjective: Greenlandic
Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)
Note: data represent population by country of birth
Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are two other native languages, considered dialects of Kalaallisut, spoken by approximately 10% of Greenlanders), Danish, English
Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 5,964/female 5,798)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,050/female 18,711)
65 years and over: 12.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,829/female 3,399)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 43.6
Youth dependency ratio: 30
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.6
Potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021)
Total: 35.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 35.9 years
Female: 34.7 years
-0.05% (2024 est.)
13.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 71.8 years
Female: 77.3 years
1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.92 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
NA
1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
14 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
NA
39.4% (2023 est.)
10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (2015)
Especially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 99.4% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2010 est.)
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Greenland
Local long form: none
Local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Etymology: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island
Parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Name: Nuuk
Geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
Time difference: UTC-2 (3 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Time zone note: Greenland has four time zones
Etymology: "nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord
5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
Note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Pituffik Space Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base) in northwest Greenland are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 km² - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
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 Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
History: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act)
The laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas
See Denmark
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Julie Praest WILCHE (since May 2022) (2024)
Head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)
Cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
Election results:
2021: Mute B. EGEDE elected premier; Parliament vote - Mute B. EGEDE (Inuit Ataqatigiit) unanimous
2014: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8%
Description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote - by the d'Hondt method - to serve 4-year terms)
Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
Elections: Greenland Parliament - last held on 6 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results: Greenland Parliament - percent of vote by party - IA 38.7%, S 32.2%, N 12.9%, D 9.7%, A 6.5%; seats by party - IA 12, S 10, N 4, D 3, A 2; composition as of May 2024 - men 20, women 11, percentage women 35%
Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women
Highest court(s): High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts
Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens Frederik NIELSEN]
Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Aqqalu JERIMIASSEN]
Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Erik JENSEN]
Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Mute Bourup EGEDE]
Signpost Party (Naleraq) or N [Pele BROBERG] (formerly Partii Naleraq)
Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
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
Polar bear; national colors: red, white
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
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)
Large self-governing Danish territorial economy; preferential EU market access; high-income economy; dependent on Danish financial support, even for whaling and sealing industries; growing tourism; hydropower-fueled but environmentally fragile economy
$3.857 billion (2021 est.)
$3.808 billion (2020 est.)
$3.801 billion (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
1.29% (2021 est.)
0.19% (2020 est.)
2.83% (2019 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$68,100 (2021 est.)
$67,600 (2020 est.)
$67,600 (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$3.236 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
0.3% (January 2017 est.)
1.2% (January 2016 est.)
Agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.)
Industry: 10.1% (2015 est.)
Services: 73.9% (2015)
Comparison rankings: services 51; industry 205; agriculture 61
Household consumption: 68.1% (2015 est.)
Government consumption: 28% (2015 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 14.3% (2015 est.)
Investment in inventories: -13.9% (2015 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2015 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2015 est.)
Sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
Fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
-10.63% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
26,840 (2015 est.)
9.1% (2015 est.)
10.3% (2014 est.)
16.2% (2015 est.)
33.9 (2015 est.)
Revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
13% of GDP (2015 est.)
77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
$1.147 billion (2021 est.)
$1.108 billion (2020 est.)
$1.23 billion (2019 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Denmark 49%, China 24%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 3% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, precious stones, animal products (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$1.609 billion (2021 est.)
$1.441 billion (2020 est.)
$1.533 billion (2019 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Denmark 56%, Sweden 22%, France 10%, Iceland 3%, Canada 3% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, aircraft, garments, construction vehicles, plastic products (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$36.4 million (2010)
$58 million (2009)
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
6.89 (2023 est.)
7.076 (2022 est.)
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)
6.669 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 188,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 558.48 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 16; consumption 173; installed generating capacity 174
Fossil fuels: 23.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 76.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Imports: 2 metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 383 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
562,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 562,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 6,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Total subscriptions: 67,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2021 est.)
General assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; the fundamental telecommunications infrastructure consists of a digital radio link from Nanortalik in south Greenland to Uummannaq in north Greenland; satellites cover north and east Greenland for domestic and foreign telecommunications; a marine cable connects south and west Greenland to the rest of the world, extending from Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Canada and Iceland; a contract has been awarded to build a 5G network in Greenland, initially covering three towns, with 10 towns, including Greenland's capital Nuuk to follow (2022)
Domestic: nearly 11 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 118 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
International: country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2019)
The Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2019)
.gl
Total: 38,920 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 69.5% (2021 est.)
Total: 15,649 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark)
OY-H
25 (2024)
55 (2024)
Note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air
Total: 10 (2023)
By type: other 10
Total ports: 23 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Small: 7
Very small: 10
Size unknown: 6
Ports with oil terminals: 5
Key ports: Aasiaat, Illulissat (Jakobshavn), Kusanartoq, Nuuk, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Sisimiut
No regular military forces
The Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for coordinating Denmark's defense of Greenland