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Greenland
The Land of Desolation: Being a Personal Narrative of Observation and Adventure, I. I. Hayes
Greenland (North America)
Introduction
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.
Geography :: Greenland
Geography
Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references
Arctic Region
Area
total : 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
comparison ranking: total 13
Area - comparative
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
44,087 km
Maritime claims
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
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation
highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,792 m
Natural resources
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use
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.)
Irrigated land
NA
Population distribution
settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Natural hazards
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Geography - 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 sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million sq km (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)
People and Society
Population
total: 57,751
male: 29,843
female: 27,908 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 206; male 206; total 206
Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups
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
Languages
Greenlandic, Danish, English
note: West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are considered dialects of Kalaallisut and spoken by about 10% of Greenlanders
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Age structure
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:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.6
youth dependency ratio: 30
elderly dependency ratio: 13.6
potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021)
Median age
total: 35.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 35.9 years
female: 34.7 years
comparison ranking: total 100
Population growth rate
-0.05% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 200
Birth rate
13.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 126
Death rate
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 51
Net migration rate
-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 202
Population distribution
settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Urbanization
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
Major urban areas - population
18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
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
comparison ranking: total 142
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.8 years
female: 77.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 141
Total fertility rate
1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 124
Gross reproduction rate
0.92 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
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.)
Current health expenditure
NA
Physician density
1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density
14 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access
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.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
NA
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
39.4% (2023 est.)
Education expenditures
10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 4
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Environment
Environment - current issues
especially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Land use
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.)
Urbanization
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
Revenue from forest resources
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 198
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 89
Air pollutants
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2010 est.)
Government
Country name
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
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Capital
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
Administrative divisions
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 sq km - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
Independence
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 holiday
National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Legal system
the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas
Constitution
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)
Citizenship
see Denmark
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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%
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Inatsisartut)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 31 (directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 4/6/2021
parties elected and seats per party: IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)
percentage of women in chamber: 35%
expected date of next election: 2025
note: Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D
Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A
Forward Party (Siumut) or S
Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA
Signpost Party (Naleraq) or N (formerly Partii Naleraq)
International organization participation
Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Kenneth HØEGH, Head of Representation (since 1 August 2021)
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
email address and website:
washington@nanoq.gl
All Greenlandic Representations | Grønlands Repræsentation (grl-rep.dk);
https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington
Note: Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul Monica BLAND (since July 2023)
embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47
Nuuk 3900
Greenland
telephone: (+299) 384100
email address and website:
USConsulateNuuk@state.gov
Homepage - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark (usembassy.gov)
Flag description
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
National symbol(s)
polar bear; national colors: red, white
National anthem
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
National heritage
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)
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.857 billion (2021 est.)
$3.808 billion (2020 est.)
$3.801 billion (2019 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 192
Real GDP growth rate
1.29% (2021 est.)
0.19% (2020 est.)
2.83% (2019 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 158
Real GDP per capita
$68,100 (2021 est.)
$67,600 (2020 est.)
$67,600 (2019 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 20
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.236 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.3% (January 2017 est.)
1.2% (January 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 10
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 17.5% (2021 est.)
industry: 16.1% (2021 est.)
services: 62.7% (2021 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 69; industry 165; agriculture 42
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 35.8% (2021 est.)
government consumption: 45.1% (2021 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 33.3% (2021 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2021 est.)
exports of goods and services: 35.4% (2021 est.)
imports of goods and services: -49.7% (2021 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
Industries
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate
-10.63% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 210
Labor force
26,840 (2015 est.)
comparison ranking: 199
Unemployment rate
9.1% (2015 est.)
10.3% (2014 est.)
comparison ranking: 158
Population below poverty line
16.2% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
33.9 (2015 est.)
comparison ranking: 90
Budget
revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Public debt
13% of GDP (2015 est.)
comparison ranking: 195
Taxes and other revenues
77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 1
Exports
$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
comparison ranking: 178
Exports - partners
Denmark 49%, China 24%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 3% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, precious stones, animal products (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$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
comparison ranking: 183
Imports - partners
Denmark 56%, Sweden 22%, France 10%, Iceland 3%, Canada 3% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, aircraft, garments, construction vehicles, plastic products (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
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.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
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
Electricity generation sources
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.)
Coal
imports: 2 metric tons (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 383 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
562,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 562,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 188
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 6,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 199
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 67,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 201
Telecommunication systems
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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.gl
Internet users
percent of population: 69.5% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 15,649 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 173
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OY-H
Airports
25 (2024)
comparison ranking: 129
Heliports
55 (2024)
Roadways
note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air
Merchant marine
total: 10 (2023)
by type: other 10
comparison ranking: total 160
Ports
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces
Military - note
the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for coordinating Denmark's defense of Greenland
