Greenland
Greenland⌘K
Overview
- Background
- 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
Area
- Land
- 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
- Total
- 2,166,086 sq km
- Climate
- arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
- Terrain
- flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Land Use
- Other
- 99.4% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 0% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 0.6% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
- Coastline
- 44,087 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
- Mean elevation
- 1,792 m
- Irrigated land
- NA
- Map references
- Arctic Region
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 0 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
- 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 (almost 7% of the world's fresh water)
- Natural resources
- coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
- Area comparative
- slightly more than three times the size of Texas
- Geographic coordinates
- 72 00 N, 40 00 W
- Population distribution
- settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
People & Society
- Languages
- Greenlandic, Danish, English
- Religions
- Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
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
- Total population
- 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 1.13 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 35.9 years
- Total
- 35.6 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 34.7 years
Population
- Male
- 29,843
- Total
- 57,751 (2024 est.)
- Female
- 27,908
Nationality
- Noun
- Greenlander(s)
- Adjective
- Greenlandic
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 87.9% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
- Ethnic groups
- Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 49 (2024 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 30.3 (2024 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 5.4 (2024 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 18.6 (2024 est.)
- Physician density
- 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
- Net migration rate
- -4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: total
- total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure
- 10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- -0.08% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.91 (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 71.8 years
- Female
- 77.3 years
- Total population
- 74.5 years (2024 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: total
- total: 62.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 0% of population
- Unimproved: total
- total: 37.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 0% of population
- Major urban areas population
- 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 38.8% (2022 est.)
Government
- Flag
- description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red, with a large disk set slightly to the left; the top half of the disk is red, and the bottom is white
meaning: the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark
Capital
- Name
- Nuuk
- Etymology
- nuuk is the Inuit word for "cape;" until 1979, the name was Godthab, from the Danish words meaning "good hope"
- Time zone note
- Greenland has three time zones
- 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
- Geographic coordinates
- 64 11 N, 51 45 W
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- see Denmark
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)
Country Name
- Etymology
- named by Norse navigator Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 to attract settlers to the island; the original Greenlandic name, Kalaallit Nunaat, means "land of the people"
- Local long form
- none
- Local short form
- Kalaallit Nunaat
- Conventional long form
- none
- Conventional short form
- Greenland
- Independence
- none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
- Legal system
- Denmark's laws apply in some areas, and Greenland's law for the remainder
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)
- Highest court(s)
- High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors)
- Subordinate courts
- Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts
- Judge selection and term of office
- judges appointed by the monarch on 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
Executive Branch
- Cabinet
- Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
- Chief of state
- King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Julie Praest WILCHE (since May 2022) (2024)
- Election results
- 2025: Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (D) elected premier
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% - Head of government
- Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)
- Election/appointment process
- the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
- National holiday
- National Day, June 21
- Dependency status
- part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
- National color(s)
- red, white
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)
- 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)
Legislative Branch
- Note
- note: Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Number of seats
- 31 (directly elected)
- Electoral system
- proportional representation
- Legislature name
- Parliament (Inatsisartut)
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 4/6/2021
- Expected date of next election
- 2025
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 35%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)
- History
- adopted 1979, when home rule was granted; the Greenlandic government recognizes this local Kalaallit song as a secondary anthem
- Lyrics/music
- unknown
- National symbol(s)
- polar bear
- Administrative divisions
- 5 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 328-1470
- Note
- note: Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York
- Chancery
- 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008 - Telephone
- [1] (202) 234-4300
- Chief of mission
- Kenneth HØEGH, Head of Representation (since 1 August 2021)
- Email address and website
washington@nanoq.gl
All Greenlandic Representations | Grønlands Repræsentation (grl-rep.dk);
https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47
Nuuk 3900
Greenland - Telephone
- (+299) 384100
- Chief of mission
- Consul Susan A. "Suzi" WILSON (since August 2025)
- Email address and website
USConsulateNuuk@state.gov
Homepage - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark (usembassy.gov)
- International organisations
- Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
Economy
Budget
- Revenues
- $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
- Expenditures
- $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1.122 billion (2021 est.)
- Note
- note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2021
- $1.122 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $1.286 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $1.357 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1.635 billion (2021 est.)
- Note
- note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2021
- $1.635 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $1.657 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $1.7 billion (2023 est.)
- Industries
- fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 6.542 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 6.287 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 7.076 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 6.89 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 6.894 (2024 est.)
- Economic overview
- high-income, self-governing Danish territorial economy; non-EU member but preferential market access; dependent on Danish financial support; exports led by fishing industry; growing tourism and interest in untapped mineral deposits; relies on hydropower for fuel
- Exports partners
- Denmark 50%, China 23%, UK 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 3% (2023)
- Imports partners
- Denmark 58%, Sweden 19%, Spain 8%, Iceland 7%, Canada 2% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $71,000 (2023 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2021
- $69,300 (2021 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $70,700 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $71,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2021
- 1.6% (2021 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 2% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 0.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural products
- sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
- Exports commodities
- fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships, precious stones (2023)
- Imports commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products, furniture (2023)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $3.327 billion (2023 est.)
GDP Composition, BY End Use
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Household consumption
- 32.6% (2023 est.)
- Government consumption
- 41.7% (2023 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 1.3% (2023 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 34.7% (2023 est.)
- Exports of goods and services
- 40.8% (2023 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -51.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 1.2% (2022 est.)
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
- 2.1% (2020 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 0% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 1.2% (2022 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- -1.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $4.04 billion (2023 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
- $3.926 billion (2021 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $4.005 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $4.04 billion (2023 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 18.4% (2023 est.)
- Services
- 61% (2023 est.)
- Agriculture
- 16.6% (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 5 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 383 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 534.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 190,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Solar
- 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 13.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Hydroelectricity
- 85.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Biomass and waste
- 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 70% (2017 est.)
- Broadcast media
- Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV, 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
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 6,000 (2020 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 9 (2022 est.)
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 67,000 (2021 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 118 (2021 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 18,000 (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 32 (2022 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 7
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Aasiaat, Illulissat (Jakobshavn), Kusanartoq, Nuuk, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Sisimiut
- Very small
- 10
- Total ports
- 23 (2024)
- Size unknown
- 6
- Ports with oil terminals
- 5
- Airports
- 25 (2025)
- Heliports
- 54 (2025)
Merchant Marine
- Total
- 10 (2023)
- BY type
- other 10
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- OY-H
Environment
- Climate
- arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Land Use
- Other
- 99.4% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 0% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 0.6% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 87.9% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 50,000 tons (2024 est.)
- Environmental issues
- changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 527,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 12 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 527,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Military & Security
- Military note
- the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for coordinating Denmark's defense of Greenland
the US Space Force maintains a base on Greenland’s northwest coast, about 750 miles from the North Pole - Military and security forces
- no regular military forces
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Greenland — vintage 2026-Q1: Greenland factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/greenland
Sources: CIA World Factbook