2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)

total

2,166,086 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Coastline

44,087 km

Elevation

highest point

Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

1,792 m

Geographic coordinates

72 00 N, 40 00 W

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)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

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.)

forest

0% (2023 est.)

other

99.4% (2023 est.)

Location

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Map references

Arctic Region

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural hazards

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Population distribution

settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited

Terrain

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

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)

Birth rate

13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

38.8% (2022 est.)

Death rate

9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

18.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

5.4 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

49 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.3 (2024 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.)

Ethnic groups

Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.91 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Greenlandic, Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.3 years

male

71.8 years

total population

74.5 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

34.7 years

male

35.9 years

total

35.6 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Greenlandic

noun

Greenlander(s)

Net migration rate

-4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Physician density

1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

female

27,908

male

29,843

total

57,751 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.08% (2025 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

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

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

87.9% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

5 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

nuuk is the Inuit word for "cape;" until 1979, the name was Godthab, from the Danish words meaning "good hope"

geographic coordinates

64 11 N, 51 45 W

name

Nuuk

time difference

UTC-2 (3 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

Greenland has three time zones

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

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Greenland

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

Dependency status

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Diplomatic representation from the US

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)

embassy

Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47 Nuuk 3900 Greenland

telephone

(+299) 384100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3200 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington, DC  20008

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-1470

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4300

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%

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term

head of government

Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Independence

none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark)

International organization participation

Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors)

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

subordinate courts

Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts

Legal system

Denmark's laws apply in some areas, and Greenland's law for the remainder

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Inatsisartut)

most recent election date

4/6/2021

number of seats

31 (directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)

percentage of women in chamber

35%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1979, when home rule was granted; the Greenlandic government recognizes this local Kalaallit song as a secondary anthem

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse, and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry

National holiday

National Day, June 21

National symbol(s)

polar bear

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish

Budget

expenditures

$1.594 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$1.719 billion (2016 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

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$1.122 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$1.286 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$1.357 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships, precious stones (2023)

Exports - partners

Denmark 50%, China 23%, UK 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

40.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption

41.7% (2023 est.)

household consumption

32.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-51.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

34.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

1.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.6% (2023 est.)

industry

18.4% (2023 est.)

services

61% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.327 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$1.635 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$1.657 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.7 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products, furniture (2023)

Imports - partners

Denmark 58%, Sweden 19%, Spain 8%, Iceland 7%, Canada 2% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.3% (2023 est.)

Industries

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Inflation rate (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.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Coal

imports

5 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

383 million metric tons (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

biomass and waste

0.5% 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.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2022 est.)

total

18,000 (2022 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

Internet users

percent of population

70% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

6,000 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

67,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

25 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY-H

Heliports

54 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

other 10

total

10 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Aasiaat, Illulissat (Jakobshavn), Kusanartoq, Nuuk, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Sisimiut

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

5

size unknown

6

small

7

total ports

23 (2024)

very small

10

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

total emissions

527,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

50,000 tons (2024 est.)