2021 Edition

Background

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm 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 Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the EU. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. 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 (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)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

99.4% (2018 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

20.82% (male 6,079/female 5,916)

15-24 years

14.45% (male 4,186/female 4,137)

25-54 years

39.72% (male 11,962/female 10,921)

55-64 years

14.66% (male 4,561/female 3,886)

65 years and over

10.36% (male 3,170/female 2,798) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

13.88 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

NA

Death rate

8.88 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

10.6% of GDP NA (2018)

Ethnic groups

Greenlandic 89.5%, Danish 7.5%, other Nordic peoples 1.1%, and other 1.9% (2020 est.)

note

note: data represent population by country of birth

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

14 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

10.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language), Danish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.56 years (2021 est.)

male

70.99 years

total population

73.71 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (2015)

male

100%

total population

100%

Major urban areas - population

18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

33.4 years (2020 est.)

male

35.1 years

total

34.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Greenlandic

noun

Greenlander(s)

Net migration rate

-5.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Physicians density

1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

57,799 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2021 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.17 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.13 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

87.5% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

note

note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

"nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord

geographic coordinates

64 11 N, 51 45 W

name

Nuuk (Godthaab)

time difference

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

time zone note

Greenland has four 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) (2021)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Greenland

local long form

none

local short form

Kalaallit Nunaat

note

note: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island

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

Joanie SIMON, Consul (since June 2021)

email address and website

https://dk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/nuuk/

embassy

Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47Nuuk 3900Greenland

telephone

(+299) 384100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Greenland Representation3200 Whitehaven Street, NWWashington, DC  20008

chief of mission

Kenneth HOEGH, Head of Representation; note - Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York

email address and website

washington@nanoq.glhttps://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington

telephone

202-797-5392

Executive branch

cabinet

Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut) on the basis of the strength of parties

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011)

election results

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%

elections/appointments

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

head of government

Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

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)

International organization participation

Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

Judicial branch

highest courts

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

Legal system

the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote  - using the d'Hondt method - to serve 4-year terms)Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms

election results

Greenland Parliament - percent of vote by party - IA 36.6%, S 29.5%, N 12%, D 9.1%, A 6.9%, other 3.8%; seats by party - IA 12, S 10, PN 4, D 3, A 2; composition - men 21, women 10, percent of women 32.2%Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women

elections

Greenland Parliament - last held on 6 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)Greenland members to Danish Parliament - last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held by 4 June 2023)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN

name

"Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" ("Our Country, Who's Become So Old" also translated as "You Our Ancient Land")

note

note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem

National holiday

National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

National symbol(s)

polar bear; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens Frederik NIELSEN]Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Erik JENSEN]Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Mute Bourup EGEDE]Signpost Party (Partii Naleraq) or N [Hans ENOKSEN]Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Aqqalu JERIMIASSEN]

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.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2009

$58 million (2009)

Debt - external 2010

$36.4 million (2010)

Economic overview

Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP.The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season.The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017–20 period.Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development.

Exchange rates

currency

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

5.6125 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

6.7326 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

6.7309 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

6.7309 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

6.586 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2014

$599.7 million (2014 est.)

Exports 2015

$407.1 million (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, crustaceans, fishing ships (2019)

Exports - partners

Denmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

18.2% (2015 est.)

government consumption

28% (2015 est.)

household consumption

68.1% (2015 est.)

imports of goods and services

-28.6% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

14.3% (2015 est.)

investment in inventories

-13.9% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

15.9% (2015 est.)

industry

10.1% (2015 est.)

services

73.9% (2015)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.221 billion (2015 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014

34.3 (2014 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

33.9 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2014

$866.1 million (2014 est.)

Imports 2015

$783.5 million (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019)

Imports - partners

Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

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) January 2016

1.2% (January 2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) January 2017

0.3% (January 2017 est.)

Labor force

26,840 (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

15.9%

industry

10.1%

services

73.9% (2015 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.2% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2015

13% of GDP (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2013

$2.203 billion (2013 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$2.24 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$2.413 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2014

-0.8% (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2015

1.7% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

7.7% (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2013

$38,500 (2013 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2014

$38,800 (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2015

$41,800 (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

10.3% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate 2015

9.1% (2015 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

468 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

187,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

538 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25.42 (2019 est.)

total

14,404 (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

69.48% (2019 est.)

total

39,500 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 115 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)

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 (2018)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12.59 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

7,133 (2019)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108.8 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

61,656 (2019)

Airports

total

15 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

10

under 914 m

6 (2019)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

5

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY-H

Merchant marine

by type

other 8 (2021)

total

8

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

8 (registered in Denmark)

number of registered air carriers

1 (registered in Denmark) (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Sisimiut

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

Military - note

the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for the defense of Greenland

Military and security forces

no regular military forces or conscription

Disputes - international

managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.51 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

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

Land use

agricultural land

0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

99.4% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

87.5% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

50,000 tons (2010 est.)