Greenland
Updated
Population
56,831
2025 · World Bank
GDP
$3.33B
2023 · World Bank
GDP per capita
$58,499
2023 · World Bank
Area
2,166,086 km²
mledoze/countries reference dataset
Capital
Nuuk
Median age
35.1 yrs
2025 · UN WPP
Location
- Capital
- Nuuk
- Region
- North America
- Subregion
- North America
- Area
- 2,166,086 km²
- Languages
- Greenlandic
Then and now
The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.
| Indicator | Factbook, final edition | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,7512024 | 56,8312025 | -1.6% |
| GDP (nominal) | $3.33B2023 | $3.33B2023 | 0.0% |
Trends since 2000
56,185 (2000) 56,831 (2025)
$1.07B (2000) $3.33B (2023)
$19,009 (2000) $58,499 (2023)
World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
6 facts about Greenland
- 01 Greenland ranks 205 of 238 in population, with 56,831 people as of 2025.
- 02 Its economy produced $3.33B in 2023, or $58,499 per person.
- 03 Greenland has no land borders.
- 04 Population has grown 1% since 2000, from 56,185 to 56,831.
- 05 Prices sit at about 77% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2023).
- 06 69% of the population uses the internet (2017).
Reference
- Languages
- Greenlandic
- Currency
- krone (DKK)
- Calling code
- +299
- Internet TLD
- .gl
- Demonym
- Greenlandic
- ISO codes
- GL · GRL · 304
The Factbook archive 109 fields · 10 categories
The complete World Factbook entry for Greenland: 109 fields and 171 sub-entries across 10 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 5, 2026.
Introduction 1 field
- 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 17 fields
- 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 kmland: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
- 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 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive 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 mlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mmean 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% (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.)
- 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 (almost 7% of the world's fresh water)
People and Society 25 fields
- Population
- total: 57,751 (2024 est.)male: 29,843female: 27,908
- 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)
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 49 (2024 est.)youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2024 est.)elderly dependency ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)potential support ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)
- Median age
- total: 35.6 years (2025 est.)male: 35.9 yearsfemale: 34.7 years
- Population growth rate
- -0.08% (2025 est.)
- Birth rate
- 13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- 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.)
- Major urban areas - population
- 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)male: 71.8 yearsfemale: 77.3 years
- Total fertility rate
- 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.91 (2025 est.)
- Drinking water source
- improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Physician density
- 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
- Sanitation facility access
- improved: total: total: 62.5% of population (2022 est.)unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of populationunimproved: rural: rural: 0% of populationunimproved: total: total: 37.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 38.8% (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure
- 10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Environment 6 fields
- Environmental issues
- changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment
- Climate
- arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
- 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.)
- Urbanization
- urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- 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.)
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2024 est.)
Government 23 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Greenlandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Kalaallit Nunaatetymology: 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"
- 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: Nuukgeographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 Wtime 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 Octobertime zone note: Greenland has three time zonesetymology: nuuk is the Inuit word for "cape;" until 1979, the name was Godthab, from the Danish words meaning "good hope"
- 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 - Legal system
- Denmark's laws apply in some areas, and Greenland's law for the remainder
- 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: Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year termelection 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% - Legislative branch
- legislature name: Parliament (Inatsisartut)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 31 (directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/6/2021parties 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
- 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 70subordinate 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) - Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Kenneth HØEGH, Head of Representation (since 1 August 2021)chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470email address and website:
[email protected]
All Greenlandic Representations | Grønlands Repræsentation (grl-rep.dk);
https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington - Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Consul Susan A. "Suzi" WILSON (since August 2025)embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47
Nuuk 3900
Greenlandtelephone: (+299) 384100email address and website:
[email protected]
Homepage - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark (usembassy.gov) - International organization participation
- Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
- Independence
- none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
- National holiday
- National Day, June 21
note: marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere - 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 - National symbol(s)
- polar bear
- National color(s)
- red, white
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old)lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSENhistory: adopted 1916
_____title: "Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)lyrics/music: unknownhistory: adopted 1979, when home rule was granted; the Greenlandic government recognizes this local Kalaallit song as a secondary anthem - National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entryselected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse, and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)
Economy 19 fields
- 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
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.04 billion (2023 est.)Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.005 billion (2022 est.)Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $3.926 billion (2021 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate
- Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.9% (2023 est.)Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2% (2022 est.)Real GDP growth rate 2021: 1.6% (2021 est.)
- Real GDP per capita
- Real GDP per capita 2023: $71,000 (2023 est.)Real GDP per capita 2022: $70,700 (2022 est.)Real GDP per capita 2021: $69,300 (2021 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $3.327 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate - Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.2% (2022 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0% (2021 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2.1% (2020 est.)
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 16.6% (2023 est.)industry: 18.4% (2023 est.)services: 61% (2023 est.)
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 32.6% (2023 est.)government consumption: 41.7% (2023 est.)investment in fixed capital: 34.7% (2023 est.)investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.)exports of goods and services: 40.8% (2023 est.)imports of goods and services: -51.1% (2023 est.)
- 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
- -1.3% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency - Budget
- revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
- Exports
- Exports 2023: $1.357 billion (2023 est.)Exports 2022: $1.286 billion (2022 est.)Exports 2021: $1.122 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports - partners
- Denmark 50%, China 23%, UK 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports - Exports - commodities
- fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships, precious stones (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars - Imports
- Imports 2023: $1.7 billion (2023 est.)Imports 2022: $1.657 billion (2022 est.)Imports 2021: $1.635 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports - partners
- Denmark 58%, Sweden 19%, Spain 8%, Iceland 7%, Canada 2% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports - Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products, furniture (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars - Exchange rates
- Currency: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -Exchange rates 2024: 6.894 (2024 est.)Exchange rates 2023: 6.89 (2023 est.)Exchange rates 2022: 7.076 (2022 est.)Exchange rates 2021: 6.287 (2021 est.)Exchange rates 2020: 6.542 (2020 est.)
Energy 5 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 190,000 kW (2023 est.)consumption: 534.5 million kWh (2023 est.)transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 13.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)solar: 0.2% 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.)
- 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.)
Communications 6 fields
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 18,000 (2022 est.)subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
Transportation 5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- OY-H
- Airports
- 25 (2025)
- Heliports
- 54 (2025)
- Merchant marine
- total: 10 (2023)by type: other 10
- Ports
- total ports: 23 (2024)large: 0medium: 0small: 7very small: 10size unknown: 6ports with oil terminals: 5key ports: Aasiaat, Illulissat (Jakobshavn), Kusanartoq, Nuuk, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Sisimiut
Military and Security 2 fields
- 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
the US Space Force maintains a base on Greenland’s northwest coast, about 750 miles from the North Pole
Frequently asked
- What is the population of Greenland in 2025?
- Greenland has a population of 56,831 (56,831) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
- What is the capital of Greenland?
- The capital of Greenland is Nuuk.
- How large is the economy of Greenland?
- Greenland's GDP is $3.33B (2023, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $58,499 per capita.
Greenland