Greenland

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.

72 00 N, 40 00 W

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

44,087 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 0.6% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2022 est.)

Forest: 0% (2022 est.)

Other: 99.4% (2022 est.)

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

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

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)

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

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

Arctic Region

NA

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

Highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation: 1,792 m

Total : 2,166,086 sq km

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

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)

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.)

Noun: Greenlander(s)

Adjective: Greenlandic

Urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)

1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Improved:

Total: 62.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population

Rural: 0% of population

Total: 37.5% of population (2022 est.)

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

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

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

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.)

0.92 (2024 est.)

39.4% (2023 est.)

-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 35.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 35.9 years

Female: 34.7 years

1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 57,751 (2024 est.)

Male: 29,843

Female: 27,908

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

9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

13.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 71.8 years

Female: 77.3 years

10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

-0.05% (2024 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2024 est.)

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.)

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)

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

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 three time zones

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

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)

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 term

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%

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

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

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

Note: appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)

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

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

Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

National Day, June 21

Note: marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

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)

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Conventional long form: None

Conventional short form: Greenland

Local long form: None

Local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

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"

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

Title: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old)

Lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN

History: Adopted 1916
_____

Title: "Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)

Lyrics/music: Unknown

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

polar bear

see Denmark

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)

red, white

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish

Revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)

Expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
6.894 (2024 est.)
6.89 (2023 est.)
7.076 (2022 est.)
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)

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

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

$3.327 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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.)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

$4.04 billion (2023 est.)
$4.005 billion (2022 est.)
$3.926 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

1.2% (2022 est.)
0% (2021 est.)
2.1% (2020 est.)

Note: Annual % change based on consumer prices

$71,000 (2023 est.)
$70,700 (2022 est.)
$69,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$1.7 billion (2023 est.)
$1.657 billion (2022 est.)
$1.635 billion (2021 est.)

Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$1.357 billion (2023 est.)
$1.286 billion (2022 est.)
$1.122 billion (2021 est.)

Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

0.9% (2023 est.)
2% (2022 est.)
1.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-1.3% (2023 est.)

Note: Annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 16.6% (2023 est.)

Industry: 18.4% (2023 est.)

Services: 61% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Imports: 5 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 383 million metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 190,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 534.5 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 70% (2017 est.)

.gl

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)

Total subscriptions: 67,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2021 est.)

Total: 18,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 6,000 (2020 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)

OY-H

25 (2025)

Total: 10 (2023)

By type: Other 10

54 (2025)

no regular military forces

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

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

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