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.

Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map reference: Arctic Region

Area
Total: 2,166,086 km²
Land: 2,166,086 km² (approximately 1,710,000 km² ice-covered)
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 44,087 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

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 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean 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% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 99.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

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 km² (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million km³ (684 thousand m³i) 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)

Population
Distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited: 57,792 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: -0.02% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Greenlander(s)
Adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups: Greenlandic 89.1%, Danish 7.5%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.5% (2022 est.)
Note: data represent population by country of birth

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

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

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.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 43.6
Youth dependency ratio: 30
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.6
Potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021)

Median age
Total: 34.3 years
Male: 35.1 years
Female: 33.4 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.02% (2022 est.)

Birth rate: 13.79 births/1000 population (2022 est.)

Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1000 population (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2022 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)

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

Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.75 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 10.25 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.16 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.98 years
Male: 71.28 years
Female: 76.82 years (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: 1.87 physicians/1000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density: 14 beds/1000 population (2016)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (2015)

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Greenland
Local long form: none
Local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Etymology: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island

Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Capital
Name: Nuuk (Godthaab)
Geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Timezone note: Greenland has four time zones
Etymology: "nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord

Administrative divisions: 5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
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 km² - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly

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)

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

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)

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

Citizenship: see Denmark

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011)
Head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)
Cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
Elections and appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
Election results:

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
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)
Election results:

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

Political parties and leaders: Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens Frederik NIELSEN]
Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Aqqalu JERIMIASSEN]
Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Erik JENSEN]
Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Mute Bourup EGEDE]
Signpost Party (Naleraq) or N [Pele BROBERG] (formerly Partii Naleraq)

International organization participation: Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Kenneth HOEGH, Head of Representation; note - Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York
In the us chancery: Greenland Representation
3,200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: 202-797-5,392
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Consul Joanie SIMON (since June 2021)
From the us embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47
Nuuk 3,900
Greenland
From the us telephone: (+299) 384,100
From the us email address and website: 
[link]

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

National symbols: polar bear; national colors: red, white

National anthem
Name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old also translated as You Our Ancient Land)
Lyrics and music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN
Note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry
Selected world heritage site locales:

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68.1% (2015 est.)
Government consumption: 28% (2015 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 14.3% (2015 est.)
Investment in inventories: -13.9% (2015 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2015 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2015 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.)
Industry: 10.1% (2015 est.)
Services: 73.9% (2015)

Agriculture 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: NA

Labor force: 26,840 (2015 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 15.9%
By occupation industry: 10.1%
By occupation services: 73.9% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Population below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA
Highest 10: NA

Budget
Revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Public debt: 13% of GDP (2015 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Exports:
Partners: Denmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019)
Commodities: fish, crustaceans, fishing ships (2019)

Imports:
Partners: Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019)
Commodities: fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019)

Debt external:

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)
Installed generating capacity: 187,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 481.7 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission distribution losses: 17 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 15.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 84.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 183 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,352 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 65,958 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.)

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
Users total: 39,358 (2019 est.)
Users percent of population: 70% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 15,649 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)

Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H

Airports
Total: 15 (2021)
With paved runways total: 10
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2021)
With unpaved runways total: 5
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2021)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 8
By type: other 8 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Sisimiut

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