A view of the northern part of the world showing all of glacier-topped Greenland cloud free. The point in the upper left where the longitude lines converge over the ice-clogged Arctic Ocean is the North Pole. The islands in the upper center are those of Svalbard. Image courtesy of NASA.
Along Greenland's western coast, a small field of glaciers empties into Baffin Bay, 80% of which is covered by ice in winter. Calving icebergs may be seen in the lower right of this high-resolution satellite photo. Baffin Bay is only 1,000 m (3,300 ft) deep along the coast. Between May and July a polynya, an area of navigable open water surrounded by sea ice, forms at the northern part of the bay. This polynya, the largest in the Canadian Arctic, is stable in location and has existed for nearly 9,000 years. Image courtesy of USGS.
The Petermann Glacier grinds and slides toward the sea along the northwestern coast of Greenland, terminating in a giant floating ice tongue. Like other glaciers that end in the ocean, Petermann periodically calves icebergs. In July 2012, a massive ice island broke free and gradually drifted down the fjord, away from the floating ice tongue from which it calved. This satellite image has been rotated and north is toward the right. Analysis of the image reveals that the iceberg covers an area of about 32.3 sq km (12.5 sq mi). Image courtesy of NASA.
The calving front of Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland as seen from a NASA P-3B. In July 2012 an iceberg twice the size of Manhattan broke off of Petermann Glacier and began to float away in the ocean. After this calving event the line where the iceberg broke away became the glacier's new front edge, or calving front, effectively moving it several kilometers upstream. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger.
Pictured is the calving front of Kangerdlugssup Glacier in central west Greenland, where large chunks of ice break off from the glaciers to form icebergs. Icebergs are comprised of frozen freshwater and not saltwater. Several large icebergs in the fjord are on the right surrounded by the so-called mélange, which is a dense mix of iceberg bits and sea ice floating in the fjord. The mélange plays a role in how many icebergs a glacier can produce by stabilizing the calving front. Scientists estimate the lifespan of an iceberg to be as long as 3,000 years. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger.
Sunrise at Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, with ravens on the left, and the Watson River and Sugarloaf Hill seen through a haze of windblown glacial silt. Credit: NASA/Jim Yungel.
Frozen fjord along northeast coast of Greenland as seen from a P-3 aircraft on 14 May 2012. Credit: NASA/Jim Yungel.
Each spring and summer, as the air warms up and the sunlight beats down on the Greenland ice sheet, sapphire-colored ponds spring up like swimming pools. As snow and ice melt atop the glaciers, the water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface that are sometimes visible in satellite imagery. These melt ponds and lakes can disappear quickly - a phenomenon that scientists have observed firsthand in recent years. Photo courtesy of NASA.
The Steensby Glacier in norothern Greenland flows around a sharp bend in a deep canyon. The glacier is located at 81 degrees north in Nyboe Land and flows into the St. Georges Fjord. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger.
This image of Saunders Island and Wolstenholme Fjord with Kap Atholl in the background was taken during a NASA Operation IceBridge survey flight in April of 2013. Sea ice coverage in the fjord ranges from thicker, white ice seen in the background, to thinner grease ice and leads showing open ocean water in the foreground. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger.
The coast of Greenland as seen from the air.
Glaciers in the fjords of Greenland, as seen from the air.
Protected ship passage through southeast Greenland.
Mountains along ship channel through southeast Greenland.
Mountains along ship channel through southeast Greenland.
Mountains along ship channel through southeast Greenland.
Mountains along ship channel through southeast Greenland.
Mountains along ship channel through southeast Greenland.
View of Qaqortoq from the sea. Founded in 1775, the town - the largest in south Greenland - has 3,200 inhabitants and is a cultural and commercial center of the region.
Welcome to Qaqortoq.
Colorful houses and buildings in Qaqortoq.
Church in Qagortoq.
Carvings in Qaqortoq.
Carvings in Qaqortoq.
Building in Qaqortoq.
A view of the northern part of the world showing all of glacier-topped Greenland cloud free. The point in the upper left where the longitude lines converge over the ice-clogged Arctic Ocean is the North Pole. The islands in the upper center are those of Svalbard. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Greenland Factbook Data
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 Monica BLAND (since July 2023)
65 years and over: 11.89% (2023 est.) (male 3,641/female 3,226)
This is the population pyramid for Greenland. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Natural hazards
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Area - comparative
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
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.
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
Population below poverty line
16.2% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Exports - commodities
shrimp, halibut, fish fillets, crabs, cod, mackerel (2021)
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
Agricultural products
sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
Military and security forces
no regular military forces
Budget
revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Capital
name: Nuuk (Godthaab)
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 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
Imports - commodities
fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019)
Climate
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Coastline
44,087 km
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)
chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011) (2024)
head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)
cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
election results: 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%
Fiscal year
calendar year
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
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)
Industries
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Land use
agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 99.4% (2018 est.)
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 - by 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: Greenland Parliament - percent of vote by party - IA 38.7%, S 32.2%, N 12.9%, D 9.7%, A 6.5%; seats by party - IA 12, S 10, N 4, D 3, A 2; composition - men 21, women 10, percentage women 32.2%
Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
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
International organization participation
Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
National holiday
National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Nationality
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Natural resources
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
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)
Economic overview
large self-governing Danish territorial economy; preferential EU market access; high-income economy; dependent on Danish financial support, even for whaling and sealing industries; growing tourism; hydropower-fueled but environmentally fragile economy
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)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Sisimiut
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunication systems
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; a contract has been awarded to build a 5G network in Greenland, initially covering three towns, with 10 towns, including Greenland's capital Nuuk to follow (2022)
domestic: nearly 11 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 118 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
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)
Terrain
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Military - note
the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for coordinating Denmark's defense of Greenland
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
Location
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Map references
Arctic Region
Irrigated land
NA
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
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington, DC 20008
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)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
National anthem
name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old also translated as You Our Ancient Land)
lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN
note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem
Major urban areas - population
18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
Physicians density
1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density
14 beds/1,000 population (2016)
National symbol(s)
polar bear; national colors: red, white
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.)
Citizenship
see Denmark
Population distribution
settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
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
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
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
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Languages
Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are two other native languages, considered dialects of Kalaallisut, spoken by approximately 10% of Greenlanders), Danish, English
Imports - partners
Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019)
Disputes - international
in 2022, Canada and Denmark signed an agreement resolving a managed dispute over uninhabited Tartupaluk/Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Elevation
highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,792 m
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Current health expenditure
NA
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.6
youth dependency ratio: 30
elderly dependency ratio: 13.6
potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2010 est.)