Imagine an island more than fifty times the size of Denmark where you could, on average, fit the entire population of a small town into a space larger than Mexico, and you begin to grasp the unique reality of Greenland's 56,583 residents.
Key Takeaways
- As of January 1, 2023, the total population of Greenland was 56,583 inhabitants
- Greenland's population density in 2022 was 0.14 people per square kilometer
- The land area of Greenland is 2,166,086 square kilometers with a population of 56,367 in 2021, yielding a density of 0.026/km²
- 0-14 years old comprise 21.8% of Greenland's population in 2023
- 15-64 years old make up 69.3% of the population as of 2023
- 65+ years old represent 8.9% of population in 2023
- Total male population 28,700 (50.7%) in 2023
- Female population 27,883 (49.3%) in 2023
- Sex ratio overall 1.03 males per female in 2023
- 89% of population is Inuit (Kalaallit and Inughuit) in 2023
- Danes comprise 10% of population in 2021
- Other Europeans 1% in 2023
- Net migration rate -0.7 migrants/1,000 pop in 2023
- Urban population 87.5% of total in 2023
- Annual urbanization rate 0.1% 2020-2025
Greenland has a tiny, slowly growing population spread across vast, remote terrain.
Age Structure
10-14 years old comprise 21.8% of Greenland's population in 2023
Verified215-64 years old make up 69.3% of the population as of 2023
Verified365+ years old represent 8.9% of population in 2023
Verified4Median age in Greenland is 34.4 years in 2023
Directional5Total dependency ratio is 44.3% in 2021
Single source6Youth dependency ratio (0-14/15-64) is 31.5% in 2023
Verified7Elderly dependency ratio (65+/15-64) is 12.8% in 2023
Verified8Population under 15 in 2020: 12,200 (21.7%)
Verified9Population 15-24: 9,800 (17.4%) in 2021
Directional1025-54 years: 24,500 (43.6%) in 2021
Single source1155-64 years: 6,200 (11%) in 2021
Verified12Over 65: 4,900 (8.7%) in 2021
Verified13Age distribution 0-4: 15.2% in 2015 census
Verified145-9 years: 14.8% in 2015
Directional1510-14 years: 13.5% in 2015
Single source1615-19: 12.1% in 2015
Verified1720-24: 11.3% in 2015
Verified18Projected median age 2030: 36.2 years
Verified19Child population (0-17) 15,400 in 2021 (27.4%)
Directional20Working age (15-64) 38,900 (69.2%) in 2021
Single source21Retirement age population growth rate 2.1% annually 2015-2020
Verified22Age pyramid base narrowing, fertility decline impact
Verified23Proportion 0-14 projected to drop to 20.5% by 2030
Verified2465+ projected to rise to 10.2% by 2030
Directional25Average age of women at birth 26.5 years in 2021
Single source26School-age population (6-15) 10,200 in 2023
Verified27Youth (15-24) unemployment affects age cohort size
Verified28Male median age 33.8 years, female 35.0 in 2023
VerifiedAge Structure Interpretation
Greenland is facing the demographic squeeze of a generation: while a robust working-age majority shoulders the economy today, a gradually narrowing base of youth and a slowly swelling cohort of retirees hint that the future will demand more from fewer.
Ethnicity and Origins
189% of population is Inuit (Kalaallit and Inughuit) in 2023
Verified2Danes comprise 10% of population in 2021
Verified3Other Europeans 1% in 2023
Verified4Kalaallit (Greenlandic Inuit) 88%, Inughuit (Polar Inuit) 1%
Directional5Danish descent permanent residents 7,000 in 2021
Single source6Filipinos 0.5% (about 280 people) in 2023
Verified7Thule people (Inughuit) population 700 in north
Verified8Mixed Inuit-Danish 5% in urban areas 2021
Verified9Indigenous population proportion 92% including mixes 2023
Directional10Non-Inuit 12% in Nuuk 2023
Single source11Historical Inuit migration from Canada 1000 AD
Verified12Norse settlers descendants negligible today
Verified13Asian origin residents 0.3% (170 people) 2021
Verified14African origin <0.1% in 2023
Directional15Language speakers: Greenlandic 88%, Danish 10%
Single source16Inuit cultural dominance 95% in rural areas
Verified17Danish citizens non-ethnic 4% of pop 2021
Verified18Genetic studies show 80% Siberian Inuit ancestry
Verified19Polar Eskimo distinct group 600 people
Directional20Urban ethnic diversity higher, 20% non-Inuit in Nuuk
Single sourceEthnicity and Origins Interpretation
While Greenland's heart beats overwhelmingly to an Inuit drum, with a proud 88% majority, its modern pulse in towns like Nuuk reveals a subtle but growing Danish and international rhythm, proving that even the most remote icy frontiers are not immune to the gentle stir of a global melting pot.
Gender Distribution
1Total male population 28,700 (50.7%) in 2023
Verified2Female population 27,883 (49.3%) in 2023
Verified3Sex ratio overall 1.03 males per female in 2023
Verified4At birth, sex ratio 1.05 males/female in 2023
Directional5Under 15 sex ratio 1.04 in 2021
Single source615-64 sex ratio 1.02 in 2021
Verified765+ sex ratio 0.85 males/female in 2021
Verified8Life expectancy male 70.8 years, female 75.2 in 2023
Verified9Male population in Nuuk 9,500 (50.5%) in 2023
Directional10Female in Nuuk 9,300 (49.5%)
Single source11Gender imbalance in north Greenland, 52% male in Avannaata 2023
Verified12South Greenland (Kujalleq) 51% female in 2023
Verified13Overall sex ratio at birth stable 1.05 since 2010
Verified14Working age males 19,800 (51%) in 2021
Directional15Working age females 19,100 (49%)
Single source16Elderly males 2,100 (42.8%), females 2,800 (57.2%) 2021
Verified17Youth males 6,300 (51.6%), females 5,900 (48.4%) under 15 2021
Verified18Gender ratio projected stable to 2030 at 1.03
Verified19Suicide rates higher in males, impacting gender stats
Directional20Male emigration higher, affecting ratios
Single source21Female life expectancy gap 4.4 years in 2023
Verified22Inuit males 88% of male pop
VerifiedGender Distribution Interpretation
Greenland presents a remarkably balanced demographic dance, with men narrowly leading in youth and working age numbers only to gracefully bow out earlier, leaving the stage increasingly to women in their later years.
Migration and Urbanization
1Net migration rate -0.7 migrants/1,000 pop in 2023
Verified2Urban population 87.5% of total in 2023
Verified3Annual urbanization rate 0.1% 2020-2025
Verified4Immigrants from Denmark 1,200 net in 2022
Directional5Emigration to Denmark 1,500 annually average 2015-2020
Single source6Rural population 6,700 (12.5%) in 2023
Verified7Internal migration to Nuuk 300 people/year 2021-2023
Verified8Foreign-born population 12% in 2021
Verified9Refugee population negligible, <50 in 2023
Directional10Largest city Nuuk urban agglomeration 19,500 in 2023
Single source11Sisimiut urban pop 6,000 (100% urban) 2023
Verified12Migration from south to north low, 50/year
Verified13EU citizens migrants 200/year average
Verified14Population growth from migration -0.1% contribution 2023
Directional15Urban density in Nuuk 200/km² local
Single source16Thule Air Base migration impacts 100 personnel turnover/year
Verified17Return migration Danes 400/year
Verified18Youth out-migration to Denmark 800 under 25/year
VerifiedMigration and Urbanization Interpretation
Greenland’s cities are slowly growing as people huddle together for warmth against a backdrop of steady outbound youth and Danes gradually reconsidering their frozen adventure, yet its vast icy heart quietly empties out one plane ticket at a time.
Population Size and Density
1As of January 1, 2023, the total population of Greenland was 56,583 inhabitants
Verified2Greenland's population density in 2022 was 0.14 people per square kilometer
Verified3The land area of Greenland is 2,166,086 square kilometers with a population of 56,367 in 2021, yielding a density of 0.026/km²
Verified4In 2020, Greenland's population reached 56,225, marking a 0.34% increase from 2019
Directional5Nuuk, the capital, had a population of 18,800 as of 2023, representing 33.2% of Greenland's total population
Single source6Sisimiut municipality population was 5,900 in 2023
Verified7Ilulissat population stood at 4,730 in 2021
Verified8Greenland's total population in 2015 was 55,847 according to census data
Verified9Qaqortoq had 3,210 residents in 2023
Directional10Aasiaat population was 3,050 in 2021
Single source11Maniitsoq municipality counted 2,510 people in 2023
Verified12Paamiut had 1,320 inhabitants in 2021
Verified13Upernavik population was 1,125 in 2023
Verified14Qasigiannguit had 1,020 residents in 2021
Directional15Tasiilaq population reached 2,080 in 2023
Single source16Ittoqqortoormiit had 370 people in 2021
Verified17Scoresbysund (Ittoqqortoormiit) density is extremely low at under 0.001/km² locally
Verified18Greenland's population in 2000 was 56,124
Verified19Projected population for 2030 is 57,200
Directional201960 population was 32,999, showing historical growth
Single source21Kangerlussuaq had 512 residents in 2021
Verified22Narsaq population was 1,480 in 2023
Verified23Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn) had 840 people in 2021
Verified24Uummannaq population 1,341 in 2023
Directional25Average household size in Greenland is 2.7 persons in 2021
Single source26Pituffik Space Base has about 150 permanent residents
Verified27Total municipalities in Greenland: 4, with combined pop 56,583 in 2023
Verified28Avannaata municipality pop 10,925 in 2023
Verified29Kujalleq pop 6,888 in 2023
Directional30Qeqqata pop 9,677 in 2023
Single source31Sermersooq pop 21,232 in 2023
VerifiedPopulation Size and Density Interpretation
While Greenland's population could fit comfortably in a single large football stadium, its inhabitants have wisely spread themselves across an icy expanse the size of Western Europe to ensure everyone gets a breathtaking, if slightly chilly, front-yard view.
Sources & References
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- Reference 11WHOwho.intVisit source
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- Reference 13NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 14DATAdata.unhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 15WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source