Country Profile: Greenland

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is characterized by its vast ice coverage and unique geographical positioning between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. The nation has a small population of around 57,751 people, predominantly of Greenlandic descent, living primarily along its southwestern coastline. Economically, Greenland is a high-income territory with a reliance on fishing, tourism, and potential mineral extraction, heavily supported by financial assistance from Denmark, which also retains certain governance controls. Greenlandic governance includes a parliamentary democracy and a self-rule government, leading to a mix of local and Danish laws.

Geography

Greenland is located in Northern North America, positioned between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada. The island spans approximately 2,166,086 square kilometers, with about 80% covered in ice. The terrain is predominantly flat to gradually sloping icecap, with a rugged and barren coastal line. It features a sparse population, with most inhabitants settled in small communities along the southwestern shores.

44,087 km of coastline.
3 times the size of Texas in area.
Home to the world's second largest ice sheet, covering an area of 1.71 million sq km.
0 km of land boundaries, reflecting its isolated geographical nature.

People and Society

Greenland's population is estimated at 57,751 in 2024, with a majority identifying as Greenlandic. The society is linguistically diverse, with Greenlandic as the official language alongside Danish and English. The population exhibits a youthful structure, with 20.4% under 15 years, but is declining due to a negative growth rate of -0.08%. Urbanization is significant, with nearly 87.9% of the population residing in urban areas.

1.07 males for every female in the total population (2024 est.).
Life expectancy is 74.5 years (2024 est.).
Birth rate is 13.32 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.).
38.8% of women aged 15-49 are currently married (2022 est.).

Economy

Greenland's economy is classified as high-income and relies heavily on fisheries, contributing significantly to exports. The economy recorded a Real GDP (PPP) of $4.04 billion in 2023. Despite limited industrial output, tourism and interest in mineral deposits show promise for economic growth. The country is not part of the EU but benefits from preferential trade arrangements with Denmark.

61% of GDP comes from the services sector (2023 est.).
Generates around $1.357 billion in exports (2023 est.).
40.8% of GDP from exports of goods and services (2023 est.).
$71,000 GDP per capita (PPP) in 2023.

Government

Greenland operates under a parliamentary democracy and is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, established under the Self-Government Act of 2009. The capital, Nuuk, serves as the political and administrative center, with a unicameral parliament known as the Inatsisartut. Greenlanders elect their representatives, while Denmark retains influence over foreign affairs and defense.

The current Prime Minister is Jens-Frederik Nielsen (since March 2025).
Greenland's parliament has 31 seats, elected every four years.
Universal suffrage is granted at age 18.
National Day is celebrated on June 21.

Military and Security

Greenland does not maintain regular military forces; instead, defense and security are coordinated by the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command, based in Nuuk. The U.S. Space Force operates a base in the territory, underscoring its strategic importance in Arctic security matters.

No independent military forces exist.
U.S. military presence includes a base located about 750 miles from the North Pole.
Defense responsibilities managed by Denmark.

Energy

Greenland has achieved 100% electrification for its population as of 2022, with the main source of electricity generated through hydropower, which accounts for 85.8% of the installed capacity. The total electricity consumption in 2023 reached 534.5 million kWh, with minimal reliance on fossil fuels.

190,000 kW of installed electricity generating capacity (2023).
Petroleum consumption stands at 4,000 barrels per day (2023).
10 million kWh lost in transmission and distribution (2023).

Environment

Greenland faces significant environmental challenges, notably changes in sea levels and disruptions to the Arctic ecosystem due to climate change. The island's ecosystem is fragile, with continuous permafrost covering much of the northern region and a unique biodiversity dependent on delicate climatic conditions.

99.4% of land is non-agricultural, with only 0.6% used for agriculture (2023).
527,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions estimated in 2023.
50,000 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.).

Transportation

Transportation in Greenland relies heavily on air travel due to the limited road infrastructure. The island has 25 airports and 54 heliports, facilitating travel within and to remote areas. The merchant marine fleet consists mainly of smaller vessels, with several key ports supporting local and international shipping activities.

10 vessels registered in the merchant marine (2023).
23 total ports, including small and very small ports (2024).
Air traffic is essential for connectivity within the country.

Communications

Greenland's communication infrastructure includes both fixed-line and mobile services, with a notable Internet penetration rate and public broadcasting facilities. As of 2021, there were around 67,000 mobile cellular subscriptions, indicating a healthy communication network.

Approximately 70% of the population are Internet users (2017 est.).
6,000 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2020 est.).
Broadcasting services provided by the Greenland Broadcasting Company and private stations.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	57,751 (2024 est.)
Area	2,166,086 sq km
GDP	$4.04 billion (2023 est.)	Purchasing Power Parity
Energy Consumption	534.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	74.5 years (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	Not specified
Urban Population	87.9% (2023)
Dependency Ratio	49 (2024 est.)
CO2 Emissions	527,000 metric tonnes (2023 est.)