Greenland

Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark in Arctic North America. Its capital is Nuuk.

Find Greenland

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Nuuk
Languages: Greenlandic (Kalaallisut)
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Population: 56,8312025 · World Bank
Area: 2,166,086 km²836,330.14 square miles
Self-government: 2009Home rule began in 1979; part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Greenland in context

North America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Nuuk; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

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

Languages

Greenlandic is the official language. Danish is also widely used in education and public life.

Location

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

Flag

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

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Danish Prime Minister’s Office · Greenland self-government

History & status

Inuit settlement and Norse history preceded Danish colonization. Greenland became an integral part of Denmark in 1953, gained home rule in 1979 and expanded self-government in 2009 after a referendum. It remains within the Kingdom of Denmark; self-government is not the same as independence.

1953
Greenland’s constitutional status within Denmark changes
1979
Home rule begins
2009
Expanded self-government takes effect

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Danish Prime Minister’s Office · Greenland self-government

Economy

Main activities

Fishing and seafood processing dominate goods exports. Public services and the Danish block grant play major roles, while tourism and mineral development attract investment. The large ice sheet and distances between settlements shape transport and economic activity.

Industry and production

Fishing, seafood processing, public services and tourism are major activities.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Danish Prime Minister’s Office · Greenland self-government

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Thousands of people

56.82025 · thousands of people

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table

Population: source values and plotted units
Year	People	Thousands of people
1970	46,400	46.400
1980	50,200	50.200
1990	55,600	55.600
2000	56,185	56.185
2010	56,534	56.534
2020	56,367	56.367
2025	56,831	56.831

Real GDP, 1990–2023

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars

2.82023 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table

Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year	Constant 2015 US$	Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990	1,490,388,563	1.490
1991	1,488,697,500	1.489
1992	1,412,599,749	1.413
1993	1,341,575,186	1.342
1994	1,421,055,061	1.421
1995	1,474,041,621	1.474
1996	1,496,589,112	1.497
1997	1,518,572,904	1.519
1998	1,636,383,513	1.636
1999	1,658,930,987	1.659
2000	1,776,741,578	1.777
2001	1,799,289,052	1.799
2002	1,781,814,765	1.782
2003	1,860,749,974	1.861
2004	1,989,264,212	1.989
2005	2,088,478,601	2.088
2006	2,204,508,100	2.205
2007	2,256,367,786	2.256
2008	2,395,498,418	2.395
2009	2,416,242,292	2.416
2010	2,458,184,032	2.458
2011	2,445,978,671	2.446
2012	2,480,080,343	2.480
2013	2,447,881,939	2.448
2014	2,563,963,822	2.564
2015	2,499,113,023	2.499
2016	2,616,120,348	2.616
2017	2,617,499,780	2.617
2018	2,633,808,517	2.634
2019	2,708,402,651	2.708
2020	2,715,195,047	2.715
2021	2,759,563,890	2.760
2022	2,814,880,888	2.815
2023	2,839,256,686	2.839

Government

A self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The elected Inatsisartut is the parliament, and Naalakkersuisut is the government. Greenland administers many domestic matters; some powers, including defence, remain with the Kingdom.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Danish Prime Minister’s Office · Greenland self-government

Knowledge check

Three questions about Greenland.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Greenland: Expanded self-government takes effect?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Danish Prime Minister’s Office · Greenland self-government

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.