Country Profile: Greenland

Greenland, the world's largest island, is primarily characterized by its vast icy expanse, with around 80% of its surface covered by ice. Home to a population of approximately 57,751, the majority of its inhabitants are ethnically Greenlandic, and they primarily reside along the southwestern coastline, with the capital city, Nuuk, being a central hub. Economically, Greenland operates as a high-income territory reliant on fishing, tourism, and Danish financial support, while enjoying a degree of self-governance since 1979. Despite its remoteness and stark arctic climate, Greenland is strategically significant, particularly in terms of its natural resources and geopolitical location.

Geography

Greenland is situated in Northern North America, between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada. It spans a total area of 2,166,086 sq km, with an extensive coastline measuring 44,087 km. The country's terrain is predominantly flat with a gradually sloping icecap, while the interior remains largely uninhabited. Greenland's climate ranges from arctic to subarctic, featuring cool summers and cold winters.

80% of Greenland is ice-covered.
Highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld, at 3,694 m.
Contains the second largest ice sheet globally, holding almost 7% of the world's fresh water.

People and Society

Greenland's population is estimated at 57,751 in 2024, with a demographic largely consisting of 88.1% Greenlandic and 7.1% Danish individuals. The official language is Greenlandic, with Danish and English also widely spoken. The society is predominantly Evangelical Lutheran, with traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs also evident. Urbanization is significant, with 87.9% of the population residing in urban areas.

Median age is 35.6 years (2025 est.).
Life expectancy at birth is 74.5 years (2024 est.).
The birth rate is 13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.).

Economy

Greenland's economy is classified as a high-income, self-governing territory, with a gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at $4.04 billion (2023). The economy relies heavily on fishing, with the sector contributing about 16.6% to GDP. Tourism is on the rise, and there is growing interest in mining for natural resources. The country benefits from 100% electrification and relies primarily on hydropower for its energy needs.

GDP per capita in 2023 is $71,000.
Exports in 2023 total $1.357 billion.
Imports in 2023 amount to $1.7 billion.

Government

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, enjoying parliamentary democracy under its Parliament, known as Inatsisartut. The government comprises an executive branch headed by a Prime Minister, currently Jens-Frederik NIELSEN. The Danish monarchy serves as the head of state, represented locally by a High Commissioner. Greenland also participates in international organizations, such as the Arctic Council.

The parliament has 31 seats, elected every 4 years.
National holiday is celebrated on June 21, marking the summer solstice.
Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament for a term of 4 years.

Military and Security

Greenland does not maintain regular military forces; however, the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command is responsible for the territory's defense. The US Space Force also maintains a base on the island, highlighting its strategic military importance in the Arctic region.

Danish military presence coordinated from Nuuk.
No active military forces on Greenland's territory.

Energy

Greenland's electricity supply is entirely reliant on renewable sources, primarily hydropower, which constitutes 85.8% of its installed capacity. The country has achieved 100% electrification, with minimal losses in transmission. Coal and petroleum are used minimally in its energy consumption.

Total installed electricity generating capacity is 190,000 kW (2023).
Annual electricity consumption reached 534.5 million kWh (2023).

Environment

Greenland faces significant environmental challenges, particularly related to climate change, which manifests through alterations in sea levels and other disruptions. It maintains a sparse agricultural land use of 0.6%, with the majority of its area classified as barren or ice covered.

Annual carbon dioxide emissions are estimated at 527,000 metric tonnes (2023).
0% of land is forested, illustrating its arctic environment.

Transportation

Transportation in Greenland relies heavily on air travel due to the terrain, with 25 airports and 54 heliports planned for 2025. The country has 23 ports, which are crucial for its maritime economy.

Greenland has 10 merchant marine vessels (2023).
Key ports include Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Illulissat.

Communications

Greenland has a developing communication infrastructure, with a notable rate of mobile subscriptions, as high as 118 per 100 inhabitants in 2021. Internet usage stood at 70% of the population in prior years, reflecting growing connectivity.

The country has 6,000 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2020).
It boasts 18,000 fixed broadband subscriptions (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	57,751	2024 estimate
Area	2,166,086 sq km	Total area
GDP	$4.04 billion	2023 estimate
GDP per capita	$71,000	2023 estimate
Electricity access	100%	Total population (2022 est.)
Birth rate	13.32 births/1,000	2025 estimate
Life expectancy	74.5 years	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	N/A	Data not provided
Infant mortality rate	8.3 deaths/1,000	2025 estimate
Area of agricultural land	0.6%	2023 estimate