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Greenlanders

Greenlandic people celebrating Greenland's National Day
Total population
55,840 (210th)
Regions with significant populations
Denmark	18,563
United States	352
Languages
Greenlandic, Danish, English
Religion
Christianity (Church of Greenland)

Greenlanders, also called Greenlandics, are the people of the Kingdom of Denmark of the autonomous territory of Greenland.

Identity

Main article: Danish nationality law § Greenland

Greenlandic people possess Danish nationality. The Danish Realm, including Greenland, joined the European Communities, the predecessor to the European Union, in 1973. However, after gaining home rule in 1979, Greenland held a referendum in 1982 in which the majority voted not to leave the Communities. As a result, Greenland officially withdrew from the European Communities in 1985. Similarly, Greenland also withdrew from the European Economic Community in 1985 following its resignation from the European Communities. Although Greenland is no longer part of the European Union, it maintains a special relationship with the EU through its status as an Overseas Country and Territory. As Danish citizens, Greenlanders have the same rights to freedom of movement within the EU, allowing them to live and work freely in EU member states.

Home rule

Main article: History of Greenland § Home rule

The American presence in Greenland introduced Sears catalogs, enabling Greenlanders and Danes to purchase modern appliances and other goods by mail. From 1948 to 1950, the Greenland Commission assessed the island's conditions, focusing on its isolation, unequal laws, and economic stagnation. This evaluation led to the abolition of the Royal Greenland Trading Department's monopolies. In 1953, Greenland's status shifted from a colony to an autonomous province within the Danish Realm. Greenland also gained its own Danish county and, despite its small population, was granted representation in the Danish Folketing (parliament).

Denmark implemented reforms to urbanize Greenlanders, aiming to reduce dependence on declining seal populations and to provide labor for expanding cod fisheries. These reforms also sought to improve healthcare, education, and transportation. However, they introduced challenges such as modern unemployment and poorly planned housing projects, notably Blok P. These European-style apartments proved impractical, with Inuit struggling to navigate narrow doors in winter clothing, and fire escapes often blocked by fishing equipment. Television broadcasts began in 1982, but economic hardships worsened after the collapse of cod fisheries and mines in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving Greenland reliant on Danish aid and shrimp exports.

State-owned enterprises remain central to the economy. Subsidized companies like Air Greenland and the Arctic Umiaq ferry are essential for connecting remote communities. The primary airport is still the former U.S. air base at Kangerlussuaq, as Nuuk's airport cannot accommodate international flights due to cost and noise limitations.

Greenland’s limited representation in the Folketing meant that despite 70.3% of its population opposing entry into the European Economic Community, it was included along with Denmark in 1973. Concerns about the customs union enabling foreign competition and overfishing of Greenlandic waters were soon validated, leading to a strong push for greater autonomy. The Folketing approved devolution in 1978, and home rule was established under a local Landsting the following year. On 23 February 1982, a slim majority (53%) of Greenlanders voted to withdraw from the EEC, a process finalized in 1985 with the Greenland Treaty.

Greenland's Home Rule has increasingly embraced Greenlandic identity, with a focus on Kalaallit language and culture, while distancing itself from Danish influence and regional dialects. In 1979, the capital, Godthåb, was renamed Nuuk. A local flag was introduced in 1985, and the Danish-owned KGH was replaced by the locally managed Kalaallit Niuerfiat, now known as KNI A/S, in 1986. Following a successful referendum on self-government in 2008, Greenland's parliament gained expanded powers, and in 2009, Danish was removed as an official language.

Greenland's international relations are mostly managed by its home rule government, though some matters remain under Danish oversight. As part of the agreement when Greenland exited the EEC, it was considered a "special case," retaining access to the European market through Denmark, which remains a member. Greenland is also involved in several regional organizations with Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Indigenous Inuit populations from Canada and Russia. It was a founding member of the Arctic Council in 1996, an environmental group. The presence of U.S. military bases, particularly the Pituffik Space Base, continues to be a contentious issue, with some politicians advocating for a renegotiation of the 1951 US–Denmark treaty. The 1999–2003 Commission on Self-Governance even proposed that Greenland should seek to have the base removed from U.S. control and placed under international management, possibly through the United Nations.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Greenland

Blok P, once Greenland's largest building and home to about 1% of its population, was demolished on October 19, 2012.

Greenland has an estimated population of 55,840. As of 2012, the total life expectancy was 71.25 years, with males having a life expectancy of 68.6 years and females with 74.04 years.

Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq is Greenland's most populous municipality, with 24,382 residents. It includes Nuuk, the capital and largest city of the territory. Avannaata Kommunia is the second most populous municipality, with 10,846 residents, primarily in Ilulissat, its largest city. Qeqqata Kommunia has a population of 9,204, centered around Sisimiut. Kommune Kujalleq follows with 6,145 residents, and Kommune Qeqertalik is the least populated municipality, with 6,058 inhabitants.

In 2021, Greenland’s population was 56,421, with 18,800 residents living in the capital, Nuuk. Most Greenlanders inhabit the fjord-lined southwestern coast, which enjoys a comparatively mild climate for its high latitude. While the majority of the population resides in colder coastal areas north of 64°N, the warmer regions, such as the vegetated surroundings of Narsarsuaq, remain sparsely populated.

The majority of Greenland's population identifies as Lutheran. Historically, the Moravian Brothers, a congregation with ties to Christiansfeld in South Jutland and partially of German origin, played a significant religious role. Despite their name, they were not ethnically Moravian (Czech).

Regarding demographics, an estimated 89.7% of the population is of Greenlandic multiethnic European-Inuit heritage, 7.8% is Danish, 1.1% other Nordic, and 1.4% from other backgrounds. The multiethnic European-Inuit population includes those with Danish, Norwegian, Faroese, Icelandic, Dutch (whaler), German, and American ancestry.

A 2015 comprehensive genetic study of Greenlanders revealed that modern-day Inuit in Greenland are direct descendants of the Thule culture pioneers who settled in the region during the 13th century. The study also showed approximately 25% European admixture, stemming from colonizers who arrived in the 16th century. Contrary to earlier theories, no genetic evidence of Viking settlers has been identified among Greenland's population.

Ethnic groups

Main article: Demographics of Greenland § Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups of Greenland (2018)
Ethnic groups			percent
Inuit			89.7%
Danish			7.8%
Other Nordic			1.1%
Other			1.4%

Significant minority groups
Nationality	Population (2020)
Philippines	373
Thailand	208
Iceland	128
Sweden	74
Denmark (migrant workers, mainly businessmen)	64
China	61
Norway	53
Germany	50
United States	47
Poland	39
Canada	20

Greenland's population is primarily composed of Greenlandic Inuit, including individuals of mixed heritage, as well as Danish Greenlanders and other Europeans and North Americans. As of a 2009 estimate, the Inuit population constituted approximately 85–90% of the total. There are 6,792 Danish residents in Greenland, accounting for 12% of the population. In recent years, the territory has seen notable immigration from Asia, particularly from the Philippines, Thailand, and China.

Languages

Main article: Greenland § Languages

Greenlandic, specifically West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut, is spoken by nearly 50,000 people and became the sole official language of Greenland in 2009. The majority of the population speaks both Danish and West Greenlandic Kalaallisut, the most popular being the Eskaleut language, with both languages having been used in public affairs since the introduction of home rule in 1979. Despite Greenlandic's official status, Danish remains widely used in administration, education, skilled trades, and other professions. The orthography of Greenlandic, initially established in 1851, was revised in 1973. Greenland has a literacy rate of 100%.

Sign in Greenland written in Greenlandic and Danish

Approximately 12% of Greenland’s population speaks Danish as a first or sole language, primarily comprising Danish immigrants. For many, Danish remains the dominant language, particularly in Nuuk and other larger towns. Historically, Danish served as a second language for most multiethnic Inuit ancestors, although Greenlandic was more dominant in smaller settlements. In larger towns, especially Nuuk, Danish speakers have held significant social influence.

Debate continues over the evolving roles of Greenlandic and Danish in Greenland’s future. While Greenlandic holds official status and is widely spoken, Danish remains critical for administration and business. English, increasingly important in Greenland, is now taught starting from the first year of school.

West Greenland has historically been the most populous region of the island and the center of its de facto official language, Greenlandic. However, linguistic diversity persists in other regions. Approximately 3,000 people speak East Greenlandic, referred to as Tunumiisut, and nearly 1,000 residents around Qaanaaq in the north speak Inuktun. Notably, Inuktun shares closer similarities with the Inuit languages of Canada than with other Greenlandic dialects.

These regional varieties of Greenlandic are largely unintelligible to each other, with some linguists even classifying Tunumiisut as a separate language. A UNESCO report has labeled these other varieties as endangered, prompting efforts to preserve and protect the East Greenlandic dialect in particular.

Education

See also: Education in Greenland

The University of Greenland campus is in Nuuk.

Education in Greenland closely follows the Danish system and is free and compulsory for children aged 7 to 16. The primary language of instruction is Greenlandic, with Danish introduced as a second language in primary school. The education system aims to foster cultural and linguistic unity through a bilingual model, integrating Greenlandic and Danish-speaking students.

The public school system, managed by municipalities, encompasses approximately 100 schools. It focuses on teaching Greenlandic from kindergarten through high school, while also providing vocational and technical education during secondary school. For higher education, the University of Greenland in Nuuk provides local academic opportunities, while vocational training institutions are also available. Students who wish to study in Denmark have equal admission rights and access to scholarships, provided they meet residency requirements.

Since 1994, reforms in bilingual education have generated positive results, ensuring students gain proficiency in both Greenlandic and Danish and promoting equal access to education across linguistic groups.