Same population estimate as last year

January 1st 2017 there lived 55.860 persons in Greenland. Thus, the population increased by 13 persons during 2016 and the population count is almost unchanged.

 

Summary table 1. Population January 1st 2007-2017

 

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Total

56.458

56.193

56.452

56.615

56.749

56.370

56.282

55.984

55.847

55.860

Men

29.882

29.808

29.936

29.942

30.041

29.838

29.730

29.556

29.543

29.493

Women

26.576

26.385

26.516

26.673

26.708

26.532

26.552

26.428

26.304

26.367

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beest1

 

In both Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq and Qaasuitsup Kommunia the population estimate rose in 2016. Particularly in Nuuk, where the increase amounted to 284 people. 31.5 per cent. (17,600) of the population now lives in Nuuk.

 

In total the population estimates for the settlements decreased by 79 people from 7435 to 7356. However this average hides an increase in settlements in Qaasuitsup Kommunia.

 

Figure 1. Population in settlements 1977-2017

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beest1

 

Summary table 2 Population in municipalities 2017

 

-16

17-64

65+

Men

Women

Total

2016

Total

2017

Change from 2016 to 2017

Total

13.162

38.153

4.545

29.493

26.367

55.847

55.860

13

Towns

11.222

33.122

3.904

25.294

22.954

48.140

48.248

108

Settlements

1.902

4.832

622

4.027

3.329

7.435

7.356

-79

Stations

-

89

5

73

21

109

94

-15

Farms

38

89

14

82

59

143

141

-2

Unknown

-

21

-

17

4

20

21

1

Kommune Kujalleq

1.504

4.406

782

3.525

3.167

6.811

6.692

-119

Towns

1.304

3.775

646

2.973

2.752

5.845

5.725

-120

Settlements

162

544

123

472

357

826

829

3

Stations

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Farms

38

87

13

80

58

140

138

-2

Unknown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq

5.293

16.009

1.371

11.952

10.721

22.480

22.673

193

Towns

4.935

15.238

1.259

11.273

10.159

21.144

21.432

288

Settlements

358

763

111

672

560

1.329

1.232

-97

Stations

-

1

-

-

1

1

1

-

Farms

-

2

1

2

1

3

3

-

Unknown

-

5

-

5

-

3

5

2

Qeqqata Kommunia

2.198

6.201

840

4.936

4.303

9.423

9.239

-184

Towns

1.909

5.306

760

4.230

3.745

8.106

7.975

-131

Settlements

289

895

80

706

558

1.317

1.264

-53

Stations

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Farms

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Unknown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Qaasuitsup Kommunia

4.167

11.433

1.547

8.995

8.152

17.008

17.147

139

Towns

3.074

8.803

1.239

6.818

6.298

13.045

13.116

71

Settlements

1.093

2.630

308

2.177

1.854

3.963

4.031

68

Stations

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Farms

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Unknown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Outside Municipalities

-

104

5

85

24

125

109

-16

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beest2

 

Figure 2. Neighborhoods in Nuuk 1994 – 2017

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beestnuk 

 

The figure below shows the development of migration in the period 1993-2016. On average, 401 more people moved from Greenland than to, each year throughout the period. In 2016 a total of 2,451 people immigrated while 2,763 people emigrated. Net emigration in 2016 was therefore only 312 persons, a good deal lower than the previous years, but markedly higher than the average annual net emigration since 1993.

 

Figure 3. Migrations 1993 - 2016

  

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beebbiu2

 

Figure 4. Foreign citizens 1977-2017

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beest6

 

Summary table 3. Foreign citizens 2011-2017

 

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Total

811

920

978

986

974

1057

1017

 

Europe and Northamerica

Total

529

619

650

640

598

670

607

Men

360

439

464

452

429

487

429

Women

169

180

186

188

169

183

178

 

Others

Total

282

301

328

346

376

387

410

Men

117

122

138

140

154

157

166

Women

165

179

190

206

222

230

244

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beest6

 

The number of foreign citizens fell for the first time in several years. In total there now live 1,017 foreign citizens in the country. From the table in our StatBank it can be found that especially Icelandic citizens have left Greenland (from 204 persons in 2016 to 162 this year). Exactly the opposite has been the trend for Philippine citizens as they increased from 162 in 2016 to 204 in 2017.

 

Based on a preliminary calculation of the number of live births and deaths in 2016 shows the key figures for population trends in 2016 in the summary table 4.

 

Summary table 4. Population Account 2016          

Population January 1st 2016

55.847

+ number of liveborn (provisional)

830

- number of death (provisional)

487

+ immigrants

2.451

- emigrants

2.763

- Corrections

18

Population Januar 1st 2017

55.860

Source: Statistics Greenland,  http://bank.stat.gl/beecalc

 

Detailed tables can be found in our Statbank (http://bank.stat.gl)