Population 169 down in 3rd quarter, 2023



On October 1st, 2023, 56,696 persons lived in the country. That is 169 down compared to July 1st, and 77 more than a year ago.

19,866 are now living in Nuuk, which is 333 more than the same time, last year. 200 of these are born in Asia.

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEESTK1

Table 1. The population in municipalities
2022Q1 2022Q2 2022Q3 2022Q4 2023Q1 2023Q2 2023Q3 2023Q4
Total 56.562 56.595 56.661 56.619 56.609 56.735 56.865 56.696
Kommune Kujalleq 6.292 6.273 6.261 6.248 6.205 6.191 6.184 6.147
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq 23.861 23.964 23.994 24.104 24.148 24.313 24.333 24.332
Qeqqata Kommunia 9.257 9.273 9.239 9.223 9.191 9.183 9.203 9.218
Kommune Qeqertalik 6.180 6.136 6.159 6.102 6.082 6.028 6.056 6.062
Avannaata Kommunia 10.908 10.887 10.944 10.878 10.920 10.955 11.022 10.868

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEESTK3

With the exception of information on few deaths, information on births and deaths are reported very quickly. Due to a lower number of births, the total birth surplus (births minus deaths) was 146 persons in the first 3 quarters of the year.



Table 2. Monthly birth surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Sep All year
2018 11 24 10 23 17 33 47 19 38 45 40 31 222 338
2019 31 17 4 33 35 25 47 36 9 31 22 17 237 307
2020 30 14 27 35 45 18 41 16 20 44 18 17 246 325
2021 21 22 9 13 42 12 12 29 22 15 31 10 182 238
2022 42 1 26 12 10 31 29 18 35 - 7 19 204 230
2023 10 26 1 17 16 20 21 8 27 - - - 146 -

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBDK og https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBLFK

A total of 1,765 people immigrated and 1,975 people emigrated in the first 3 quarters of the year, so the net emigration was 285 persons. There is some uncertainty associated with this figure which is primarily due to incorrect registrations and delayed reports at this level of detail. In order to explain the increase in the population with the sum of a period’s birth surplus and net immigration, a net correction of -105 persons must be added in the first 3 quarters.



Table 3. Monthly net immigration surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Sep All year
2018 -7 18 -24 -30 -31 -75 45 -271 -62 -35 -10 -57 -437 -539
2019 95 15 -35 -44 -40 -20 56 -358 -13 5 -12 -21 -344 -372
2020 45 23 19 9 4 59 14 -170 - -16 -13 -54 3 -80
2021 65 30 35 3 22 -45 -25 -225 -8 -35 -14 -65 -148 -262
2022 11 -7 -5 5 -40 4 -21 -248 10 -6 -9 -76 -291 -382
2023 57 58 -41 29 -17 -11 8 -259 -34 - - - -210 -

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBIUK

The number of relocations (internally) in Greenland is at the same level as in the previous years. Information on change of residence is usually reported with a larger backlog, with the last month in particular underestimating the actual number.



Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBAF2AK

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBCK

Detailed information can be found in StatBank Greenland.



The following tables have been updated:

BEESTK1 Quarterly population
BEESTK1S Quarterly population by citizenship
BEESTK3 Population in Districts and Municipalities. Quarterly report
BEESTK4 Population in Localities. Quarterly report
BEESTKN Population in Nuuk. Quarterly report
BEEBAF2K Internal migrations, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBIU2K External migrations, preliminary quaterly report on month
BEEBBLFK Livebirth, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBDK Death, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBCK Marriages and divorces, preliminary quarterly monthly report