Lowest population count in 20 years
January 1st 2016 there lived 55.847 persons in Greenland. Thus, the population decreased by 137 persons during 2015 and the population count is the lowest in 20 years.
Summary table 1. Population January 1st 2007-2016
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Total |
56.648 |
56.462 |
56.194 |
56.452 |
56.615 |
56.749 |
56.370 |
56.282 |
55.984 |
55.847 |
Men |
30.005 |
29.885 |
29.809 |
29.936 |
29.942 |
30.041 |
29.838 |
29.730 |
29.556 |
29.543 |
Women |
26.643 |
26.577 |
26.385 |
26.516 |
26.673 |
26.708 |
26.532 |
26.552 |
26.428 |
26.304 |
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1
Of the country's 4 municipalities Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq had a continued strong population growth in 2015 especially in Nuuk. In the other municipalities, the population declined slightly, as shown in Summary table 2
The population count in settlements continue to decrease. Only last year the number declined with 35 from 7,470 to 7,435 people.
Figure 1. Population in settlements 1977-2016
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1
Summary table 2 Population in municipalities 2016
|
-16 |
17-64 |
65+ |
Men |
Women |
Total 2015 |
Total 2016 |
Change from 2015 to 2016 |
Total |
13.150 |
38.260 |
4.437 |
29.543 |
26.304 |
55.984 |
55.847 |
-137 |
Towns |
11.164 |
33.175 |
3.801 |
25.293 |
22.847 |
48.216 |
48.140 |
-76 |
Settlements |
1.944 |
4.874 |
617 |
4.062 |
3.373 |
7.470 |
7.435 |
-35 |
Stations |
- |
103 |
6 |
89 |
20 |
133 |
109 |
-24 |
Farms |
42 |
88 |
13 |
83 |
60 |
156 |
143 |
-13 |
Unknown |
- |
20 |
- |
16 |
4 |
9 |
20 |
11 |
Kommune Kujalleq |
1.550 |
4.468 |
793 |
3.642 |
3.169 |
6.970 |
6.811 |
-159 |
Towns |
1.354 |
3.835 |
656 |
3.067 |
2.778 |
5.952 |
5.845 |
-107 |
Settlements |
154 |
547 |
125 |
494 |
332 |
863 |
826 |
-37 |
Stations |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Farms |
42 |
86 |
12 |
81 |
59 |
153 |
140 |
-13 |
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
-2 |
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq |
5.222 |
15.941 |
1.317 |
11.857 |
10.623 |
22.317 |
22.480 |
163 |
Towns |
4.834 |
15.103 |
1.207 |
11.145 |
9.999 |
21.007 |
21.144 |
137 |
Settlements |
388 |
832 |
109 |
706 |
623 |
1.299 |
1.329 |
30 |
Stations |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
3 |
1 |
-2 |
Farms |
- |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
- |
Unknown |
- |
3 |
- |
3 |
- |
5 |
3 |
-2 |
Qeqqata Kommunia |
2.250 |
6.353 |
820 |
5.041 |
4.382 |
9.397 |
9.423 |
26 |
Towns |
1.935 |
5.428 |
743 |
4.309 |
3.797 |
8.073 |
8.106 |
33 |
Settlements |
315 |
925 |
77 |
732 |
585 |
1.324 |
1.317 |
-7 |
Stations |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Farms |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Qaasuitsup Kommunia |
4.128 |
11.379 |
1.501 |
8.902 |
8.106 |
17.168 |
17.008 |
-160 |
Towns |
3.041 |
8.809 |
1.195 |
6.772 |
6.273 |
13.184 |
13.045 |
-139 |
Settlements |
1.087 |
2.570 |
306 |
2.130 |
1.833 |
3.984 |
3.963 |
-21 |
Stations |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Farms |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Outside Municipalities |
- |
119 |
6 |
101 |
24 |
132 |
125 |
-7 |
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest2
Figure 2. Neighborhoods in Nuuk 1994 - 2016
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beestnuk
The figure below shows the development of migration in the period 1993-2015. On average, 405 more people moved from Greenland than to, each year throughout the period. In 2015 a total of 2,186 people immigrated while 2,691 people emigrated. Net emigration of 505 persons and was higher than the average number of annual net emigrations since 1993.
Figure 3. Migrations 1993 - 2015
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beebbiu2
Figure 4. Foreign citizens 1977-2016
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest6
Summary table 3. Foreign citizens 2010-2016
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest6
After a sharp influx of foreign citizens from 2008 to 2013 and a temporary decline in 2014, the number of foreign nationals now rises again. In total 1.057 foreign nationals live in the country.
Based on a preliminary calculation of the number live births and deaths in 2015 the main figures of population trends in 2015 are listed in summary table 4.
Summary table 4. Population Account 2015
Population January 1st 2015 |
55.984 |
+ number of liveborn (provisional) |
854 |
- number of death (provisional) |
472 |
+ immigrants |
2.186 |
- emigrants |
2.691 |
- Corrections |
14 |
Population Januar 1st 2016 |
55.847 |
Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beecalc
Detailed tables can be found in our Statbank (http://bank.stat.gl)