Declining and aging population over the next 24 years

The total population count is over the next 24 years projected to decline from todays 55,847 persons to 52.608 in 2040. In 2040 there will be around 3.000 fewer people in Greenland than today, if no unexpected changes in fertility, mortality and migration occur. Over the 24 years the population's average age will increase to 38,1 years from 35,4 today. The population continues to be younger than, say the Danish population where the average age today is 41,1 years.

 

Table 1. The Population’s age distribution 1986-2040, selected years

 

1986

1996

2006

2016

2026

2036

2040

 

persons

Total

53.406

55.863

56.901

55.847

54.802

53.300

52.608

0-6

6.931

7.840

6.133

5.508

5.666

5.234

5.085

7-17

8.157

9.184

9.989

7.642

7.395

7.345

7.133

18-24

10.300

5.296

6.554

6.835

5.778

5.470

5.469

25-59

24.954

29.432

28.673

28.624

26.069

24.775

24.396

60-69

1.892

2.820

3.683

4.609

6.487

5.395

4.939

70+

1.172

1.291

1.869

2.629

3.407

5.081

5.586

 

percent

0-6

13,0

14,0

10,8

9,9

10,3

9,8

9,7

7-17

15,3

16,4

17,6

13,7

13,5

13,8

13,6

18-24

19,3

9,5

11,5

12,2

10,5

10,3

10,4

25-59

46,7

52,7

50,4

51,3

47,6

46,5

46,4

60-69

3,5

5,0

6,5

8,3

11,8

10,1

9,4

70+

2,2

2,3

3,3

4,7

6,2

9,5

10,6

See figures in our Statbank ( http://bank.stat.gl/beeprog )

 

Over the projection period, the share of elderly people (70 +) will double. The population in working ages will decline, but still constitute about half the population.

 

These are the main results of the projection of the Greenlandic population, based on the population count January 1st 2016 and experiences from vital statistics 2006-2015 .

 

Detailed calculation results by gender, 1 year age groups and place of birth can be found in our Statbank http://bank.stat.gl/beeprog