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
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)