Population increased by 33 in first quarter of 2022



The population continues to rise. Particularly strong in Nuuk.

On April 1st, 2022, 56,595 people lived in the country. That is 33 more than January 1 this year, and 54 more than a year ago. Almost half of the increase is attributed to people who were also born in Greenland. 19,397 people now live in Nuuk, which is 136 more than the same time, last year.



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

Table 1. The population in municipalities
2020Q3 2020Q4 2021Q1 2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Q4 2022Q1 2022Q2
Hele landet 56.367 56.379 56.421 56.541 56.653 56.523 56.562 56.595
Kommune Kujalleq 6.458 6.478 6.454 6.409 6.363 6.320 6.292 6.273
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq 23.211 23.354 23.462 23.632 23.674 23.864 23.861 23.964
Qeqqata Kommunia 9.376 9.305 9.305 9.331 9.359 9.258 9.257 9.273
Kommune Qeqertalik 6.343 6.350 6.312 6.274 6.278 6.176 6.180 6.136
Avannaata Kommunia 10.907 10.818 10.820 10.830 10.914 10.838 10.908 10.887

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 deaths, the total birth surplus (births minus deaths) was 67 persons in the first 3 months of the year.



Table 2. Monthly birth surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Mar Total
2018 11 24 10 23 17 33 47 19 38 45 40 31 45 338
2019 31 17 4 33 35 25 47 36 9 31 22 17 52 307
2020 30 16 27 34 45 18 39 16 20 44 17 17 73 323
2021 21 22 9 13 42 12 12 29 22 15 31 8 52 236
2022 40 1 26 - - - - - - - - - 67 -

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

A total of 447 people immigrated and 450 people emigrated in the first quarter of the year, so the net emigration was -3 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 -31 persons must be added in the first quarter.



Table 3. Monthly net immigration surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Mar Total
2018 -25 14 -28 -32 -25 -86 31 -253 -73 -19 -4 -41 -39 -541
2019 122 20 -27 -39 -34 -20 59 -354 -14 6 -12 -20 115 -313
2020 46 24 23 11 6 59 14 -169 - -16 -12 -54 93 -68
2021 65 31 40 4 22 -45 -23 -217 -5 -35 -14 -64 136 -241
2022 10 -7 -6 - - - - - - - - - -3 -

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

The number of relocations (internally) in Greenland in 2022 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

Tables in the StatBankDetailed information can be found in StatBank Greenland.

The following tables have been updated:

BEESTK1 Quarterly population
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