Size and growth

There are 55.847 persons living in Greenland (by January 1st 2016). This has been the size of the population +/- 1000 persons during the past 20 years. From 2005 the population started a slow declining tendency, which is expected to continue in the coming years.

 

Summary table 1.1. Population by place of birth

	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2016
Total	52.940	55.558	55.732	56.124	56.969	56.452	55.984	55.847
Greenland	43.751	46.306	48.412	49.369	50.272	50.226	49.975	49.826
Outside Greenland	9.189	9.252	7.320	6.755	6.697	6.226	6.009	6.021

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1

 

The size of the population and growth over time is explained by changes in the number of live birth, deaths, immigrants and emigrant. In figure 1.1 you can see the interaction between growth, birth surplus and net migration. Typically the birth surplus and net emigration contributes to a positive growth.

 

In figure 1.1 population growth, birth surplus and net emigrations is shown. Throughout the whole period there has been a stable birth surplus and volatile migrations.

 

Figure 1.1. Population growth, birth surplus and net emigrations. Total population

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beesat1

 

The birth surplus was extremely high in the early 1960s due to a very high fertility level. Within a few years the fertility level was halved, and the birth cohorts was equally halved. We talk of ‘the big cohorts’ from the 1960s. These cohorts were twice as big as cohorts 10 years prior and after. The age-distribution over the past 50 years has been heavily influenced by these cohorts, and is still very visual in a population pyramid. In 2016 the cohorts are between 46 and 56 years old – and in ten years they will be about to retire.

 

Figure 1.2. Population pyramid 2016. Total population

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1