Photo: Kim Hansen derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Greenland
Greenland places highest on Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic (top 1% worldwide) and lowest on Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation (bottom 5%).
Share
Greenland in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
Greenland appears in 76 of the statistics tracked here, but is not placed in the Country Index: the index needs a standing on three quarters of its topics, and Greenland is measured on too few of them. Every published reading below is unaffected.
At a glance
Population
55,922
people
since 1950
Land area
410,449
km²
since 1961
GDP per person
71,038
international $, PPP
since 1990
Life expectancy
70.06
years at birth
since 1950
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
About Greenland
Greenland, the largest island on earth, lies largely beneath an ice sheet pressing the bedrock below sea level. It is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with its own parliament, the Inatsisartut. Towns cling to the ice-free rim of fjords and bare rock, and no road links one to another, so people travel by boat, plane or dog sledge. At Ilulissat the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq sheds icebergs into a fjord packed with ice.
Arctic hunters crossed from Canada over thousands of years, and the Thule people, ancestors of the Inuit, arrived around the thirteenth century. Erik the Red, exiled from Iceland, led Norse farmers to the south-western fjords in the 980s, choosing, the sagas say, an inviting name to draw them; their farms were deserted in the fifteenth century. The missionary Hans Egede landed in 1721 and began Danish-Norwegian colonisation. Greenland ceased to be a colony in 1953, gained home rule in 1979 and wider self-government in 2009.
Drum dancing marks celebrations, and a kaffemik, an open house with coffee and cake, greets a birthday or a child’s first school day. Suaasat, a soup of seal, whale or reindeer, is Greenland’s national dish, while mattak, raw whale skin with its fat, is eaten in thin slices. Knud Rasmussen, born in Ilulissat, crossed Arctic North America by dog team in the 1920s. Exports are almost all fish, chiefly prawns and Greenland halibut, and a yearly grant from Denmark covers much public spending.
Key facts about Greenland
- Capital
- Nuuk
- Official language
- Greenlandic
- Currency
- Danish krone (DKK)
- ISO code
- GRL · GL
- Domain · dialling
- .gl · +299
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Where it stands, topic by topic
Strongest first. Each position is Greenland’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
22ndof 165
From 2 of 3 key statistics
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Greenland holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for Greenland’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for Greenland in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
Where Greenland stands out
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which Greenland sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
Where Greenland does best5
In the top third of all countries measured. 1 is within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 3rd
Position · derived 218th of 220 · 1 = worst · 2.6 · 2023
world median 14.45 (better)
Not ranked by the publisher · -264.9 · 2026
world median 272.35 (better)
- Voice and Accountabilitytop 6%
Position · derived 13th of 206 · 1.42 · 2025
world median -0.022 (better)
Where Greenland struggles most5
In the bottom third of all countries measured.
Not ranked by the publisher · 0 · 2024
world median 5.279 (worse) · ▼ 18 pts since 2014
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Indexbottom 7%
Rank 160th of 175 · 12.32 · 2026
world median 56.21 (worse) · ▲ 5 pts since 2016
- Municipal Solid Waste Generationbottom 10%
Position · derived 21st of 201 · 1 = worst · 2.052 · 2026
world median 0.966 (worse)
- CO₂ Emissions per Capitabottom 10%
Position · derived 22nd of 210 · 1 = worst · 11.08 · 2024
world median 3.21 (worse) · ▼ 5 pts since 2014
Position · derived 61st of 222 · 1 = worst · 190.72 · 2023
world median 133.7 (worse) · ▼ 5 pts since 2013
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so Greenland can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04In context
Greenland and its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking, not within the region.
Shares a land border with
Greenland has no land border with another country.
Across Northern America
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world.
- 24
Canada - 37
United States - —
Bermudanot placed - —Greenlandnot placed
05The evidence
Every statistic we hold for Greenland
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe. Select a statistic for this country’s row beside every other country, the world median and every edition.
Governance & Institutions10
- Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%)top 8%1002024
- Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)20th of 211position · derived1.482025
- Disability Benefit CoverageILO · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%)top 14%1002025
- Government EffectivenessWorld Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)25th of 209position · derived1.3182025
- Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%)top 15%1002025
- Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · ODIN overall score (0–100)64th of 168rank632024
- Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)28th of 209position · derived1.072025
- Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)14th of 211position · derived1.5872025
- Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)13th of 206position · derived1.422025
Economy & Innovation8
- Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman)top 19%0.4892025
- Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate35th of 79position · derived · 1 = worst34.92023
- Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)160th of 175rank12.322026
- Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons)bottom 36%58.092026
- Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent)73rd of 145position · derived701.952024
- Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting)bottom 21%1642025
- Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%)top 29%26.52026
- Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100)bottom 20%90.572025
Work & Labour2
- Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%)top 17%87.72024
- Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%)top 5%95.62024
Education & Knowledge1
- Female Share of ResearchersUIS · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity)bottom 22%27.422024
Health & Wellbeing7
- Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–1989th of 222position · derived · 1 = worst36.12023
- Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates61st of 222position · derived · 1 = worst190.722023
- Days Above 35°CECMWF · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s landtop 16%02025
- Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023)top 1%-264.92026
- Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates154th of 222position · derived14.642023
- Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates156th of 222position · derived70.062023
- PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³)218th of 220position · derived · 1 = worst2.62023
Development & Human Capital2
- Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)top 28%1002024
- Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · Rural population with electricity access (%)top 29%1002024
Environment & Sustainability17
- Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%)114th of 121position · derived0.0832023
- Agricultural LandFAO · Agricultural land (% of land area)208th of 209position · derived0.5922023
- Burned AreaGWIS · Burned area (hectares)bottom 12%02025
- Carbon Intensity of ElectricityEmber · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)131st of 165position · derived · 1 = worst138.332024
- CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)22nd of 210position · derived · 1 = worst11.082024
- Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Coal (% of electricity generated)top 32%02024
- Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight)top 26%265,0502024
- Forest AreaFAO · Forest area (% of land area)209th of 210position · derived0.0012023
- Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated)34th of 162position · derived83.332024
- Methane EmissionsEDGAR · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄)bottom 13%2.282025
- Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day)21st of 201position · derived · 1 = worst2.0522026
- Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts)bottom 17%02026
- Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population)top 1%59.862015
- Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Renewables (% of electricity generated)30th of 162position · derived83.332024
- Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts)bottom 6%0.0012024
- Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Solar (% of electricity generated)bottom 5%02024
- Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated)bottom 5%02024
Gender & Equality2
- Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years)top 2%32.92019
- Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female birthsbottom 46%1052023
Peace & Security1
- Political Stability and Absence of ViolenceWorld Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)63rd of 211position · derived0.792025
Mobility & Trade4
- EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people)bottom 18%18,4912024
- International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people)bottom 8%5,8122024
- Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 populationbottom 11%-5.6862023
Energy7
- Crude Oil ProductionEIA · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day)bottom 26%02025
- Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Natural gas (% of electricity generated)bottom 22%02024
- Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Hydropower (% of electricity generated)top 9%78.332024
- Natural Gas ProductionEIA · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres)bottom 27%02024
- Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation)bottom 42%02024
- Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Nuclear (% of electricity generated)bottom 45%02024
- Primary Energy ProductionEIA · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu)bottom 23%0.0022024
Digital & Technology2
- GitHub DevelopersGitHub · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 11%1,6822026
- GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 7%1,2922026
People & Population13
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 populationtop 48%14.112023
- Crude Death RateUN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 populationtop 20%9.8542023
- Mean Age at ChildbearingUN DESA Population Division · Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children (years)bottom 18%27.922023
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)top 41%34.232023
- Population Aged 65 and OverUN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)top 43%10.122023
- Population DensityUN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of landbottom 1%0.1362023
- Population Growth RateUN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)bottom 18%-0.1412023
- Population Living in Cities (Degree of Urbanisation)UN DESA Population Division · Share of the population living in cities as the Degree of Urbanisation defines them (%)bottom 8%02025
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)bottom 44%20.82023
- Sex Ratio of the Total PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 femalestop 6%111.172023
- Total Dependency RatioUN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64bottom 17%44.762023
- Total Fertility RateUN DESA Population Division · Live births per womanbottom 50%1.952023
06Method
Sources and how to read them
How to read this page
- The scores and ranks belong to their publishers. Nothing is adjusted, rescaled or re-ranked; each is reproduced from the edition named beside it. Where a row says position · derived, the publisher ranks nobody on that measure and the position is ours, made by ordering the published score.
- Each statistic shows its newest edition, which is not always the edition the Country Index uses: the index pins every source to one data year so its average compares like with like.
How a standing is built from percentiles, why Greenland can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
Sources
- Statistics: 21 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
- Capital, languages, currency, codes: Wikidata, public domain (CC0).
- Map and land borders: Natural Earth, public domain. Borders are de facto — where administration actually changes — not claimed.
Photographs
The photograph of Greenland on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Greenland: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/greenland