This is a list of cities and towns in Greenland as of 2021. The term 'city' is used loosely for any populated area in Greenland, given that the most populated place is Nuuk, the capital, with 18,800 inhabitants. [1] In Greenland, two kinds of settled areas are distinguished: illoqarfik (Greenlandic for 'town'; by in Danish) and nunaqarfik (Greenlandic for 'settlement'; bygd in Danish). The difference between the two decreased since the new administrative units were introduced in 2009, with the influence of previous municipality centers decreasing.
As of October 2021, Greenland has 56,523 people living along the coast and many islands. There are no permanent human inland settlements or towns in Greenland; the only inland human settlements that exist are seasonal research stations.
There are 13 towns in Greenland with a population exceeding 1,000: [2] [3] [4]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19,279 | Nuuk | Godthåb Godthaab Ny-Herrnhut | Sermersooq |
2 | 5,620 | Sisimiut | Holsteinsborg | Qeqqata |
3 | 4,737 | Ilulissat | Jakobshavn | Avannaata |
4 | 3,038 | Qaqortoq | Julianehåb Julianehaab | Kujalleq |
5 | 2,980 | Aasiaat | Egedesminde | Qeqertalik |
6 | 2,449 | Maniitsoq | Nye-Sukkertoppen Sukkertoppen | Qeqqata |
7 | 1,914 | Tasiilaq | Ammassalik Angmagssalik | Sermersooq |
8 | 1,450 | Uummannaq | Uummannaq | Avannaata |
9 | 1,315 | Narsaq | Nordprøven | Kujalleq |
10 | 1,233 | Paamiut | Frederikshåb Frederikshaab | Sermersooq |
11 | 1,139 | Nanortalik | Nanortalik | Kujalleq |
12 | 1,102 | Upernavik | Upernavik | Avannaata |
13 | 1,041 | Qasigiannguit | Christianshåb Christianshaab | Qeqertalik |
There are 14 towns and settlements in Greenland with a population between 200 and 1,000: [2] [3]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 833 | Qeqertarsuaq | Godhavn Lievely | Qeqertalik |
15 | 591 | Qaanaaq | Thule | Avannaata |
16 | 505 | Kangaatsiaq | — | Qeqertalik |
17 | 460 | Kangerlussuaq | Bluie West-8 Søndre Strømfjord Sondrestrom | Qeqqata |
18 | 436 | Kullorsuaq | — | Avannaata |
19 | 343 | Ittoqqortoormiit | Scoresbysund | Sermersooq |
20 | 293 | Kangaamiut | Gammel Sukkertoppen Sukkertoppen | Qeqqata |
21 | 258 | Tasiusaq | — | Avannaata |
22 | 249 | Saattut | — | Avannaata |
23 | 247 | Kuummiit | — | Sermersooq |
24 | 244 | Ikerasak | — | Avannaata |
25 | 242 | Niaqornaarsuk | — | Qeqertalik |
26 | 215 | Kulusuk | Kap Dan | Sermersooq |
27 | 208 | Nuussuaq | Kraulshavn | Avannaata |
There are 14 settlements in Greenland with a population between 100 and 200: [3]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic Name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
28 | 199 | Upernavik Kujalleq | Søndre Upernavik | Avannaata |
29 | 197 | Attu | — | Qeqertalik |
30 | 196 | Atammik | — | Qeqqata |
31 | 193 | Sermiligaaq | — | Sermersooq |
32 | 152 | Innaarsuit | — | Avannaata |
33 | 162 | Qaarsut | — | Avannaata |
34 | 176 | Qeqertarsuatsiaat | Fiskenæsset | Sermersooq |
35 | 167 | Alluitsup Paa | Sydprøven | Kujalleq |
36 | 136 | Ukkusissat | — | Avannaata |
37 | 153 | Aappilattoq | — | Avannaata |
38 | 155 | Saqqaq | Solsiden | Avannaata |
39 | 139 | Kangersuatsiaq | Prøven | Avannaata |
40 | 153 | Narsarsuaq | Bluie West-1 | Kujalleq |
41 | 117 | Qeqertaq | Øen | Avannaata |
There are 30 settlements in Greenland with a population below 100: [3]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
42 | 99 | Aappilattoq | — | Kujalleq |
43 | 98 | Ikerasaarsuk | — | Qeqertalik |
44 | 83 | Sarfannguit | — | Qeqqata |
45 | 82 | Arsuk | — | Sermersooq |
82 | Eqalugaarsuit | — | Kujalleq | |
82 | Tiilerilaaq | — | Sermersooq | |
48 | 81 | Narsarmijit | Friedrichsthal Frederiksdal Herjolfsnes | Kujalleq |
49 | 79 | Itilleq | — | Qeqqata |
50 | 78 | Napasoq | — | Qeqqata |
51 | 75 | Ikamiut | — | Qeqertalik |
52 | 70 | Qassiarsuk | Brattahlíð | Kujalleq |
53 | 69 | Iginniarfik | — | Qeqertalik |
54 | 62 | Akunnaaq | — | Qeqertalik |
55 | 61 | Savissivik Havighivik | — | Avannaata |
61 | Kitsissuarsuit | Hunde Ejlande | Qeqertalik | |
57 | 59 | Tasiusaq | — | Kujalleq |
58 | 52 | Isertoq | — | Sermersooq |
59 | 50 | Nutaarmiut | — | Avannaata |
60 | 48 | Ilimanaq | Claushavn | Avannaata |
61 | 45 | Kapisillit | — | Sermersooq |
62 | 43 | Naajaat | — | Avannaata |
43 | Ammassivik | Sletten | Kujalleq | |
64 | 42 | Siorapaluk Hiurapaluk | — | Avannaata |
65 | 39 | Niaqornat | — | Avannaata |
66 | 36 | Oqaatsut | Rodebay | Avannaata |
36 | Igaliku | Garðar Igaliko | Kujalleq | |
68 | 29 | Qeqertat | — | Avannaata |
69 | 23 | Saarloq | — | Kujalleq |
70 | 14 | Qassimiut | — | Kujalleq |
71 | 13 | Kangerluk | Diskofjord | Qeqertalik |
Greenland is a North American autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the larger of two autonomous territories within the Kingdom, the other being the Faroe Islands; the citizens of both territories are full citizens of Denmark. As Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, citizens of Greenland are European Union citizens. The capital and largest city of Greenland is Nuuk. Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is the world's largest island, and is the location of the northernmost area of the world – Kaffeklubben Island off the northern coast is the world's northernmost undisputed point of land, and Cape Morris Jesup on the mainland was thought to be so until the 1960s.
This is a demography of the population of Greenland including population density, ethnicity, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Nuuk is the capital of and most populous city in Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Nuuk is the seat of government and the territory's largest cultural and economic center. The major cities from other countries closest to the capital are Iqaluit and St. John's in Canada and Reykjavík in Iceland. Nuuk contains a third of Greenland's population and its tallest building. Nuuk is also the seat of government for the Sermersooq municipality. In January 2023, it had a population of 19,604. Nuuk is considered a modernized city after the policy began in 1950.
Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule or New Thule, is the main town in the northern part of the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is one of the northernmost towns in the world. The inhabitants of Qaanaaq speak the local Inuktun language and many also speak Kalaallisut and Danish. The town has a population of 646 as of 2020. The population was forcibly relocated from its former, traditional home, which was expropriated for the construction of a United States Air Force base in 1953.
Kangerlussuaq, is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality located at the head of the fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub and the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport. The airport dates from American settlement during and after World War II, when the site was known as Bluie West-8 and then Sondrestrom Air Base.
Ilulissat, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is the municipal seat and largest town of the Avannaata municipality in western Greenland, located approximately 350 km (220 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. With a population of 4,670 as of 2020, it is the third-largest city in Greenland, after Nuuk and Sisimiut. The city is home to almost as many sled-dogs as people.
Nuuk Airport is an airport serving Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The airport is a technical base and focus city for Air Greenland, the flag carrier airline of Greenland, linking the capital with several towns in western and south-western part of the country, including the airline hub at Kangerlussuaq Airport. With connections to Iceland, Nuuk Airport is also one of six international airports in Greenland but serves only destinations within Greenland and Iceland. International connections are made with flights to either Keflavík International Airport in Iceland or Kangerlussuaq Airport.
Aasiaat or Ausiait, formerly Egedesminde, is a town in the Qeqertalik municipality in western Greenland, located on its namesake island in the heart of Aasiaat Archipelago at the southern end of Disko Bay. With a population of 2,980 as of 2021, it is Greenland's fifth-largest town.
Alluitsup Paa is a village in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Alluitsup Paa had 202 residents in 2020. Presently, the community's religious activities take place in Qaqortoq.
Sisimiut, formerly known as Holsteinsborg, is the capital and largest city of the Qeqqata municipality, the second-largest city in Greenland, and the largest Arctic city in North America. It is located in central-western Greenland, on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately 320 km (200 mi) north of Nuuk.
Tasiilaq, formerly Ammassalik and Angmagssalik, is a town in the Sermersooq municipality in southeastern Greenland. With 1,985 inhabitants as of 2020, it is the most populous community on the eastern coast, and the seventh-largest town in Greenland. The Sermilik Station, dedicated to the research of the nearby Mittivakkat Glacier, is located near the town.
Ittoqqortoormiit, formerly known as Scoresbysund, is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality in eastern Greenland. Its population was 345 as of 2020, and it has been described as one of the most remote settlements on Earth.
Sarfannguit is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. Its population was 96 in 2020. The settlement was founded in 1843. The town is located within the Aasivissuit – Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2018 for its outstanding archeological sites representing the human occupation of Greenland for over 4000 years.
Kulusuk, formerly Kap Dan, is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality in southeastern Greenland, located on an island of the same name. The settlement population of 241 includes many Danes choosing to live there due to the airport. In the Kalaallisut language, the name of the village means "Chest of a Black Guillemot".
The Danish Realm, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, refers to the area over which the monarch of Denmark is head of state. It consists of metropolitan Denmark—the kingdom's territory in continental Europe and sometimes called "Denmark the proper" —and the realm's two autonomous regions: the Faroe Islands in North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. The relationship between the three parts of the Kingdom is also known as The unity of the Realm.
Law enforcement in Greenland, an autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark, is provided by Kalaallit Nunaanni Politiit an independent police district of Naalagaaffiup Politiivi, within the National Police of Denmark. Since 2006, Greenland has constituted one of the 12 police districts of the Rigspolitiet, headed by the chief constable known as the Politiit Pisortaat based in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Greenland are some of the most extensive in the Americas and the world, relatively similar to those in Denmark proper in Europe. Same-sex sexual activity is legal, with an equal age of consent, and there are some anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBT people. Same-sex couples had access to registered partnerships, which provided them with nearly all of the rights provided to married opposite-sex couples, from 1996 to 2016. On 1 April 2016, a law repealing the registered partnership act and allowing for same-sex marriages to be performed came into effect.
Sermersooq is a municipality in Greenland, formed on 1 January 2009 from five earlier, smaller municipalities. Its administrative seat is the city of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and it is the most populous municipality in the country, with 23,123 inhabitants as of January 2020.
Danish Greenlanders are ethnic Danes residing in Greenland and their descendants.