Greenland 🇬🇱

Greenland is one of the territories of North America that appears on world lists without being a UN member state. Its seat of government is Nuuk.

The land area is 2,166,086 km², which ranks it 13th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind DR Congo and just ahead of Saudi Arabia. Put next to a territory most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Saudi Arabia.

It is home to roughly 56,836 people, placing it 209th of 250 by population — between Guernsey above it and the Faroe Islands below. Within North America alone it is the 3rd largest of 7 and the 5th most populous.

Geography and neighbours of Greenland

Plotted on a globe it falls at 72.0° north, 40.0° west, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 8,015 km from the equator, in what geographers would call polar latitudes.

The Arctic Circle runs through or very close to it.

There is no land frontier at all — every boundary it has is a coastline. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, a group made up mostly of islands and island groups.

Who lives in Greenland

Population divided by land area gives roughly 0.03 people per square kilometre, which makes it one of the emptiest inhabited places on the list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.

The demonym is Greenlandic, so residents are Greenlandics.

Greenlandic is the only official language. No other entry in this dataset lists Greenlandic, so on this list it stands alone.

Against the Americas as a whole it is the 44th most populous of 56 entries, and it accounts for under 1% of everyone living in North America.

Useful reference details

It uses the krone (kr., DKK). It shares that currency with Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

The top-level domain is .gl. The international dialling code is +299. In ISO terms it is gl in two letters and GRL in three.

Nuuk is the city to remember for this territory.

It does not hold a UN seat of its own. It uses Denmark's currency and issues none of its own, which is the usual mark of a dependency. Of the 250 entries here, 57 are territories or observers rather than member states.

Fun facts about Greenland

• It is 209th of 250 by population, with about 56,836 residents.
• Its currency, the krone, is shared with 2 other entries.
• People from Greenland are known as Greenlandics.
• Greenlandic is listed as an official language for no other entry in this dataset.
• Within North America it is the 3rd largest of 7.
• Ranked by land area, Greenland is 13th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
• Population density works out at roughly 0.03 people per square kilometre.

Greenland — frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Greenland?

The capital of Greenland is Nuuk.

How big is Greenland?

Greenland covers 2,166,086 km², ranking 13th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Saudi Arabia.

What is the population of Greenland?

Greenland has a population of about 56,836, which makes it the 209th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Guernsey sits just above it and the Faroe Islands just below.

What currency does Greenland use?

Greenland uses the krone, written kr. (currency code DKK). It is shared with 2 other entries: Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

Is Greenland a country?

Not in the political sense. Greenland is a dependent territory rather than a sovereign state, and it is not a UN member. The dataset points to Denmark as the administering state. It appears on this site because it has its own flag, codes and statistics, but it does not have a seat at the United Nations.

What language is spoken in Greenland?

The official language of Greenland is Greenlandic. No other entry on this list gives it official status.

Does Greenland border any other country?

No. Greenland has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.

Where is Greenland located?

Greenland is in North America, part of the Americas. Its reference coordinates are 72.0° north and 40.0° west, roughly 8,015 km from the equator in polar latitudes.