Country profile · Europe & Central Asia

🇬🇱 Greenland

High income. Capital Nuuk. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 22 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

56.8K
Population
$3.3 billion
GDP
$58,499
GDP / capita
71.5 years
Life expectancy
Europe & Central Asia High income Capital: Nuuk

Greenland on the global income map

Greenland (GRL) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

Greenland on the global income map Greenland positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income Greenland — GDP/cap $58,499 · high income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

22

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$58,499

Latest WB report

Population

56.8K

UN estimate

OECD member

No

Outside OECD harmonized stats

Population
56.8K
GDP
$3.3 billion
GDP per Capita
$58,499
Life Expectancy
71.5 years

Overview

Greenland has a population of 56.8K, making it the 201st-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Europe & Central Asia.

Its economy totals $3.3 billion — ranked 179th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $58,499, placing it in the High income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 71.5 years (ranked 141st globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Nuuk.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
1.8
2023
Population
56.8K
2024
Population Ages 0-14
20.8%
2024
Population Ages 65+
10.8%
2024
Population Density
0.1/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
-0.1%
2024
Urban Population
88.3%
2024

💰 Economy

GDP (Current USD)
$3.3 billion
2023
GDP Growth Rate
0.9%
2023
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$58,498.971
2023
GNI Per Capita
$34,800
2007
Trade (% of GDP)
91.9%
2023

🏥 Health

Life Expectancy at Birth
71.5 years
2023

🌍 Environment

Forest Area
0.0
2023
Renewable Energy Consumption
11.7%
2022

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Electricity
100.0%
2023
Access to Sanitation
0.0%
2022
Internet Users
69.5%
2017
Mobile Subscriptions
118.6
2022

⚖️ Social

Intentional Homicides
5.4
2016
Net Migration
-284
2024

💼 Labor & Wages

PPP Conversion Factor (GDP)
5.11
2023

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in Greenland. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: latest available. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

Compare Greenland with Another Country

What the data says about Greenland

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

Greenland sits in Europe & Central Asia with a population of 56.8K, placing it 201st out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Nuuk, anchors a High income economy with total GDP of $3.3 billion — ranked 179th globally — and GDP per capita of $58,499. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in Greenland is 71.5 years, ranking 141st worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics, expose 22 data points across 7 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to Greenland's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside Europe & Central Asia or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for Greenland — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for Greenland come from?

Data for Greenland is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.

How current is the data for Greenland?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare Greenland with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of Greenland with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where Greenland stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about Greenland?

GDP per capita divides Greenland's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does Greenland's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for Greenland is 71.5 years, ranking 141st out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Greenland?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.