Greenland
Americas Β· Capital: Nuuk
How it is run: Greenland is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Greenland is home to 56,831 people in North America, where people speak Greenlandic.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
56,831 people
That is about 7 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
2,166,086 kmΒ²
One of the world's large countries: flying across it takes hours.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 0 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
41st most people in Americas
5th largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
Greenlandic
π° Money
krone (kr.)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
70.3 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$58,499
A high-income country: most families can afford cars, travel and new technology.
π’ Living in cities
88.6% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
20.7% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+299
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.gl
π§ People here are called
Greenlandic
π·οΈ Name at home
Kalaallit Nunaat
Also written: GrΓΈnland.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Greenland has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Groenlandia
French
Groenland
Arabic
Ψ¬Ψ±ΩΩΩΨ§ΩΨ―
Chinese
ζ Όι΅ε °
Japanese
γ°γͺγΌγ³γ©γ³γ
Russian
ΠΡΠ΅Π½Π»Π°Π½Π΄ΠΈΡ
Portuguese
GronelΓ’ndia
German
GrΓΆnland
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 6014.1Γ as many people as Greenland.
- Greenland covers roughly 20,629 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Greenland lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 28 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Greenland shares its part of the world with Canada. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
π·οΈ Official name
Greenland
ποΈ Capital
Nuuk
π Region
Americas Β· North America
π€ Country code
GL
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Greenland π
Ilulissat Icefjord
A glacier here pushes out so much ice that icebergs the size of buildings float down the fjord all summer.
See it in Street Viewπ§ Where on the map
72.0Β° N, 40.0Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-3 β when it is noon in London it is about 09:00 in Nuuk.
- Greenland sits in North America, in the northern and western half of the globe.
- Greenland is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
- Greenland shares its part of the world with Canada. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Greenland is Nuuk β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π¬π± is the flag of Greenland. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is GL.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Greenland has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Greenland can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Greenland spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Greenland?
Nuuk
Which money do people spend in Greenland?
krone (kr.)
How many countries share a land border with Greenland?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Greenland?
56,831 people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.