Photo: Kim Hansen derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Greenland
Greenland places highest on Social Protection Coverage (top 4% worldwide) and lowest on Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation (bottom 4%).
Greenland in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
Greenland appears in 37 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
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.
joint22ndof 193
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.
- Voice and Accountabilitytop 6%
Position · derived 13th of 206 · 1.42 · 2025
world median -0.022 (better)
- Control of Corruptiontop 9%
Position · derived 20th of 211 · 1.48 · 2025
world median -0.197 (better) · ▲ 9 pts since 2015
- Government Effectivenesstop 12%
Position · derived 25th of 209 · 1.318 · 2025
world median 0.101 (better) · ▲ 25 pts since 2015
Where Greenland struggles most4
In the bottom third of all countries measured.
Not ranked by the publisher · 0 · 2024
world median 5.769 (worse) · ▼ 16 pts since 2014
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Indexbottom 7%
Rank 160th of 175 · 12.32 · 2026
world median 56.21 (worse) · ▲ 5 pts since 2016
- CO₂ Emissions per Capitabottom 10%
Position · derived 22nd of 210 · 1 = worst · 11.08 · 2024
world median 3.21 (worse) · ▼ 5 pts since 2014
- Life Expectancy at Birthbottom 30%
Position · derived 156th of 222 · 70.06 · 2023
world median 74.63 (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.
04Over time
Which way it is moving
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
Gaining ground
Where Greenland has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Open Data Inventory+7 pts since 2020
Losing ground
Where Greenland has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Global Violent Deaths-35 pts since 2011
- Political Stability and Absence of Violence-30 pts since 2015
05In 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.
- =17
Canada - 37
United States - —
Bermudanot placed - —Greenlandnot placed
06The 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 row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
Governance & Institutions7
Control of Corruption20th of 211position · derived1.48Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 9% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)
Greenland 1.48 · world median -0.197 (better)
Best in the world 2.259 (Denmark)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Government Effectiveness25th of 209position · derived1.318Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)2025
top 12% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Greenland 1.318 · world median 0.101 (better)
Best in the world 2.092 (Singapore)
▲ +25 percentile points since 2015
Open Data Inventory64th of 168rank63ODIN overall score (0–100)2024
top 39% of 168 countries measured
Open Data Watch · ODIN overall score (0–100)
Greenland 63 · world median 59 (better)
Best in the world 90 (2 countries tied)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2020
Regulatory Quality28th of 209position · derived1.07Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 13% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)
Greenland 1.07 · world median -0.093 (better)
Best in the world 2.113 (Singapore)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Rule of Law14th of 211position · derived1.587Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 6% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Greenland 1.587 · world median -0.102 (better)
Best in the world 2.012 (Finland)
No real change since 2015
Voice and Accountability13th of 206position · derived1.42Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 6% of 206 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Greenland 1.42 · world median -0.022 (better)
Best in the world 1.825 (Norway)
No real change since 2015
Economy & Innovation2
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index160th of 175rank12.32LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)2026
bottom 7% of 167 countries measured · 167 share 175 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Greenland 12.32 · world median 56.21 (worse)
Best in the world 1,319 (China)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2016
Researchers per Million Inhabitants73rd of 145position · derived701.95Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent)2024
top 50% of 145 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent)
Greenland 701.95 · world median 701.95
Best in the world 18,130 (Liechtenstein)
No earlier reading to compare
Education & Knowledge1
Female Share of Researchersbottom 22%27.42Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity)2024
bottom 22% of 153 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity)
Greenland 27.42 · world median 38.17
Highest 76.54 (Myanmar)
No earlier reading to compare
Health & Wellbeing3
Global Violent Deaths86th of 206position · derived · 1 = worst5.33Violent deaths per 100,000 people2021
bottom 41% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
Greenland 5.33 · world median 4.02 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
▼ -35 percentile points since 2011
Life Expectancy at Age 65154th of 222position · derived14.64Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates2023
bottom 31% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates
Greenland 14.64 · world median 16.39 (worse)
Best in the world 23.21 (Monaco)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2013
Life Expectancy at Birth156th of 222position · derived70.06Years a newborn would live at current death rates2023
bottom 30% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Greenland 70.06 · world median 74.63 (worse)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2013
Development & Human Capital1
Access to Electricitytop 28%100Population with electricity access (%)2024
top 28% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
Greenland 100 · world median 100
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2014
Environment & Sustainability8
Agricultural Irrigated Land114th of 121position · derived0.083Irrigated share of agricultural land (%)2023
bottom 6% of 121 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%)
Greenland 0.083 · world median 3.66
Highest 89.04 (Bangladesh)
No earlier reading to compare
Agricultural Land208th of 209position · derived0.592Agricultural land (% of land area)2023
bottom 1% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
Greenland 0.592 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
No real change since 2013
Carbon Intensity of Electricity156th of 193position · derived · 1 = worst138.33Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)2024
top 19% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Greenland 138.33 · world median 468.81 (better)
Best in the world 23.49 (Ethiopia)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2014
CO₂ Emissions per Capita22nd of 210position · derived · 1 = worst11.08Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)2024
bottom 10% of 210 countries measured
Global Carbon Project · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Greenland 11.08 · world median 3.21 (worse)
Best in the world 0.054 (DR Congo)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2014
Forest Area209th of 210position · derived0.001Forest area (% of land area)2023
bottom 2% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
Greenland 0.001 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation37th of 190position · derived83.33Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated)2024
top 19% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated)
Greenland 83.33 · world median 35.66 (better)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2014
Renewable Share of Electricity Generation32nd of 190position · derived83.33Renewables (% of electricity generated)2024
top 16% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Greenland 83.33 · world median 31.14 (better)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2014
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generationbottom 4%0Wind and solar (% of electricity generated)2024
bottom 4% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated)
Greenland 0 · world median 5.769 (worse)
Best in the world 69.12 (Denmark)
▼ -16 percentile points since 2014
Gender & Equality1
Sex Ratio at Birthbottom 46%105Male births per 100 female births2023
bottom 46% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female births
Greenland 105 · world median 105.1
Highest 116.3 (Liechtenstein)
No real change since 2013
Peace & Security1
Political Stability and Absence of Violence63rd of 211position · derived0.79Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 30% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Greenland 0.79 · world median 0.171 (better)
Best in the world 1.563 (Andorra)
▼ -30 percentile points since 2015
Mobility & Trade1
Net Migration Ratebottom 11%-5.686Net migrants per 1,000 population2023
bottom 11% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 population
Greenland -5.686 · world median -0.133
Highest 39.62 (South Sudan)
No real change since 2013
Energy2
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)bottom 44%0Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation)2024
bottom 44% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation)
Greenland 0 · world median 0
Highest 707.07 (Palestine)
No real change since 2014
Nuclear Share of Electricity Generationbottom 41%0Nuclear (% of electricity generated)2024
bottom 41% of 183 countries measured
Ember · Nuclear (% of electricity generated)
Greenland 0 · world median 0
Highest 67.4 (France)
No real change since 2014
People & Population10
Crude Birth Ratetop 48%14.11Births per 1,000 population2023
top 48% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 population
Greenland 14.11 · world median 13.79
Highest 46.36 (Central African Republic)
▲ +13 percentile points since 2013
Crude Death Ratetop 20%9.854Deaths per 1,000 population2023
top 20% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 population
Greenland 9.854 · world median 7.303
Highest 25.58 (Vatican City)
▲ +17 percentile points since 2013
Median Age of the Populationtop 41%34.23Median age (years)2023
top 41% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)
Greenland 34.23 · world median 31.52
Highest 59.63 (Vatican City)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2013
Population Aged 65 and Overtop 43%10.12Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)2023
top 43% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)
Greenland 10.12 · world median 8.32
Highest 44.7 (Vatican City)
No real change since 2013
Population Densitybottom 1%0.136People per square kilometre of land2023
bottom 1% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of land
Greenland 0.136 · world median 96.92
Highest 26,145 (Monaco)
No real change since 2013
Population Growth Ratebottom 18%-0.141Population growth (% per year)2023
bottom 18% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)
Greenland -0.141 · world median 0.888
Highest 5.862 (South Sudan)
▲ +10 percentile points since 2013
Population Under Age 15bottom 44%20.8Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)2023
bottom 44% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)
Greenland 20.8 · world median 22.71
Highest 49.17 (Central African Republic)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2013
Sex Ratio of the Total Populationtop 6%111.17Males per 100 females2023
top 6% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 females
Greenland 111.17 · world median 98.48
Highest 251.08 (Qatar)
No real change since 2013
Total Dependency Ratiobottom 17%44.76People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–642023
bottom 17% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64
Greenland 44.76 · world median 54.73
Highest 105.18 (Central African Republic)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2013
Total Fertility Ratebottom 50%1.95Live births per woman2023
bottom 50% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Live births per woman
Greenland 1.95 · world median 1.962
Highest 6.132 (Somalia)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2013
Not currently covered
The newest edition of these reports does not include Greenland. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
- Academic Freedom Index
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
- Adjusted Net Savings
- Adult Literacy Rate
- Agricultural Emissions
- Agriculture Orientation Index
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Arable Land per Person
- Asylum-Seekers by Country of Asylum
- Average Time to Clear Exports Through Customs
- Average Weekly Hours Worked
- Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff
- Business Ready: Operational Efficiency
- Business Ready: Public Services
- Business Ready: Regulatory Framework
- Central Bank Independence Index
- Cereal Import Dependency Ratio
- Cereal Yield
- Child Marriage
- Children with Functional Difficulties
- Civic Space Ratings
- Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)
- Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)
- Coefficient of Human Inequality
- Completeness of Birth Registration
- Container Port Traffic · last seen 2019
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- Cost of Sending Remittances
- Country Policy and Institutional Assessment
- Crop Production Index
- Deaths in Organized Violence
- Debt Service on External Debt
- Deliberative Democracy Index
- Dietary Energy Supply
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
- Ecological Footprint
- Economic Complexity Index
- Egalitarian Democracy Index
- Employment in Agriculture
- Employment in Industry
- Employment in Services
- Employment-to-Population Ratio
- Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)
- Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months
- Expected Years of Schooling
- Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)
- Fatal Occupational Injuries
- Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate
- Female Share of Senior and Middle Management
- Fertilizer Consumption per Hectare
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
- Firms with a Female Top Manager
- Food Production Index
- Foreign Direct Investment Inflows
- Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index
- GDP Growth · last seen 2023
- GDP per Capita (PPP) · last seen 2023
- GDP per Person Employed
- Gender Development Index
- Gender Inequality Index
- Gender Social Norms Index
- General Government Consumption · last seen 2023
- Gini Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Global Militarisation Index
- Global Multidimensional Poverty Index
- Global Report on Food Crises
- GNI per Capita (PPP)
- Government AI Readiness Index
- Government Censorship of the Media
- Government Funding per Primary Student
- Government Internet Shutdowns
- Government Spending on Education
- GovTech Maturity Index
- Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Gross Savings (% of GDP)
- Harmonized Test Scores
- Household Consumption · last seen 2023
- Human Capital Index
- Human Development Index
- ICT Goods Exports · last seen 2018
- ICT Services Exports
- Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary
- Income Share Held by Lowest 20%
- Income Share Held by Richest 10%
- Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index
- Infant Mortality Rate
- INFORM Risk Index
- INFORM Severity Index
- Informal Employment Rate
- Internal Displacements by Disaster · last seen 2018
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
- Labour Force Participation Rate
- Labour Income Share
- Labour Productivity per Hour Worked
- Land Under Cereal Production
- Learning Poverty
- Learning-Adjusted Years of School
- Liberal Democracy Index
- Livestock Density
- Livestock Production Index
- Logistics Performance Index
- Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Maternal Mortality Ratio
- Mean Years of Schooling
- Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person
- Military Dimension Index
- Mobile Phone Ownership
- ND-GAIN Country Index
- Net Official Development Assistance Received
- Organic Agricultural Area
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary
- Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary
- Palma Ratio
- Participatory Democracy Index
- Pesticide Use per Hectare
- Physical Violence Index
- PISA Mathematics Performance
- PISA Reading Performance
- PISA Science Performance
- Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI
- Political Corruption Index
- Political Violence by Non-State Actors
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
- Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day
- Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
- Prevalence of Undernourishment
- Primary Completion Rate
- Primary Energy Consumption per Capita
- Prosperity Gap
- Public Sector Employment
- Public Sector Wage Bill
- Refugee Population by Country of Asylum
- Refugees by Country of Origin
- Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita
- Research and Development Spending · last seen 2004
- RISE Energy Efficiency Policy Score
- RISE Renewable Energy Policy Score
- School Life Expectancy
- Secondary School Enrolment
- Self-Employment Rate
- Short-Term Share of External Debt
- Smartphone Ownership
- Social Institutions and Gender Index
- Societal Poverty Rate
- State Authority over Territory
- Statistical Performance Indicators
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
- Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products
- Tertiary Enrolment Ratio
- Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP) · last seen 2020
- Trade (% of GDP) · last seen 2023
- Trade Union Density
- Under-Five Mortality Rate
- Unemployment Rate
- Upper Secondary Attainment
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate
- V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index
- Violent Discipline of Children
- Vulnerable Employment
- Water Stress
- Water Withdrawal by Sector
- Women, Business and the Law
- Women's Political Empowerment Index
- Working Poverty Rate
- World Energy Trilemma Index
- World Risk Index
- Youth Literacy Rate
- Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training
- Youth Unemployment Rate
07Keep reading
Explore further
08Method
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: 10 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