Population of greenland
Executive summary
Greenland’s population in early 2026 is estimated at roughly 55,600–57,000 people, with most mainstream counters clustering around 55,600–55,800 based on recent United Nations and World Bank–derived series [1] [2] [3]. Different public trackers produce slightly different mid‑January 2026 snapshots—reflecting methodological choices about timing and data sources—but all agree the island hosts fewer than 60,000 residents [4] [5] [6].
1. Current estimate and why the numbers differ
Live population counters and national summaries give a narrow band of estimates: Worldometer and several aggregators report about 55,694–55,700 as of January 14, 2026, citing United Nations inputs [1] [2], while Countrymeters and some regional fact sheets place the population closer to 56,800 or “about 56,000” as of January 1, 2026—Countrymeters explicitly states 56,884 for that date [5] [7]. The World Bank and historical statistical series list 56,836 for 2024, and small annual changes plus different reference dates (Jan 1 vs. mid‑year vs. Jan 14) explain much of the spread seen across sources [3] [8].
2. What the authoritative datasets say
International dataports that feed many public trackers rely on UN and World Bank compilations: the World Bank reported 56,836 for 2024 in its World Development Indicators (reported via FRED), and World Population Prospects (the UN’s series) underpins the Worldometer live counter that shows ~55,694 for January 14, 2026 [3] [1] [8]. Those authoritative series use different cutoffs and projection methods (mid‑year vs. start‑year, high/medium/low fertility variants), so secondary sites that reprocess them often produce slightly different headline figures [1] [3].
3. Demographic context: density, composition and trends
Whatever the exact headcount, Greenland remains among the world’s smallest populations for a territory of its size: population density is effectively 0.1 persons per km2 and most residents live along the southwest coast, with Nuuk as the largest settlement [4] [9] [10]. Ethnically, the majority are Greenlandic Inuit or mixed Inuit‑European, with the remainder largely of Danish/European descent; longer‑term trends show modest growth and occasional net out‑migration that influence these year‑to‑year totals [4] [9] [11].
4. Which figure to cite and when precision matters
For most reporting needs, stating “about 56,000 people” is accurate and safe; when precision is required, cite the specific source and date—for example, “55,694 as of January 14, 2026 (Worldometer, based on UN estimates)” or “56,884 as of January 1, 2026 (Countrymeters)”—and make clear the underlying data lineage [1] [5]. Analysts tracking migration, planning or resource allocation should use the World Bank/UN series or the official Greenland statistical office releases when available, because public counters sometimes smooth or project daily changes that obscure midpoint census conventions [3] [8].
5. How to interpret small differences and potential reporting agendas
Small numeric differences—hundreds of people—matter symbolically (media headlines about “only 56,000 people”) but have limited substantive impact on policy absent major migration shocks; however, some outlets emphasize the tiny population to frame geopolitical stories about resources and strategic interest in Greenland, which can skew perception if not coupled with demographic context [12]. Readers should note when a source is using a live counter, a calendar‑start estimate, or a mid‑year projection, and check whether claims about growth or decline cite migration, births/deaths, or projection assumptions [1] [5] [11].