People and Society of Greenland

Nationality

Greenlander(s)

Ethnic Groups

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12%

Population

56,370

Population in Major Urban Areas

NUUK (capital) 16,000

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Greenland stands at approximately 73 years overall, with notable differences between male and female populations. Women in Greenland can expect to live to around 76 years, while men have a life expectancy of closer to 70 years — a gap that reflects broader patterns seen across Arctic and subarctic populations. These figures place Greenland notably below the averages of neighboring Denmark, which administers the island as an autonomous territory, where life expectancy exceeds 81 years. The disparity highlights the unique social and environmental challenges that shape health outcomes in one of the world's most remote and sparsely populated territories. Several factors contribute to Greenland's life expectancy profile. The island faces significant public health challenges, including persistently high rates of suicide, particularly among young men, which measurably impact average lifespan statistics. Substance abuse, limited access to specialized medical care in remote communities, and a high prevalence of certain chronic diseases — including cardiovascular conditions — also weigh on overall health outcomes. Geographic isolation plays a meaningful role as well. Many of Greenland's small settlements are accessible only by helicopter or boat, making timely emergency medical response and routine specialist care difficult to provide consistently. The concentration of more advanced healthcare services in the capital, Nuuk, means residents of outlying towns and villages often face significant barriers to receiving care. On the positive side, Greenland benefits from a strong tradition of physical activity tied to its Indigenous Greenlandic Inuit culture and hunting lifestyle, and the population has access to a publicly funded healthcare system. Nutritional patterns, however, continue to shift with increased access to imported processed foods, which has introduced new diet-related health risks alongside the traditional reliance on marine mammals and fish. Life expectancy has improved gradually over recent decades as healthcare infrastructure has expanded, but closing the gap with broader European standards remains an ongoing public health priority for Greenlandic authorities.

Infant Mortality Rate

Greenland's infant mortality rate has shown meaningful improvement over recent decades, reflecting broader advances in healthcare access and public health infrastructure across the territory. As of the most recent available data, Greenland's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 8 to 9 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that places it notably higher than its administrative parent country, Denmark, which consistently records one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world at around 3 to 4 per 1,000 live births. The disparity between Greenland and Denmark highlights the persistent challenges of delivering consistent healthcare services across a vast, sparsely populated Arctic territory. Greenland covers an area of over 2 million square kilometers but is home to fewer than 57,000 people, many of whom live in remote communities accessible only by helicopter, boat, or small aircraft. This geographic isolation makes timely medical intervention during pregnancy and childbirth considerably more difficult than in more densely populated regions. Prenatal care and maternal health services are concentrated primarily in the capital, Nuuk, and a handful of larger towns. Residents of smaller settlements may need to travel significant distances to access specialist care, which can complicate outcomes for both mothers and newborns. The Greenlandic health system, managed through the government of Greenland in cooperation with Danish health authorities, has worked to expand telehealth services and improve the capacity of regional health centers to address this challenge. Factors such as higher rates of smoking among pregnant women, limited access to specialized neonatal care, and socioeconomic inequalities within Greenlandic communities also contribute to the elevated infant mortality rate compared to Western European averages. Indigenous Greenlandic Inuit populations, who make up the majority of the population, have historically faced greater health disparities, a pattern observed in many Arctic Indigenous communities worldwide. Despite these challenges, the long-term trend has been one of gradual improvement, driven by investments in maternal healthcare education, improved nutrition programs, and expanded healthcare infrastructure throughout the territory.

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

• Danish
• Greenlandic