Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice capped. The Inuit came to Greenland from North America in a series of migrations that stretched from 2500 BC to the11th century. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland remains a member of the EU's Overseas Countries and Territories Association. The Danish parliament granted Greenland home rule in 1979; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009. The Kingdom of Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy, in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.
Area: None km2
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Groups: Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages: Greenlandic, Danish, Englishnote: West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language; Tunumiisut (East Greenlandic) and Inuktun (Polar Inuit Greenlandic) are considered dialects of Kalaallisut and spoken by about 10% of Greenlanders
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Capital: Nuuk
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Julie Praest WILCHE (since May 2022) (2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year termelection results: 2025: Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (D) elected premier2021: Mute B. EGEDE elected premier; Parliament vote - Mute B. EGEDE (Inuit Ataqatigiit) unanimous2014: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8%
Description: legislature name: Parliament (Inatsisartut)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 31 (directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/6/2021parties elected and seats per party: IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)percentage of women in chamber: 35%expected date of next election: 2025note: Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"