Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Greenland
Greenland: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Greenland, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Greenland stood at -0.1%.
That represents a change of down 114.2% on the previous year and up 84.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Greenland peaked at 3.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -0.6%, in 1977.
Greenland ranks 182nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Greenland, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.3% | — |
| 1971 | 1.7% | -48.0% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | +34.8% |
| 1973 | 1.4% | -37.5% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -29.4% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -80.1% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | -0.6% | -400.6% |
| 1978 | -0.4% | -33.0% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | -299.6% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | +48.5% |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +31.5% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -38.3% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | +18.7% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | -17.5% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -40.4% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | +98.3% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +15.3% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -29.4% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | -40.4% |
| 1991 | -0.2% | -133.3% |
| 1992 | -0.4% | +100.5% |
| 1993 | -0.2% | -49.9% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -399.5% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -66.8% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | — |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +127.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -28.0% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -74.9% |
| 2006 | -0.3% | -532.9% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | +38.0% |
| 2008 | -0.4% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | -0.0% | -97.8% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -4310.8% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | +67.9% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | -122.4% |
| 2013 | -0.6% | +310.2% |
| 2014 | -0.3% | -42.2% |
| 2015 | -0.3% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -139.8% |
| 2017 | -0.0% | -119.4% |
| 2018 | -0.3% | +965.9% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -235.5% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | -29.9% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +100.6% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -97.2% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +2445.3% |
| 2024 | -0.1% | -114.2% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's -0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%. (85 countries reporting)
- Greenland's -0.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3%. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Greenland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +4310.8% | -0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2023 | +2445.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2018 | -965.9% | -0.0% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | -532.9% | 0.1% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.0% | -0.6% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | -0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | -0.4% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.0% | -0.6% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
More population data for Greenland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6084 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.75 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6084 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7286 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8929 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.65 (2100)
- Population density 0.0907 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1,776 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.65 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.2882 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Greenland?
- Population growth in Greenland was -0.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.6% in 1977.
- How does Greenland rank for population growth?
- Greenland ranks 182nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 84.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release