Decadal average surface temperature in Greenland
Greenland: Decadal average surface temperature was -17.86 °C in 2010. ▲ Rising
Decadal average surface temperature in Greenland, 1940–2010
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in °C.
Analysis
The most recent figure for decadal average surface temperature in Greenland is -17.86 °C, measured in 2010. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, decadal average surface temperature in Greenland peaked at -17.86 °C in 2010 and was at its lowest, -19.64 °C, in 1940.
That places Greenland 193rd out of 193 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Decadal average surface temperature in Greenland, year by year
| Year | °C | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -19.64 °C | — |
| 1950 | -19.35 °C | -1.4% |
| 1960 | -19.11 °C | -1.2% |
| 1970 | -19.25 °C | +0.7% |
| 1980 | -19.27 °C | +0.1% |
| 1990 | -19.05 °C | -1.2% |
| 2000 | -18.17 °C | -4.6% |
| 2010 | -17.86 °C | -1.7% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's -17.86 °C is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.2 °C. (65 countries reporting)
- Greenland's -17.86 °C is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.77 °C. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -19.64 °C | -19.64 °C | -19.64 °C | 1 |
| 1950s | -19.35 °C | -19.35 °C | -19.35 °C | 1 |
| 1960s | -19.11 °C | -19.11 °C | -19.11 °C | 1 |
| 1970s | -19.25 °C | -19.25 °C | -19.25 °C | 1 |
| 1980s | -19.27 °C | -19.27 °C | -19.27 °C | 1 |
| 1990s | -19.05 °C | -19.05 °C | -19.05 °C | 1 |
| 2000s | -18.17 °C | -18.17 °C | -18.17 °C | 1 |
| 2010s | -17.86 °C | -17.86 °C | -17.86 °C | 1 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
More reference data data for Greenland
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2128 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0004 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0986 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1141 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0041 (2019)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 6.82 (2017)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 7.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture, per unit of GDP 0 metric tons per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture, per capita 0.0005 metric tons per person (2024)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture 30 metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is decadal average surface temperature in Greenland?
- Decadal average surface temperature in Greenland was -17.86 °C in 2010, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest decadal average surface temperature recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was -17.86 °C in 2010.
- What is the lowest decadal average surface temperature recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.64 °C in 1940.
- How does Greenland rank for decadal average surface temperature?
- Greenland ranks 193rd out of 193 countries with data for 2010.
- Is decadal average surface temperature rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Decadal average surface temperature. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Temperature of the air measured 2 meters above the ground, encompassing land, sea, and in-land water surfaces.