Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland
Greenland: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 42.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland stood at 42.5%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland peaked at 42.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Greenland 215th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 12.7% | — |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +13.7% |
| 1980 | 18.3% | +27.0% |
| 1985 | 19.9% | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 21.6% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 23.2% | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 33.5% | +44.2% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 37.3% | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 40.0% | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 13.6% | 12.7% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 19.1% | 18.3% | 19.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.4% | 21.6% | 23.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.3% | 33.5% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.6% | 37.3% | 40.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
- 212 Papua New Guinea 46.3% compare
- 213 Dominica 42.9% compare
- 214 Madagascar 42.9% compare
- 216 Saint Kitts and Nevis 42.2% compare
- 217 Namibia 41.8% compare
- 218 Palau 39.3% compare
More reference data data for Greenland
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0041 (2019)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7088 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.3783 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 5.41 °C (2026)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2128 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1141 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0986 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0004 (2019)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 6.82 (2017)
- Annual precipitation 482.24 millimeters (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Greenland was 42.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Greenland rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Greenland ranks 215th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.