Urban area over the long-term in Greenland
Greenland: Urban area over the long-term was 30.16 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
30.16 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
183rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
30.16 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Greenland, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Greenland recorded 30.16 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Greenland peaked at 30.16 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Greenland ranks 183rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Greenland, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1200 | 0 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1300 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1400 | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1500 | 0.001 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1600 | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1700 | 0.0094 km² per grid cell | +206.1% |
| 1710 | 0.013 km² per grid cell | +38.7% |
| 1720 | 0.0175 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1730 | 0.0236 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1740 | 0.0319 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1750 | 0.0431 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1760 | 0.0582 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1770 | 0.0785 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1780 | 0.106 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1790 | 0.1431 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1800 | 0.1932 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1810 | 0.2608 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1820 | 0.352 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1830 | 0.4753 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1840 | 0.6416 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1850 | 0.8661 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1860 | 1.17 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1870 | 1.58 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1880 | 2.13 km² per grid cell | +34.9% |
| 1890 | 2.87 km² per grid cell | +34.6% |
| 1900 | 3.81 km² per grid cell | +33.1% |
| 1910 | 4.9 km² per grid cell | +28.6% |
| 1920 | 5.85 km² per grid cell | +19.3% |
| 1930 | 6.3 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1940 | 6.36 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1950 | 6.54 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1951 | 6.64 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 6.77 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 6.94 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 7.16 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 7.42 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1956 | 7.73 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 8.08 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1958 | 8.46 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 8.87 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 9.28 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 9.75 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 10.29 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 10.85 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1964 | 11.45 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 12.09 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 12.78 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 13.5 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 14.26 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1969 | 14.99 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 15.67 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 16.16 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 16.5 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 16.79 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 17.02 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 17.22 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 17.37 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 17.52 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 17.66 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 17.84 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 18.07 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 18.37 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 18.73 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 19.13 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 19.55 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 19.97 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 20.38 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 20.78 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 21.17 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 21.53 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 21.84 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 22.11 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 22.31 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 22.46 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 22.62 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 22.81 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 23.04 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 23.25 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 23.49 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 23.74 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 24.01 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 24.32 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 24.63 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 24.95 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 25.28 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 25.6 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 25.85 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 26.11 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 26.36 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 26.62 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 26.56 km² per grid cell | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 26.81 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 27.05 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 27.3 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 27.55 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 27.79 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 28.03 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 28.28 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 28.52 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 28.76 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 29 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 29.23 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 29.47 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 29.7 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 29.93 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 30.16 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 30.16 km² per grid cell is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 3% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 30.16 km² per grid cell is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 2% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +206.1% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +206.1% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +206.1% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +206.1% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +206.1% | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +206.1% | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0094 km² per grid cell | 0.0094 km² per grid cell | 0.0094 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.013 km² per grid cell | 0.013 km² per grid cell | 0.013 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0175 km² per grid cell | 0.0175 km² per grid cell | 0.0175 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0236 km² per grid cell | 0.0236 km² per grid cell | 0.0236 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0319 km² per grid cell | 0.0319 km² per grid cell | 0.0319 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.0431 km² per grid cell | 0.0431 km² per grid cell | 0.0431 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.0582 km² per grid cell | 0.0582 km² per grid cell | 0.0582 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.0785 km² per grid cell | 0.0785 km² per grid cell | 0.0785 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.106 km² per grid cell | 0.106 km² per grid cell | 0.106 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.1431 km² per grid cell | 0.1431 km² per grid cell | 0.1431 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.1932 km² per grid cell | 0.1932 km² per grid cell | 0.1932 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.2608 km² per grid cell | 0.2608 km² per grid cell | 0.2608 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.352 km² per grid cell | 0.352 km² per grid cell | 0.352 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.4753 km² per grid cell | 0.4753 km² per grid cell | 0.4753 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.6416 km² per grid cell | 0.6416 km² per grid cell | 0.6416 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.8661 km² per grid cell | 0.8661 km² per grid cell | 0.8661 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1.58 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 2.13 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.87 km² per grid cell | 2.87 km² per grid cell | 2.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.81 km² per grid cell | 3.81 km² per grid cell | 3.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.9 km² per grid cell | 4.9 km² per grid cell | 4.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 6.3 km² per grid cell | 6.3 km² per grid cell | 6.3 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 6.36 km² per grid cell | 6.36 km² per grid cell | 6.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 7.46 km² per grid cell | 6.54 km² per grid cell | 8.87 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.92 km² per grid cell | 9.28 km² per grid cell | 14.99 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.98 km² per grid cell | 15.67 km² per grid cell | 17.84 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.77 km² per grid cell | 18.07 km² per grid cell | 21.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.77 km² per grid cell | 21.84 km² per grid cell | 23.74 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.37 km² per grid cell | 24.01 km² per grid cell | 26.62 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.66 km² per grid cell | 26.56 km² per grid cell | 28.76 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.58 km² per grid cell | 29 km² per grid cell | 30.16 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Greenland?
- Urban area over the long-term in Greenland was 30.16 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 30.16 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Greenland rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Greenland ranks 183rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.