MigrantoGreenlandic Diaspora
18.5K Greenlanders live abroad — the #182 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 98% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 17364 |
| Guatemala | 470 |
| Norway | 311 |
| Faroe Islands | 207 |
| Iceland | 124 |
| Costa Rica | 11 |
| Slovakia | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Hungary | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
| Cuba | 0 |
By destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 97%
18K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Greenland.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 3 residents of Greenland has emigrated — 18.5K out of 56.8K, representing 32.5% of the population.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 10313 |
| 1995 | 11442 |
| 2000 | 12905 |
| 2005 | 13706 |
| 2010 | 15437 |
| 2015 | 16944 |
| 2020 | 17726 |
| 2024 | 18491 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Denmark | Guatemala | Norway | Faroe Islands | Iceland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9538 | 269 | 123 | 137 | 35 |
| 1995 | 10733 | 261 | 155 | 92 | 38 |
| 2000 | 12091 | 252 | 184 | 102 | 40 |
| 2005 | 12969 | 299 | 212 | 134 | 53 |
| 2010 | 14610 | 346 | 255 | 143 | 64 |
| 2015 | 16037 | 380 | 296 | 150 | 65 |
| 2020 | 16750 | 427 | 280 | 174 | 82 |
| 2024 | 17364 | 470 | 311 | 207 | 124 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Greenland as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Greenland
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Greenlanders move to?
Most Greenlanders have moved to Denmark, Guatemala and Norway — these three countries account for about 98% of all Greenlanders living abroad.
How many Greenlanders live abroad?
Around 18.5K Greenlanders live abroad, making it the #182-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Greenland lives abroad?
About 33% of the population of Greenland lives abroad — that's 18.5K out of a total population of 56.8K.
How has emigration from Greenland changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Greenland has grown from 16.9K to 18.5K people, a growth of about 9%.
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