MigrantoImmigrants in Greenland
5.5K foreign-born residents — the #204 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 88% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 4470 |
| Faroe Islands | 269 |
| Iceland | 157 |
| Thailand | 151 |
| Philippines | 125 |
| Sweden | 84 |
| Norway | 64 |
| Germany | 55 |
| USA | 37 |
| Poland | 29 |
| Bulgaria | 17 |
| Romania | 14 |
| United Kingdom | 14 |
| Canada | 14 |
| France | 13 |
| Finland | 12 |
| China | 10 |
By region of origin
Europe is the leading region of origin at 94%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Greenland.
Immigration partially offsets population decline
Despite a shrinking native population, immigration has compensated for 298% of the demographic decline of Greenland.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 93% to 81%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 10 residents of Greenland is foreign-born — 5.5K out of 56.8K, representing 9.7% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 9222 |
| 1995 | 7039 |
| 2000 | 6479 |
| 2005 | 6407 |
| 2010 | 5884 |
| 2015 | 5727 |
| 2020 | 5618 |
| 2024 | 5535 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Denmark | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Thailand | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8550 | 261 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 | 6476 | 278 | 25 | 12 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5726 | 257 | 123 | 35 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5733 | 190 | 104 | 62 | 9 |
| 2010 | 4983 | 254 | 95 | 126 | 50 |
| 2015 | 4614 | 279 | 163 | 157 | 130 |
| 2020 | 4539 | 273 | 159 | 153 | 127 |
| 2024 | 4470 | 269 | 157 | 151 | 125 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Greenland as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Greenland
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Greenland?
Around 5.5K foreign-born residents live in Greenland, making it the #204-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Greenland come from?
Most immigrants in Greenland come from Denmark, Faroe Islands and Iceland — these three countries account for about 88% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Greenland are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 10% of the population of Greenland — that's 5.5K out of a total population of 56.8K.
How has immigration to Greenland changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Greenland has changed from 5.7K to 5.5K people, a change of about 3%.
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