Urban Population: Greenland
Greenland's urban population is currently 88.3% as of 2024. # Greenland Urban Population Greenland's urban population reached 88.
Current (2024)
88.3%
+0.3% y/y
Peak (2024)
88.3%
Low (1960)
58.3%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Greenland
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Greenland
Analysis# Greenland Urban Population
Greenland's urban population reached 88.32% in 2024, matching its all-time peak. This represents a dramatic 51.6-point increase since 1960, when only 58.25% of the population lived in urban areas. Over six decades, Greenland has transformed from a nation where rural settlements dominated to one of the world's most urbanized territories. The current figure reflects the ongoing consolidation of population in major towns, driven by economic opportunities and infrastructure development in coastal urban centers.
The upward trend has accelerated notably since 2015, with annual growth ranging from 0.18 to 0.37 percentage points. Between 2015 and 2024, the urban share expanded from 86.05% to 88.32%—a steady climb that shows no signs of reversing. Continued urbanization appears inevitable given Greenland's geographic constraints, where settlements cluster in ice-free coastal zones where employment and services concentrate.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88.3% | +0.29% |
| 2023 | 88.1% | +0.29% |
| 2022 | 87.8% | +0.30% |
| 2021 | 87.5% | +0.30% |
| 2020 | 87.3% | +0.30% |
| 2019 | 87.0% | +0.34% |
| 2018 | 86.7% | +0.39% |
| 2017 | 86.4% | +0.19% |
| 2016 | 86.2% | +0.21% |
| 2015 | 86.0% | +0.43% |
| 2014 | 85.7% | +0.36% |
| 2013 | 85.4% | +0.57% |
| 2012 | 84.9% | +0.42% |
| 2011 | 84.5% | +0.30% |
| 2010 | 84.3% | +0.50% |
| 2009 | 83.9% | +0.28% |
| 2008 | 83.6% | +0.50% |
| 2007 | 83.2% | +0.43% |
| 2006 | 82.8% | +0.19% |
| 2005 | 82.7% | +0.15% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 82.6% | +0.26% |
| 2003 | 82.3% | +0.33% |
| 2002 | 82.1% | +0.35% |
| 2001 | 81.8% | +0.42% |
| 2000 | 81.5% | +0.35% |
| 1999 | 81.2% | +0.06% |
| 1998 | 81.1% | +0.06% |
| 1997 | 81.1% | +0.01% |
| 1996 | 81.1% | +0.01% |
| 1995 | 81.1% | +0.33% |
| 1994 | 80.8% | +0.41% |
| 1993 | 80.5% | +0.21% |
| 1992 | 80.3% | +0.16% |
| 1991 | 80.2% | +0.25% |
| 1990 | 80.0% | +0.29% |
| 1989 | 79.7% | +0.25% |
| 1988 | 79.5% | +0.15% |
| 1987 | 79.4% | +0.41% |
| 1986 | 79.1% | +0.75% |
| 1985 | 78.5% | +0.66% |
| 1984 | 78.0% | +0.64% |
| 1983 | 77.5% | +0.49% |
| 1982 | 77.1% | +0.46% |
| 1981 | 76.8% | +0.50% |
| 1980 | 76.4% | +0.73% |
| 1979 | 75.8% | +0.86% |
| 1978 | 75.2% | +0.32% |
| 1977 | 74.9% | +0.49% |
| 1976 | 74.6% | +0.34% |
| 1975 | 74.3% | +0.27% |
| 1974 | 74.1% | +0.25% |
| 1973 | 73.9% | +0.28% |
| 1972 | 73.7% | +0.36% |
| 1971 | 73.5% | +0.51% |
| 1970 | 73.1% | +0.68% |
| 1969 | 72.6% | +0.89% |
| 1968 | 72.0% | +1.10% |
| 1967 | 71.2% | +1.32% |
| 1966 | 70.2% | +1.82% |
| 1965 | 69.0% | +2.89% |
| 1964 | 67.1% | +3.89% |
| 1963 | 64.5% | +4.15% |
| 1962 | 62.0% | +3.67% |
| 1961 | 59.8% | +2.63% |
| 1960 | 58.3% | — |
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