# Index of Greenland-related articles
This index organizes articles about [Greenland](https://www.edgepedia.org/greenland) (Kalaallit Nunaat), the world's largest island that is not a continent, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Entries are grouped by theme: geography and environment, history, government and politics, economy and society, and international relations. Each entry links to the subject it names and carries the figures that define it.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area and ice | More than 2.16 million square kilometers (836,330 square miles), the world's 12th-largest country; about 80% of the territory is covered by ice[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4) |
| Population | 56,699 inhabitants, about 40,000 of them eligible voters; largest town Nuuk with 19,880 people[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4) |
| Constitutional status | Autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark under the Self-Government Act, in force 21 June 2009, which replaced the Home Rule arrangement of 1979[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/) |
| Parliament | Inatsisartut, established 1 May 1979, with 31 popularly elected members since 1995[3](https://stat.gl/publ/en/SA/201001/contents/Self-Government.htm) |
| Official language | Kalaallisut, the Inuit language spoken in Greenland, recognized as the official language in the Self-Government Act; Danish may still be used in official matters[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/) • [4](https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/dnk_nc5rev.pdf) |
| Economy | Fishing produces about 90% of exports; a 2023 Danish block grant of 4.144 billion kroner ($614.4 million) supplied about half of government revenue and 20% of GDP[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4) |
| EU status | Left the European Community on 1 February 1985 after a 1982 referendum; now an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) associated with the EU[5](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/briefing_note/join/2014/522332/EXPO-AFET_SP%282014%29522332_EN.pdf) • [6](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/greenland_en?prefLang=pt) |
## Geography and environment
**Greenland Ice Sheet.** The ice sheet covers roughly 80% of the island and holds, after [Antarctica](https://www.edgepedia.org/antarctica), the second largest mass of frozen fresh water on Earth[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4) • [7](https://eospso.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ICESat_Brochure.pdf). Satellite gravimetry from the NASA–German GRACE and [GRACE Follow-On](https://www.edgepedia.org/grace-follow-on) missions shows the ice sheet losing mass since 2002; between 2002 and 2025 it shed approximately 264 gigatons of ice per year, raising global sea level by 0.03 inches (0.8 millimeters) per year[8](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31156). The Jakobshavn glacier was measured retreating at up to 164 feet (50 meters) a day[9](https://apnews.com/article/4721be25690317bc8f7bd9699b6f41f1).
**Settlement geography.** The population lives mostly in the 20% of the country not covered by ice and snow[10](https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/greenland). The largest towns are Nuuk (19,880), Sisimiut (5,412), Ilulissat (4,963), Qaqortoq (3,047), and Aasiaat (2,951)[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4).
## History
**Indigenous and Norse periods.** Human habitation stretches back more than 4,000 years, with the first people arriving from North America via Canada some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago; six distinct Inuit cultures migrated in waves, and the present population descends from the Thule culture[10](https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/greenland) • [11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3). Norse settlement began in the late 10th century, when [Erik the Red](https://www.edgepedia.org/erik-the-red), who named the island to attract settlers, established farming communities along the southern coast; the Norse population disappeared around 1500 AD[10](https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/greenland) • [11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3).
**Danish rule.** The missionary [Hans Egede](https://www.edgepedia.org/hans-egede) arrived in 1721, beginning Denmark's modern colonization; Greenland formally became a Danish colony with the dissolution of the [Denmark–Norway](https://www.edgepedia.org/denmark-norway) kingdom in 1814[11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3) • [12](https://visitgreenland.com/articles/modern-greenland/). From 1854 to 1987, Ivittuut in southwestern Greenland was the world's only commercial source of cryolite, producing 3.7 million tons over its history[11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3). A 1953 constitutional amendment ended colonial status and made Greenland a county of Denmark[11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3).
**World War II and the United States.** The United States occupied Greenland from 1941 to 1945 under an agreement with Denmark's government in exile, and President Truman's administration offered to buy the island in 1946; Denmark rejected the sale but signed a long-term base agreement[11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3).
## Government and politics
**Home Rule (1979–2009).** The Home Rule Act, approved by the Danish parliament and ratified by 70% of local voters, took effect on 1 May 1979, establishing the Greenlandic parliament and transferring competences such as education, health, and fisheries[11](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3) • [13](https://trap.gl/en/historie/home-rule-1979%E2%80%912008/). The national flag, Erfalasorput, designed by Thue Christiansen, was first raised on the National Day, 21 June 1985[13](https://trap.gl/en/historie/home-rule-1979%E2%80%912008/).
**Self-Government (2009– ).** The Act on Greenland Self-Government, based on a 2008 white paper by the Greenlandic-Danish Self-Government Commission, came into force on 21 June 2009 after a guiding referendum on 25 November 2008 in which 75.5% of votes cast favored self-government[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/). Its preamble recognizes the people of Greenland as a people with the right to self-determination under international law[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/). Greenland may take over fields of responsibility such as justice, police, and mineral resources; the Constitution, nationality, the Supreme Court, foreign, defense and security policy, and monetary policy cannot be transferred[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/). The Self-Government authorities took over mineral resource activities on 1 January 2010[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/).
**Institutions.** Inatsisartut (the parliament) and Naalakkersuisut (the government) form the self-government authorities; two members of the Danish Folketing are elected in Greenland[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/) • [3](https://stat.gl/publ/en/SA/201001/contents/Self-Government.htm). The Self-Government Act sets out a procedure for independence: negotiations between the Danish Government and Naalakkersuisut, an agreement requiring the consent of Inatsisartut and the [Folketing](https://www.edgepedia.org/folketing), and endorsement by referendum in Greenland[2](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/).
## Economy and society
**Fishing and subsidies.** Fishing produces about 90% of exports, with deepwater prawn fisheries the dominant income source, followed by Greenland halibut and [Atlantic cod](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlantic-cod); hunting of seals, whales, reindeer, and musk ox remains an important source of food and income[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4) • [14](https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/miljoregnskap/artikler/the-economy-of-the-north--econor-2025/_/attachment/inline/272dc674-b6ee-44ef-85d6-7900a445123d%3Aa2e5f3ad50def1799825100a4b86b1a167a41823/SA180_ECONOR2025_low.pdf). Government jobs account for more than 40% of employment[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4).
**Mineral resources.** Known resources include zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, copper, nickel, rare earth minerals, hydropower, and possibly oil and gas[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4). In 2021 Greenlandic lawmakers decided the island would not issue new oil and gas permits, citing environmental impacts and climate concerns[15](https://apnews.com/article/2974b68aae17d97a69439bd100847d24).
**Tourism.** More than 96,000 international passengers traveled through Greenland's airports in 2023, up 28% from 2015[1](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4). The country's first Tourism Satellite Account found that in 2024 tourism directly accounted for 4.9% of GDP and employed an average of 1,800 people[16](https://traveltrade.visitgreenland.com/latest-news/visit-greenland-publishes-the-countrys-first-tourism-satellite-account/).
## International relations and security
**European Union.** Greenland joined the [European Communities](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-communities) with Denmark in 1973 despite a majority of [Greenlanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/greenlanders) voting against accession, held a withdrawal referendum on 23 February 1982, and left on 1 February 1985 under the Greenland Treaty; it remains the only territory to have left the [Community](https://www.edgepedia.org/community)[5](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/briefing_note/join/2014/522332/EXPO-AFET_SP%282014%29522332_EN.pdf) • [17](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/30388/qc3111407enc.pdf). It now holds Overseas Country and Territory status with an enhanced political, economic, and trading relationship with the EU[6](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/greenland_en?prefLang=pt).
**Defense.** The 1951 US–Denmark "Defense of Greenland agreement" allowed the US to establish military bases on the island, including the Thule Air Base, now the [Pituffik Space Base](https://www.edgepedia.org/pituffik-space-base), which supports missile warning and defense; Greenland is part of NATO through the Kingdom of Denmark[18](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10234/). Since 1945 the US military presence has decreased from thousands of soldiers on 17 bases and installations to roughly 200 soldiers at Pituffik[15](https://apnews.com/article/2974b68aae17d97a69439bd100847d24).
**US acquisition efforts.** US interest in acquiring Greenland dates to the 19th century; Donald Trump raised the idea in 2019 and renewed it after returning to office in 2025, citing national security and competition with Russia and China in the Arctic[18](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10234/). In a January 2025 poll, 85% of Greenlanders polled did not wish to become part of the USA, while 56% favored independence from Denmark[18](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10234/) • [19](https://time.com/7345949/greenland-denmark-trump/). In late September 2024 the Greenlandic government established a commission to draw up proposals for moving forward with independence[18](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10234/).
## References
1. [Greenland in facts and figures, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/2f1c21dfb1957d115da528fa83387ce4)
2. [Greenland, The Prime Minister's Office of Denmark](https://english.stm.dk/the-prime-ministers-office/the-unity-of-the-realm/greenland/)
3. [Self-Government, Statistics Greenland](https://stat.gl/publ/en/SA/201001/contents/Self-Government.htm)
4. [Greenland Home Rule succeeded by Greenland Self-Government, UNFCCC](https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/dnk_nc5rev.pdf)
5. [Greenland: The challenge of managing a key geostrategic territory, European Parliament (2014)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/briefing_note/join/2014/522332/EXPO-AFET_SP%282014%29522332_EN.pdf)
6. [Greenland, European Commission International Partnerships](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/greenland_en?prefLang=pt)
7. [ICESat brochure, NASA EOSPSO](https://eospso.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ICESat_Brochure.pdf)
8. [Greenland Ice Mass Loss 2002–2025, NASA Scientific Visualization Studio](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31156)
9. [Satellites show Earth lost more than 12 trillion tons of ice from Greenland, Antarctica in 47 years, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/4721be25690317bc8f7bd9699b6f41f1)
10. [Greenland: The world's largest island, denmark.dk](https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/greenland)
11. [A look at the history of Greenland, from Viking raiders to Donald Trump, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/a75ef3f42eb55cf22d0122d55bfc6de3)
12. [Modern Greenland, Visit Greenland](https://visitgreenland.com/articles/modern-greenland/)
13. [Home Rule (1979–2008), Trap Greenland](https://trap.gl/en/historie/home-rule-1979%E2%80%912008/)
14. [The Economy of the North – ECONOR 2025, Statistics Norway](https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/miljoregnskap/artikler/the-economy-of-the-north--econor-2025/_/attachment/inline/272dc674-b6ee-44ef-85d6-7900a445123d%3Aa2e5f3ad50def1799825100a4b86b1a167a41823/SA180_ECONOR2025_low.pdf)
15. [Trump says oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is set to begin. It's not that simple, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/2974b68aae17d97a69439bd100847d24)
16. [Visit Greenland publishes the country's first Tourism Satellite Account](https://traveltrade.visitgreenland.com/latest-news/visit-greenland-publishes-the-countrys-first-tourism-satellite-account/)
17. [Greenland's withdrawal from the EC, Council of the EU publication](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/30388/qc3111407enc.pdf)
18. [Greenland: Home rule, new international relations and US interest, House of Commons Library](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10234/)
19. [On Eve of Crunch Talks with U.S., Greenland Declares: 'We Choose Denmark', Time](https://time.com/7345949/greenland-denmark-trump/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Countries, territories, and regional overviews › Countries and territories › Dependent and overseas territories › Dependency concept and comparative lists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license