Vital Statistics 2020
From 2019 to 2020, the population increased from 56.081 to 56.421 or by 340 people. Precisely 2020 was the special year in which the whole world was shut down for much of the year as a result of Covid-19. The shutdown has naturally led to fewer migrations than usual, while the development in births and deaths has not been significantly affected.
The birth surplus has been steadily declining over the last 20 years. Fluctuations in the annual population growth must therefore be explained by fluctuations in net immigration, which have been negative throughout the period. The declining net immigration in recent years is primarily due to the fact that more people who were born outside Greenland have immigrated, especially from Asia.
The population development for the whole country, is fully explained through changes in the demographic components; births, deaths, immigration and emigration. See Table 1.
In addition to the demographic components, a correction post is also used. This is calculated residually, ie as what is missing for births-deaths + immigration-emigrations to exactly equal the difference in the population count, from one year to the next.
The correction post reflects the quality of the vital statistics. Large discrepancies in the correction post means that something can be done better.
Table 1, Populations Account 2016 - 2020
See table in Statbank| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population start of year | 55.847 | 55.860 | 55.877 | 55.992 | 56.081 |
| Biths | 830 | 853 | 819 | 849 | 834 |
| Immigration | 2.451 | 2.287 | 2.316 | 2.310 | 1.911 |
| Emigration | 2.763 | 2.736 | 2.514 | 2.609 | 1.953 |
| Deaths | 487 | 499 | 487 | 548 | 515 |
| Corrections | -18 | 112 | -19 | 87 | 63 |
| Population end of year | 55.860 | 55.877 | 55.992 | 56.081 | 56.421 |
Table 1b, Born in Greenland
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population start of year | 50.085 | 50.097 | 50.172 | 50.252 | 50.190 |
| Biths | 830 | 853 | 819 | 849 | 834 |
| Immigration | 1.109 | 1.059 | 1.081 | 933 | 790 |
| Emigration | 1.468 | 1.374 | 1.348 | 1.364 | 957 |
| Deaths | 459 | 468 | 459 | 517 | 490 |
| Corrections | 0 | 5 | -13 | 37 | -2 |
| Population end of year | 50.097 | 50.172 | 50.252 | 50.190 | 50.365 |
Table 1c, Born outside Greenland
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population start of year | 5.762 | 5.763 | 5.705 | 5.740 | 5.891 |
| Biths | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Immigration | 1.342 | 1.228 | 1.235 | 1.377 | 1.121 |
| Emigration | 1.295 | 1.362 | 1.166 | 1.245 | 996 |
| Deaths | 28 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 25 |
| Corrections | -18 | 107 | -6 | 50 | 65 |
| Population end of year | 5.763 | 5.705 | 5.740 | 5.891 | 6.056 |