Population 126 up in first quarter, 2023



On April 1st, 2023, 56,735 persons lived in the country. That is 126 up compared to January 1st, and 140 more than a year ago.

19,770 are now living in Nuuk, which is 373 more than the same time, last year.

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEESTK1

Table 1. The population in municipalities
2021Q3 2021Q4 2022Q1 2022Q2 2022Q3 2022Q4 2023Q1 2023Q2
Total 56.653 56.523 56.562 56.595 56.661 56.619 56.609 56.735
Kommune Kujalleq 6.363 6.320 6.292 6.273 6.261 6.248 6.205 6.191
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq 23.674 23.864 23.861 23.964 23.994 24.104 24.148 24.313
Qeqqata Kommunia 9.359 9.258 9.257 9.273 9.239 9.223 9.191 9.183
Kommune Qeqertalik 6.278 6.176 6.180 6.136 6.159 6.102 6.082 6.028
Avannaata Kommunia 10.914 10.838 10.908 10.887 10.944 10.878 10.920 10.955

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEESTK3

With the exception of information on few deaths, information on births and deaths are reported very quickly. Due to a lower number of births, the total birth surplus (births minus deaths) was 38 persons in the first 3 months of the year.



Table 2. Monthly birth surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Mar All year
2018 11 24 10 23 17 33 47 19 38 45 40 31 45 338
2019 31 17 4 33 35 25 47 36 9 31 22 17 52 307
2020 30 16 27 34 45 18 39 16 20 44 17 17 73 323
2021 21 22 9 13 42 12 12 29 22 15 31 8 52 236
2022 40 1 26 12 10 31 29 17 35 - 7 19 67 227
2023 9 25 4 - - - - - - - - - 38 -

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBDK og https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBLFK

A total of 544 people immigrated and 468 people emigrated in the first 3 months of the year, so the net emigration was 76 persons. There is some uncertainty associated with this figure which is primarily due to incorrect registrations and delayed reports at this level of detail. In order to explain the increase in the population with the sum of a period’s birth surplus and net immigration, a net correction of 12 persons must be added in the first 3 months.



Table 3. Monthly net immigration surplus
year Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dec Jan-Apr All year
2018 -25 14 -28 -32 -25 -86 31 -253 -73 -19 -4 -41 -39 -541
2019 122 20 -27 -39 -34 -20 59 -354 -14 6 -12 -20 115 -313
2020 46 24 23 11 6 59 14 -169 - -16 -12 -54 93 -68
2021 65 31 40 4 22 -45 -23 -217 -5 -35 -14 -64 136 -241
2022 10 -7 -4 6 -39 4 -21 -248 10 -6 -8 -76 -1 -379
2023 58 58 -40 - - - - - - - - - 76 -

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBIUK

The number of relocations (internally) in Greenland is at the same level as in the previous years. Information on change of residence is usually reported with a larger backlog, with the last month in particular underestimating the actual number.



Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBAF2AK

Source: Statistics Greenland – See table in StatBank https://bank.stat.gl/BEEBBCK

Detailed information can be found in StatBank Greenland.



The following tables have been updated:

BEESTK1 Quarterly population
BEESTK1S Quarterly population by citizenship
BEESTK3 Population in Districts and Municipalities. Quarterly report
BEESTK4 Population in Localities. Quarterly report
BEESTKN Population in Nuuk. Quarterly report
BEEBAF2K Internal migrations, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBIU2K External migrations, preliminary quaterly report on month
BEEBBLFK Livebirth, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBDK Death, preliminary quarterly report on month
BEEBBCK Marriages and divorces, preliminary quarterly monthly report