Personal Income

An analysis of personal income shows that the persons getting the highest incomes are:

 

A similar analysis shows that the persons getting the lowest incomes are:

 

Geographical Distribution of Income

The persons getting the highest average incomes live in Ivittuut district where the demography and employment, however, are very atypical compared to the rest of the country.

In the rest of the country, the trend is that income levels are highest in the most populous areas while they are lower in areas with fewer inhabitants.

 

Figure 1

Personal Gross Income by District in 2008

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

Figure 2

Growth in Average Gross Personal Income by District in 2008

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

Figure 3

Personal Gross Income by Place of Residence in 2008

Note: Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq are only included in the totals.

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

There are significant differences among the four municipalities. The highest income level is found in Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq while the lowest is found in Qaasuitsup Kommunia. The differences among the municipalities are primarily differences in average incomes in the towns, while the average incomes of the settlement population do not differ geographically to the same degree.

 

Demographic Distribution of Income

A breakdown of population incomes in age intervals of five years shows significant differences in income levels among different age groups. The average incomes for these age groups give rise to a broader division into three general age groups.

 

Figure 4

Average Personal Gross Income by Age in 2008

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

It is the middle-aged of 30-64 years of age who get the highest average incomes. It is the age group with the highest employment rates.

In the group aged 15-29 years, average incomes rise with age. This is partly due to the fact that the proportion of students is highest among the young and that employment rates therefore are low.

Persons aged 65 years and older have relatively low and very similar incomes. This is due to the fact that retirement pension is the only income for a large proportion of these persons.

 

Figure 5

Average Personal Gross Income by Age and Place of Residence in 2008

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

The considerable age-related differences in income are primarily an urban phenomenon while there is a relatively even distribution of income among the different age ranges in the settlements. Thus, it is typically in age groups which are engaged in active employment that major income gaps between towns and settlements are found while incomes among the youngest age groups and among the oldest age groups are at similar levels.

 

Figure 6

Average Personal Gross Income by Age and Gender in 2008

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

As shown in Table 1, incomes among men were DKK 222.000 on average in 2008 while women earned DKK 161.000 on average. Men thus had an average income which was nearly 40 per cent higher than women's average income.

If the income of the genders are compared with regard to municipality, place of birth or place of residence (town or settlement), men generally have higher incomes than women. The same applies in all districts and all age ranges.