Size and growth

There are 55.984 persons living in Greenland (by January 1st 2015). This has been the size of the population +/- 1000 persons during the past 20 years. From 2005 the population started a slow declining tendency, which is expected to continue in the coming years.

 

Summary table 1.1. Population by place of birth

	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015
Total	49.647	52.791	55.403	55.732	56.110	56.972	56.452	55.984
Greenland	40.959	43.602	46.151	48.412	49.358	50.275	50.226	49.975
Outside Greenland	8.688	9.189	9.252	7.320	6.752	6.697	6.226	6.009

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1

 

The size of the population and growth over time is explained by changes in the number of live birth, deaths, immigrants and emigrant. In figure 1.1 you can see the interaction between growth, birth surplus and net migration. Typically the birth surplus and net emigration contributes to a positive growth.

 

In figure 1.1 population growth, birth surplus and net emigrations is shown. Throughout the whole period there has been a stable birth surplus and volatile migrations.

 

Figure 1.1. Population growth, birth surplus and net emigrations. Total population

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beesat1

 

The birth surplus was extremely high in the early 1960s due to a very high fertility level. Within a few years the fertility level was halved, and the birth cohorts was equally halved. We talk of ‘the big cohorts’ from the 1960s. These cohorts were twice as big as cohorts 10 years prior and after. The age-distribution over the past 50 years has been heavily influenced by these cohorts, and is still very visual in a population pyramid. In 2015 the cohorts are between 45 and 55 years old – and in ten years they will be about to retire.

 

Figure 1.2. Population pyramid 2015. Total population

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beest1