World Factbook
Greenland
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red, with a large disk set slightly to the left; the top half of the disk is red, and the bottom is white meaning: the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark
Capital
name
Nuuk
etymology
nuuk is the Inuit word for "cape;" until 1979, the name was Godthab, from the Danish words meaning "good hope"
time zone note
Greenland has three time zones
time difference
UTC-2 (3 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
64 11 N, 51 45 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
see Denmark
Constitution
history
previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act)
Country name
etymology
named by Norse navigator Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 to attract settlers to the island; the original Greenlandic name, Kalaallit Nunaat, means "land of the people"
local long form
none
local short form
Kalaallit Nunaat
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Greenland
Independence
none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
Legal system
Denmark's laws apply in some areas, and Greenland's law for the remainder
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Judicial branch
note
note: appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)
highest court(s)
High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors)
subordinate courts
Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts
judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
chief of state
King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Julie Praest WILCHE (since May 2022) (2024)
election results
2025: Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (D) elected premier 2021: Mute B. EGEDE elected premier; Parliament vote - Mute B. EGEDE (Inuit Ataqatigiit) unanimous 2014: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8%
head of government
Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
National holiday
National Day, June 21
note: marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse, and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)
Political parties
Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A Forward Party (Siumut) or S Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA Signpost Party (Naleraq) or N (formerly Partii Naleraq)
Legislative branch
note
note: Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
term in office
4 years
number of seats
31 (directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Inatsisartut)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
4/6/2021
expected date of next election
2025
percentage of women in chamber
35%
parties elected and seats per party
IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)
history
adopted 1979, when home rule was granted; the Greenlandic government recognizes this local Kalaallit song as a secondary anthem
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
polar bear
Administrative divisions
5 municipalities ( kommuner , singular - kommune ); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Pituffik Space Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base) in northwest Greenland are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km -- about 46% of the island -- makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 328-1470
note
note : Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York
chancery
3200 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 234-4300
chief of mission
Kenneth HØEGH, Head of Representation (since 1 August 2021)
email address and website
washington@nanoq.gl All Greenlandic Representations | Grønlands Repræsentation (grl-rep.dk); https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47 Nuuk 3900 Greenland
telephone
(+299) 384100
chief of mission
Consul Susan A. "Suzi" WILSON (since August 2025)
email address and website
USConsulateNuuk@state.gov Homepage - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark (usembassy.gov)
International organization participation
Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU