View source for Greenlanders

{{Short description|Ethnic group and nation}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Greenlanders
| flag             = Flag of Greenland.svg
| flag_caption     = [[Flag of Greenland]]
| image            = [[File:Greenland 5, Ilulissat, street scene with children.jpg|250px]]
| caption          = Schoolchildren walk with their teacher in [[Ilulissat]], Greenland, with icebergs from the [[Ilulissat Icefjord]] visible in the background.
| population       = {{decrease}}{{circa|'''56,583'''}}<ref name="database" /><br />(2022 estimate)
| regions          = Greenlandic diaspora:<br/>{{Circa|'''19,505'''}}
| region1 = {{flag|Greenland}}
| pop1 = 56,583<ref name="database" />
| region2 = {{flag|Denmark}}
| pop2 = 18,563<ref name="dkinu">{{cite web |url = http://www.udsattegroenlaendere.dk/wp-content/uploads/dnag-groenlaendere-20i-20danmark-201-1.pdf |title = Grønlændere bosiddende i Danmark (Danish) |website = [[Statistics Denmark]] |year = 2018 |access-date = July 22, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160709112230/http://www.udsattegroenlaendere.dk/wp-content/uploads/dnag-groenlaendere-20i-20danmark-201-1.pdf |archive-date = July 9, 2016 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
| region3 = {{flag|United States}}
| pop3 = 352<ref name=ancestry2000>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2000/dec/phc-t-43.html |title     = Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000 |access-date=2024-05-28 |publisher = U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
| region4 = {{flag|Norway}}
| pop4 = 293
| ref4 = <ref name=statnor>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectout/ShowTable.asp?FileformatId=2&Queryfile=20167317372127872293UtenlFodte2&PLanguage=1&MainTable=UtenlFodte2&potsize=7 |title=Foreign born, by sex and country background |accessdate=2016-07-03 |publisher=Statistisk centralbyrå - Statistics Norway }}{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| region5 = {{flag|Faroe Islands}}
| pop5 = 163
| ref5 = <ref name=Hagstova>{{cite web |url=https://statbank.hagstova.fo/pxweb/en/H2/H2__MT__MT01__MT0102/MT10.px/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=579e2c1a-f9bf-4983-a254-0efe50bbd8ef |title = IB01040 Population by birth country, sex and age, 1st January (1985-2016) |accessdate=2016-07-03 |publisher = Hagstova Føroya - Statistics Faroe Islands}}</ref>
| region6 = {{flag|Iceland}}
| pop6 = 65
| ref6 = <ref name=Hagstofa>{{cite web |url=http://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__3_bakgrunnur__Faedingarland/MAN12103.px/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=49677fca-030a-493e-9981-105867f33b9e |title = Population by country of birth, sex and age 1 January 1998-2015 |accessdate=2016-07-03 |publisher = Hagstofa Íslands - Statistics Iceland}}</ref>
| region7 = {{flag|Canada}}
| pop7 = 55
| ref7 = <ref name=statisticscanada>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/imm/Table.cfm?Lang=E&T=21&Geo=01&SO=4D |title = Immigrant population by place of birth, period of immigration, 2016 counts, both sexes, age (total), Canada, 2016 Census |accessdate=2018-07-22 |publisher = Statistics Canada|date = 2017-10-25 }}</ref>
| region8 = {{flag|Netherlands}}
| pop8 = 14
| ref8 = <ref name=cbs>{{cite web |url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/en/dataset/37325eng/table |title = Population; sex, age, migration background and generation, 1 January |accessdate=2018-07-22 |publisher = Statistics Netherlands (CBS)}}</ref>
| languages        = {{nowrap| [[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]], [[Danish language|Danish]], [[English language|English]]}}
| religions        = [[Lutheranism]] ([[Church of Greenland]])<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120325215706/http://www.oikoumene.org/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/bells-ring-a-wake-up-call.html "Bells ring a wake-up call for climate justice."] ''World Council of Churches''. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010</ref> <br />See [[Religion in Greenland]]
}}
'''Greenlanders''' ({{langx|kl|Kalaallit}}; {{langx|da|Grønlændere}}), also called '''Greenlandics''' or '''Greenlandic people''', are the people of [[Greenland]]. Most speak [[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]], an [[Eskaleut languages|Eskaleut language]]. [[Greenlandic Inuit]] make up 85–90% of the people of Greenland.

Greenland is an [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous territory]] within the [[Danish Realm]], and its citizens hold [[Danish nationality law|Danish nationality]]. In 986, [[Erik the Red]] led Norse settlers to Greenland's southwest coast, where they coexisted with indigenous cultures. Greenland came under [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Norwegian]] rule in 1261 and later became part of the [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397.<ref name = Encyclopedia.com/> From the 16th to 18th centuries, European expeditions led by [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]], [[Denmark–Norway]],<ref name="Kenneth">Nebenzahl, Kenneth. ''Rand McNally Atlas of Columbus and The Great Discoveries'' (Rand McNally & Company; Genoa, [[Italy]]; 1990); ''The Cantino Planisphere, Lisbon, 1502'', pp. 34–37.</ref> and missionaries like [[Hans Egede]], sought Greenland for trade, sovereignty, and the rediscovery of lost Norse settlements, ultimately leading to Danish colonization.

== Identity ==
{{Main article|Danish nationality law#Greenland}}
Greenlanders possess [[Danish nationality law|Danish nationality]]. The Danish Realm, including Greenland, joined the [[European Communities]], the predecessor to the European Union, in 1973. However, after gaining [[home rule]] in 1979, Greenland [[1982 Greenlandic European Communities membership referendum|held a referendum in 1982]] in which the majority voted to leave the Communities. As a result, Greenland officially withdrew from the European Communities in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=Negotiations for enlargement |date=28 July 2016 |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/negotiations_for_enlargement-en-19a4fd81-119d-4090-bfac-c7cc8ae64a20.html |publisher=cvce.eu |access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> Although Greenland is no longer part of the European Union, it maintains a special [[Greenland and the European Union|relationship]] through its status as an [[Special territories of members of the European Economic Area#Overseas countries and territories|Overseas Country and Territory]]. As Danish citizens, Greenlanders have the same rights to [[freedom of movement]] within the EU; this allows them to live and work freely in member states.

== History ==
{{main|Greenland#History}}{{More sources|section|date=June 2025}}

=== Early Paleo-Inuit cultures ===
In prehistoric times, Greenland was inhabited by several [[Paleo-Eskimo|Paleo-Inuit]] cultures, identified primarily through archaeological discoveries. The first known entry of the Paleo-Inuit into Greenland occurred around 2500&nbsp;BC. From 2500&nbsp;BC to 800&nbsp;BC, the [[Saqqaq culture]] thrived in southern and western Greenland, with most remains found near [[Disko Bay]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grønnow |first=B. |year=1988 |title=Prehistory in permafrost: Investigations at the Saqqaq site, Qeqertasussuk, Disco Bay, West Greenland |journal=Journal of Danish Archaeology |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=24–39 |doi=10.1080/0108464X.1988.10589995}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Møbjerg |first=T. |year=1999 |title=New adaptive strategies in the Saqqaq culture of Greenland, c. 1600–1400 BC |journal=World Archaeology |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=452–65 |doi=10.1080/00438243.1999.9980423 |jstor=124963}}</ref>

Simultaneously, the [[Independence I culture]] existed in northern Greenland from 2400&nbsp;BC to 1300&nbsp;BC as part of the [[Arctic small tool tradition]],<ref name="Greenland History">{{Cite web |title=The history of Greenland – From dog sled to snowmobile |url=http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/historie.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927011214/http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/historie.aspx |archive-date=27 September 2011 |access-date=10 September 2011 |publisher=Greenland.com }}</ref><ref name="Greenland Migration">{{Cite web |title=Migration to Greenland – the history of Greenland |url=http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/historie/indvandringerne-til-groenland.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905074558/http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/historie/indvandringerne-til-groenland.aspx |archive-date=5 September 2011 |access-date=10 September 2011 |publisher=Greenland.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rasch |first1=M. |last2=Jensen |first2=J. F. |year=1997 |title=Ancient Eskimo dwelling sites and Holocene relative sea-level changes in southern Disko Bugt, central West Greenland |journal=Polar Research |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=101–15 |bibcode=1997PolRe..16..101R |doi=10.3402/polar.v16i2.6629 }}</ref> with settlements such as [[Deltaterrasserne]] emerging. Around 800&nbsp;BC, the Saqqaq culture disappeared, and emerged the Early [[Dorset culture]] in western Greenland and the [[Independence II culture]] in the north.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ramsden |first1=P. |last2=Tuck |first2=J. A. |year=2001 |title=A Comment on the Pre-Dorset/Dorset Transition in the Eastern Arctic |url=https://www.academia.edu/231379 |url-status=live |journal=Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska |series=New Series |volume=1 |pages=7–11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408154010/https://www.academia.edu/231379 |archive-date=2022-04-08}}</ref> The Dorset culture, the first to spread across Greenland's coastal regions in both the east and west, lasted until the [[Thule people|Thule culture]]'s dominance by AD&nbsp;1500. Dorset communities primarily relied on hunting [[Aboriginal whaling|whales]] and [[reindeer]] for sustenance.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grønnow |first=B. |year=1986 |title=Recent archaeological investigations of West Greenland caribou hunting |journal=Arctic Anthropology |volume=23 |issue=1/2 |pages=57–80 |jstor=40316103}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rowley |first=G. |year=1940 |title=The Dorset culture of the eastern Arctic |journal=American Anthropologist |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=490–99 |doi=10.1525/aa.1940.42.3.02a00080|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gulløv |first1=H. C. |title=The archaeology of shamanism |last2=Appelt |first2=M. |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |isbn=0-415-25255-5 |page=146 |chapter=Social bonding and shamanism among Late Dorset groups in High Arctic Greenland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gulløv |first=H. C. |title=In search of the Dorset culture in the Thule culture. The Paleoo Cultures of Greenland |publisher=Copenhagen: Danish Polar Center (Publication No. 1) |year=1996 |pages=201–14}}</ref>

=== Norse settlements ===
[[File:I. E. C. Rasmussen - Sommernat under den Grønlandske Kyst circa Aar 1000.jpg|thumb|''Summer Night off the Greenland Coast, Around the Year 1000'', by [[Carl Rasmussen]], 1875]]
In 986, [[Icelanders]] and [[Norwegians]], led by [[Erik the Red]] with 14 boats, established settlements along Greenland's west coast. These settlements, the [[Eastern Settlement|Eastern]], [[Western Settlement|Western]], and [[Ivittuut|Middle Settlement]]s, were located on fjords near the island's southwestern tip.<ref name="Brown2000">Dale Mackenzie Brown (28 February 2000). [http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/greenland/ "The Fate of Greenland's Vikings"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111090459/http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/greenland/ |date=11 January 2011 }}. ''Archaeological Institute of America''.</ref><ref>Kudeba, N. (19 April 2014). Chapter 5, "Norse Explorers from Erik the Red to Leif Erikson". In ''Canadian Explorers''.</ref> At the time, the Norse settlers shared Greenland with the late Dorset culture in the northern and western regions and later with the Thule culture, which migrated from the north. In 1261, Norse Greenlanders came under Norwegian rule as part of the [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Kingdom of Norway]].<ref name = Encyclopedia.com>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Viking Settlers in Greenland |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/viking-settlers-greenland |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610113237/https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/viking-settlers-greenland |url-status=live }}</ref> Norway entered a personal union with Denmark in 1380, and Greenland subsequently became part of the [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Boraas |first=Tracey |url=https://archive.org/details/sweden0000bora/page/24 |title=Sweden |publisher=Capstone Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-7368-0939-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/sweden0000bora/page/24 24]}}</ref>

The Norse settlements, including [[Brattahlíð]], thrived for several centuries before disappearing in the 15th century, possibly due to the onset of the [[Little Ice Age]].<ref name="Diamond">{{Cite book |last=Diamond |first=Jared |title=Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed |title-link=Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed |publisher=Penguin |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-14-303655-5 |location=Harmondsworth, England |author-link=Jared Diamond}}</ref> Aside from a few runic inscriptions, the only surviving contemporary records of the Norse settlements are accounts of their contact with Iceland and Norway. Medieval Norwegian sagas and historical texts document aspects of Greenland's economy, the bishops of [[Garðar, Greenland|Garðar]], and the collection of [[tithe]]s. Additionally, the [[Konungs skuggsjá]] ([[Old Norse language|Old Norse]]: "King's mirror") contains a chapter describing Norse Greenland's exports, imports, and attempts at grain cultivation.

Icelandic sagas about life in Greenland were written in the 13th century or later and are not considered primary sources for early Norse Greenland;<ref name="Grove">{{Cite journal |last=Grove |first=Jonathan |year=2009 |title=The place of Greenland in medieval Icelandic saga narrative |url=https://cambridge.academia.edu/JonathanGrove/Papers/397439/The_Place_of_Greenland_In_Medieval_Icelandic_Saga_Narrative |url-status=dead |journal=Journal of the North Atlantic |volume=2 |pages=30–51 |doi=10.3721/037.002.s206 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411212816/http://cambridge.academia.edu/JonathanGrove/Papers/397439/The_Place_of_Greenland_In_Medieval_Icelandic_Saga_Narrative |archive-date=11 April 2012 |s2cid=163032041}}</ref> however, they are closer to primary sources for later Norse Greenland. Modern understanding of Norse Greenland relies primarily on archaeological evidence. [[Ice core|Ice-core]] and clam-shell data suggest that between AD 800 and 1300, southern Greenland's fjord regions experienced a relatively mild climate, several degrees warmer than usual for the North Atlantic.<ref name="Arnold">Arnold, C. (June 2010). "Cold Did In the Norse". ''Earth Magazine''. p. 9.</ref> This allowed for the growth of trees and [[herbaceous plant]]s, [[Livestock|livestock farming]], and [[barley]] cultivation near the 70th&nbsp;parallel.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Behringer |first=Wolfgang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VqjESAAACAAJ |title=Kulturgeschichte des Klimas: Von der Eiszeit zur globalen Erwärmung |language=de |trans-title=Cultural history of climate: From the Ice Age to global warming |location=Munich |publisher=Deutsche Taschenbuch-Verlag |date=9 September 2009 |isbn=978-3-406-52866-8 |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-date=24 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624225857/https://books.google.com/books?id=VqjESAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ice cores also reveal that Greenland has undergone significant temperature fluctuations over the past 100,000 years.<ref>{{Cite magazine<!--NOT a peer-reviewed journal--> |last1=Alley |first1=R. |last2=Mayewski |first2=P. |last3=Peel |first3=D. |last4=Stauffer |first4=B. |year=1996 |title=Twin ice cores from Greenland reveal history of climate change, more |url=https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ers_facpub/252 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Eos (magazine)|Eos, Transactions<!--not: of the--> American Geophysical Union]] |volume=77 |issue=22 |pages=209–210 |bibcode=1996EOSTr..77R.209A |doi=10.1029/96EO00142 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414125211/https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ers_facpub/252/ |archive-date=14 April 2018 |access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> ''The Icelandic Book of Settlements'' also records harsh winters, with famines reportedly leading to the killing of "the old and helpless" which "were killed and thrown over cliffs".<ref name=Arnold />

The Norse settlements in Greenland disappeared during the 14th and early 15th centuries.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2003/07/17/2858655.htm "Why societies collapse"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802053920/http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2003/07/17/2858655.htm |date=2 August 2012 }}. ''ABC Science''. 17 July 2003.</ref> The decline of the Western Settlement coincided with a significant drop in both summer and winter temperatures. Research on North Atlantic temperature variability during the Little Ice Age indicates that maximum summer temperatures began to decrease around the early 14th century, dropping by as much as {{convert|6|to|8|C-change}} below modern summer averages.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Patterson |first1=W. P. |last2=Dietrich |first2=K. A. |last3=Holmden |first3=C. |last4=Andrews |first4=J. T. |date=23 March 2010 |title=Two millennia of North Atlantic seasonality and implications for Norse colonies |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=107 |issue=12 |pages=5306–5310 |bibcode=2010PNAS..107.5306P |doi=10.1073/pnas.0902522107 |pmc=2851789 |pmid=20212157|doi-access=free }}</ref> Additionally, the coldest winter temperatures in 2,000 years occurred during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The Eastern Settlement is believed to have been abandoned in the early to mid-15th century, likely as a result of these harsh climatic conditions.

[[File:Herjolfsnes Panoramio - site archéo2.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the [[Herjolfsnes]] church]]

Archaeological excavations at [[Herjolfsnes]] in the 1920s revealed evidence suggesting that the Norse population in Greenland may have experienced malnutrition. This could have been caused by [[soil erosion]], linked to the Norsemen's farming practices, turf-cutting, and deforestation, as well as a decline in temperatures during the Little Ice Age, the impact of [[pandemic]] plagues,<ref name="IngstadIngstad2000">{{Cite book |last1=Ingstad |first1=Helge |url={{GBurl|Gj-I5hdpzGoC|p=28}} |title=The Viking Discovery of America: The Excavation of a Norse Settlement in L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland |last2=Stine Ingstad |first2=Anne |publisher=Breakwater Books |year=2000 |isbn=1-55081-158-4 |pages=28–}}</ref> or conflicts with the {{lang|non|[[Skræling|Skrælings]]}} (a Norse term for the Inuit, meaning "wretches"<ref name="Diamond" />). However, more recent archaeological studies question the extent of the Norse colonization's environmental damage, suggesting traces of soil improvement strategies.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bishop |first1=Rosie R. |first2=Mike J. |last2=Church |first3=Andrew J. |last3=Dugmore |first4=Christian Koch |last4=Madsen |first5=Niels A. |last5=Møller |title=A charcoal-rich horizon at Ø69, Greenland: evidence for vegetation burning during the Norse ''landnám''? |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science |volume=40 |issue=11 |date=November 2013 |pages=3890–3902}}</ref> It is now believed that the settlements, never exceeding about 2,500 people, were gradually abandoned in the 15th century, partly due to the declining value of [[walrus ivory]],<ref name="LeoneKnauf2015">{{Cite book |last1=Leone |first1=Mark P. |url={{GBurl|id=zJy4CQAAQBAJ|p=211}} |title=Historical Archaeologies of Capitalism |last2=Knauf |first2=Jocelyn E. |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-12760-6 |page=211}}</ref> once a key export, amid competition from higher-quality sources. Evidence of widespread starvation or severe hardship remains limited.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Folger |first=Tim |title=Why Did Greenland's Vikings Vanish? |work=[[Smithsonian Magazine]] |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-greenland-vikings-vanished-180962119/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317033211/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-greenland-vikings-vanished-180962119/ |archive-date=17 March 2017 |access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref>

=== Thule culture (1300-present) ===
The Thule people are the ancestors of the modern Greenlandic population, with no genetic links to the Paleo-Inuit found in the current population.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuit-were-not-the-first-people-to-settle-in-the-arctic-1.2749691 "Inuit were not the first people to settle in the Arctic"], CBC News (Canada), 28 August 2014</ref> The Thule culture migrated eastward from present-day Alaska around 1000 AD, reaching Greenland by approximately 1300. They introduced significant technological advancements to the region, including [[dog sled]]s and [[toggling harpoon]]s.

There is an Inuit account of contact and conflict with the Norse settlers, republished in ''The Norse Atlantic Sagas'' by Gwyn Jones. Jones notes a possible Norse account of the same event, though its authenticity is considered more uncertain.

=== 1500–1814 ===
In 1500, King [[Manuel I of Portugal]] dispatched [[Gaspar Corte-Real]] to Greenland to search for a [[Northwest Passage]] to Asia, as the [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] placed Greenland within Portugal's sphere of influence. In 1501, Gaspar returned with his brother [[Miguel Corte-Real]], but frozen seas forced them southward to [[Labrador]] and [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]]. Their cartographic findings contributed to the [[Cantino planisphere]], created in Lisbon in 1502, which accurately depicted Greenland's southern coastline.<ref>Nebenzahl, Kenneth. ''Rand McNally Atlas of Columbus and The Great Discoveries'' (Rand McNally & Company; Genoa, [[Italy]]; 1990); ''The Cantino Planisphere, Lisbon, 1502'', pp. 34–37.</ref>

From 1605 to 1607, King [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV of Denmark and Norway]] organized [[Christian IV's expeditions to Greenland|expeditions]] to reestablish contact with Greenland's lost Norse settlements and affirm sovereignty over the island. Despite the efforts, including the participation of English explorer [[James Hall (explorer)|James Hall]] as pilot, these missions were largely unsuccessful due to harsh Arctic conditions and the near-inaccessibility of Greenland's east coast, where they mistakenly searched.

After the disappearance of the Norse settlements, Inuit groups controlled Greenland. However, Denmark-Norway maintained its claims, rooted in Norse history. In 1721, missionary [[Hans Egede]] led a joint mercantile and religious expedition to Greenland, seeking to reestablish contact with any remaining Norse descendants. Though no Norse communities remained, this mission marked the beginning of [[Danish colonization of the Americas|Denmark's colonization of the Americas]]. The colony, centered at Godthåb (modern Nuuk), restricted trade to Danish merchants and excluded foreign influence. Egede eventually returned to Denmark, leaving his son [[Paul Egede]] to continue the mission.

=== Treaty of Kiel to World War II (1814–1945) ===
[[File:Legende børn, ca. 1878 (8473597948).jpg|thumb|Godthåb in Greenland, {{circa|1878}}]]
When the union between the crowns of Denmark and Norway dissolved in 1814, the [[Treaty of Kiel]] assigned Norway's former colonies, including Greenland, to the Danish monarch. In July 1931, Norway occupied the then-uninhabited eastern Greenland, naming it [[Erik the Red's Land]], on the basis that it was ''[[terra nullius]]''. The dispute between Norway and Denmark was brought before the [[Permanent Court of International Justice]] in 1933, which ruled in favor of Denmark.<ref>[http://www.icj-cij.org/pcij/serie_AB/AB_53/01_Groenland_Oriental_Arret.pdf ''Legal Status of Eastern Greenland''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511135249/http://www.icj-cij.org/pcij/serie_AB/AB_53/01_Groenland_Oriental_Arret.pdf |date=11 May 2011 }}, PCIJ Series A/B No. 53 (1933)</ref>

Greenland's connection to Denmark was disrupted on 9 April 1940, during [[Greenland in World War II|World War II]], when Denmark was [[Denmark in World War II|occupied]] by [[Nazi Germany]]. On 8 April 1941, the United States occupied Greenland to protect it from potential German invasion.<ref>{{Cite book |author=America First Committee |editor-last=Doenecke |editor-first=Justus D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bhnf0fxI260C |title=In Danger Undaunted: The Anti-Interventionist Movement of 1940–1941 |date=1990 |orig-date=8 July 1941 |publisher=Hoover Institution Press |isbn=0-8179-8841-6 |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630095753/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bhnf0fxI260C |url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. occupation lasted until the end of the war in 1945. During this time, Greenland traded [[cryolite]] from the [[Ivittuut]] mine to acquire goods from the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. military used {{lang|en-US|[[Bluie]]|italics=yes}} as a codename for Greenland,<ref>{{cite book | last = Morison | first = Samuel Eliot | year = 1975 | title = History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 1: The Battle of the Atlantic September 1939&nbsp;– May 1943 | publisher = Little, Brown and Company | location = Boston |page=62}}</ref> establishing several bases, including [[Narsarsuaq Air Base|Bluie West-1]] at [[Narsarsuaq Airport|Narsarsuaq]] and [[Sondrestrom Air Base|Bluie West-8]] at [[Kangerlussuaq Airport|Kangerlussuaq]], which remain major international airports today.

During the war, Greenland's governance changed. Governor [[Eske Brun]] assumed control under a 1925 Danish law allowing governors to act independently in extreme circumstances. Meanwhile, Governor Aksel Svane relocated to the U.S. to oversee Greenland's supply commission. The Danish [[Sirius Dog Sled Patrol|Sirius Patrol]] guarded northeastern Greenland, using dog sleds to detect German weather stations, which were subsequently destroyed by American forces. After Nazi Germany's collapse, [[Albert Speer]] briefly considered escaping to Greenland but ultimately surrendered to the [[United States Armed Forces]].<ref>[[Albert Speer|Speer, Albert]]. ''Inside the Third Reich,'' 1971.</ref>

Before 1940, Greenland was a protected and isolated society under Denmark's trade monopoly, allowing limited [[Troaking|barter trade]] with British whalers. Wartime experiences fostered a sense of self-reliance, as Greenland managed its own governance and external communication. In 1946, the highest Greenlandic council, the Landsrådene, recommended gradual reform rather than radical changes. A commission initiated in 1948 presented its findings in 1950 (known as G-50), advocating for the development of a modern welfare state, modeled on Denmark’s example with Danish support. In 1953, Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Kingdom, and in 1979, it was granted home rule.

=== Home rule (1945–present) ===
{{Main article|History of Greenland#Home rule}}
The [[Greenland in World War II|American presence in Greenland]] introduced [[Sears catalog]]s, enabling Greenlanders and Danes to purchase modern [[home appliance]]s and other goods by mail.<ref name="lockhart20191227">{{Cite magazine |last=Lockhart |first=Katie |date=2019-12-27 |title=How This Abandoned Mining Town in Greenland Helped Win World War II |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-abandoned-mining-town-greenland-helped-win-world-war-ii-180973835/ |magazine=Smithsonian |access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> From 1948 to 1950, the [[Greenland Commission]] assessed the island's conditions, focusing on its isolation, unequal laws, and economic stagnation. This evaluation led to the abolition of the [[Royal Greenland Trading Department]]'s monopolies. In 1953, Greenland's status shifted from a colony to an [[autonomous province]] within the Danish Realm. Greenland also gained its own [[County of Greenland|Danish county]] and, despite its small population, was granted representation in the [[Folketing|Danish Folketing]] (parliament).

Denmark implemented reforms to urbanize Greenlanders, aiming to reduce dependence on declining seal populations and to provide labor for expanding cod fisheries. These reforms also sought to improve healthcare, education, and transportation. However, they introduced challenges such as modern unemployment and poorly planned housing projects, notably [[Blok P]]. These European-style apartments proved impractical, with Inuit struggling to navigate narrow doors in winter clothing, and fire escapes often blocked by fishing equipment.<ref>Bode, Mike & al. "[http://www.artonline.jp/BGWG/mikestaffan/index.html Nuuk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725183736/http://www.artonline.jp/BGWG/mikestaffan/index.html |date=2011-07-25 }}". 2003. Accessed 15 May 2012.</ref> Television broadcasts began in 1982, but economic hardships worsened after the collapse of cod fisheries and mines in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving Greenland reliant on Danish aid and shrimp exports.

State-owned enterprises remain central to the economy. Subsidized companies like [[Air Greenland]] and the [[Arctic Umiaq Line|Arctic Umiaq]] ferry are essential for connecting remote communities. The primary airport is still the [[Sondrestrom Air Base|former U.S. air base]] at [[Kangerlussuaq]], as Nuuk's [[Nuuk Airport|airport]] cannot accommodate international flights due to cost and noise limitations.

Greenland’s limited representation in the Folketing meant that despite 70.3% of its population opposing entry into the [[European Economic Community]], it was included along with Denmark in 1973. Concerns about the [[customs union]] enabling foreign competition and [[overfishing]] of Greenlandic waters were soon validated. The Folketing approved devolution in 1978, and [[home rule]] was established under a local [[Inatsisartut|Landsting]] the following year. On 23 February 1982, a slim majority (53%) of Greenlanders voted to withdraw from the EEC, a process finalized in 1985 with the [[Withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities|Greenland Treaty]].<ref name="Treaty of 1985">Government of Greenland. "[https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Greenland-Representation-to-the-EU/European-Union-and-Greenland/The-Greenland-Treaty-of-1985 The Greenland Treaty of 1985]". Accessed 2 October 2018.</ref>

[[Naalakkersuisut|Greenland's Home Rule]] has increasingly embraced Greenlandic identity, with a focus on [[Kalaallit]] language and culture, while distancing itself from Danish influence and regional dialects. In 1979, the capital, Godthåb, was renamed Nuuk. A local flag was introduced in 1985, and the Danish-owned KGH was replaced by the locally managed [[KNI A/S|Kalaallit Niuerfiat]], now known as KNI A/S, in 1986. Following a [[2008 Greenlandic self-government referendum|successful referendum on self-government in 2008]], Greenland's parliament gained expanded powers, and in 2009, Danish was removed as an official language.

Greenland's [[international relations]] are mostly managed by its home rule government, though some matters remain under Danish oversight. As part of the agreement when Greenland exited the EEC, it was considered a "special case," retaining access to the European market through Denmark, which remains a member.<ref name="Treaty of 1985" /> Greenland is also involved in several regional organizations<ref>{{Cite web |title=NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/nato_countries.htm}}</ref> with [[Iceland]], the [[Faroe Islands]], and Indigenous Inuit populations from [[Canada]] and Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comparison of Indigenous Peoples Rights along the Arctic Routes |url=http://www.arctis-search.com/Comparison+of++Indigenous+Peoples+Rights+along+the+Arctic+Routes}}</ref> It was a founding member of the [[Arctic Council]] in 1996, an environmental group. The presence of U.S. military bases, particularly the [[Pituffik Space Base]], continues to be a contentious issue, with some politicians advocating for a renegotiation of the 1951 US&ndash;Denmark treaty. The 1999–2003 Commission on Self-Governance even proposed that Greenland should seek to have the base removed from U.S. control and placed under international management, possibly through the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://dk.nanoq.gl/English/International_relations.aspx| title=International relations| access-date=2007-04-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070221153441/http://dk.nanoq.gl/English/International_relations.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-21}}</ref>

In 2025, U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] expressed interest in [[Proposed United States acquisition of Greenland|purchasing Greenland]] for strategic purposes, prompting criticism from Greenlandic officials and citizens.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kessler |first1=Sarah |title=How Much Would Buying Greenland Cost? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/business/trump-greenland-cost.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=12 January 2025 |date=11 January 2025}}</ref> In interviews aired by [[Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa]] (KNR), some residents expressed concerns about cultural preservation and economic dependency.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Eve |title=Worrying or welcome? What Greenlanders think of Trump’s bid to buy the island |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/08/europe/what-greenland-thinks-of-trump-intl-latam/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=12 January 2025 |date=8 January 2025}}</ref> Greenland's leaders have also expressed criticism over an upcoming visit by a prominent American delegation, which Trump has previously suggested might be a candidate for annexation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenland leaders lambast US delegation trip as Trump talks of takeover |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2594652/world |url-status=}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main article|Demographics of Greenland}}
[[File:Greenland flag on building.jpg|thumb|[[Blok P]], once Greenland's largest building and home to about 1% of its population, was demolished on October 19, 2012.]]
Greenland has an estimated population of 56,583.<ref name="database">{{Cite web|title=Population of Greenland|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/greenland-population|work=Greenlandic Population as of 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|archive-date=4 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804114047/https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/greenland-population|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2012, the total life expectancy was 71.25 years, with males having a life expectancy of 68.6 years and females with 74.04 years.

[[Sermersooq|Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq]] is Greenland's most populous [[Administrative divisions of Greenland|municipality]], with 24,382 residents. It includes [[Nuuk]], the capital and largest city of the territory. [[Avannaata|Avannaata Kommunia]] is the second most populous municipality, with 10,846 residents, primarily in [[Ilulissat]], its largest city. [[Qeqqata|Qeqqata Kommunia]] has a population of 9,204, centered around [[Sisimiut]]. [[Kujalleq|Kommune Kujalleq]] follows with 6,145 residents, and [[Qeqertalik|Kommune Qeqertalik]] is the least populated municipality, with 6,058 inhabitants.

In 2021, Greenland’s population was 56,421,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greenland in Figures 2021|url=https://stat.gl/publ/en/GF/2021/pdf/Greenland%20in%20Figures%202021.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212409/https://stat.gl/publ/en/GF/2021/pdf/Greenland%20in%20Figures%202021.pdf |archive-date=2021-06-02 |url-status=live|access-date=8 December 2021|website=Greenland in Figures 2021}}</ref> with 18,800 residents living in the capital, Nuuk. Most Greenlanders inhabit the fjord-lined southwestern coast, which experiences a comparatively mild climate for its high latitude.<ref name="Greenland2010">{{Cite web |title=Greenland |url=http://www.stalvik.com/Engelska/laegreenland.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923001626/http://www.stalvik.com/Engelska/laegreenland.htm |archive-date=23 September 2010 |access-date=6 September 2010 |publisher=Stalvik.com}}</ref> While the majority of the population resides in colder coastal areas north of 64°N, the warmer regions, such as the vegetated surroundings of Narsarsuaq, remain sparsely populated.

Greenland has a [[population density]] of 0.14 people per square kilometer (0.054 people per square mile), making it the [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|least densely populated territory]] in the world. Due to its sparse population and vast geography, transportation between cities and towns is limited to planes, boats, snowmobiles, and dog sleds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greenland, the world’s least densely populated area |url=https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/gallery/2024-6-13-greenland-worlds-least-densely-populated-area |website=dataspace.copernicus.eu |access-date=9 March 2025}}</ref>

The majority of Greenland's population identifies as [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Historically, the [[Moravian Church|Moravian Brothers]], a congregation with ties to [[Christiansfeld]] in [[Southern Jutland|South Jutland]] and partially of German origin, played a significant religious role.

An estimated 89.7% of the population is of Greenlandic [[Multinational state|multiethnic]] European-Inuit heritage, 7.8% is [[Danes|Danish]], 1.1% other [[Nordic countries|Nordic]], and 1.4% from other backgrounds. The multiethnic European-Inuit population includes those with Danish, [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], [[Faroe Islanders|Faroese]], [[Icelanders|Icelandic]], [[Dutch people|Dutch]] ([[Whaling in the Netherlands#17th century|whaler]]), [[Germans|German]], and [[Americans|American]] ancestry.<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greenland/ |access-date=3 October 2020 |website=cia.gov |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109162939/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greenland/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{see also|Greenlandic people in Denmark}}
Greenland's population has been rapidly declining since 2019,<ref name="database" /> primarily due to [[emigration]]. This trend is driven by limited educational opportunities within Greenland, prompting citizens to seek better job prospects, improved healthcare, and relief from the harsh Arctic climate. Many young people move to Denmark for education and career advancement, contributing significantly to this population decrease.

A 2015 comprehensive genetic study of Greenlanders revealed that modern-day Inuit in Greenland are direct descendants of the [[Thule people|Thule culture]] pioneers who settled in the region during the 13th century. The study also showed approximately 25% European admixture, stemming from colonizers who arrived in the 16th century. Contrary to earlier theories, no genetic evidence of Viking settlers has been identified among Greenland's population.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Moltke |first1=Ida |last2=Fumagalli |first2=Matteo |last3=Korneliussen |first3=Thorfinn |date=2015 |title=Uncovering the Genetic History of the Present-Day Greenlandic Population |journal=American Journal of Human Genetics |volume=96 |issue=1 |pages=54–69 |doi=10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.11.012 |pmc=4289681 |pmid=25557782}}</ref>

== Ethnic groups ==
{{Main article|Demographics of Greenland#Ethnic groups}}
{{bar box
|title=Ethnic groups of Greenland (2018)<ref name="CIAGREENLAND">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greenland/ |title=North America: Greenland |date=27 September 2021 |publisher=CIA The World Factbook}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Ethnic groups
|right1=percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Greenlandic Inuit|Inuit]]|Blue|89.7}}
{{bar percent|[[Danes|Danish]] |Orange|7.8}}
{{bar percent|Other Nordic |Green|1.1}}
{{bar percent|Other |Pink|1.4}}
}}
{|class="infobox"
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" |'''Significant minority groups'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by age, citizenship, gender and time |url=https://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0125/BEXST6.px/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Statbank |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! Nationality||Population (2024)
|-
|{{flag|Philippines}}||921
|-
|{{flag|Thailand}}||349
|-
|{{flag|Poland}}||138
|-
|{{flag|Iceland}}||122
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|121
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}}||78
|-
|{{flag|China}}||65
|-
|{{flag|Norway}}||63
|-
|{{flag|Germany}}||54
|-
|{{flag|USA}}||39
|-
|Other America||39
|}

Greenland's population is primarily composed of [[Greenlandic Inuit]], including individuals of mixed heritage, as well as [[Danish people in Greenland|Danish Greenlanders]] and other [[Ethnic groups in Europe|Europeans]] and [[North America|North Americans]]. As of a 2009 estimate, the [[Inuit]] population constituted approximately 85–90% of the total. There are 6,792 Danish residents in Greenland, accounting for 12% of the population. In recent years, the territory has seen notable immigration from Asia, particularly from the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], and [[China]].

== Languages ==
{{main article|Greenland#Languages}}
[[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]], specifically [[West Greenlandic]] or Kalaallisut, is spoken by nearly 50,000 people and became the official language of Greenland in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 November 2008 |title=Danish doubts over Greenland vote |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7752660.stm |url-status=live |access-date=10 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207121546/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7752660.stm |archive-date=7 December 2012}}</ref> The majority of the population speaks both [[Danish language|Danish]] and West Greenlandic Kalaallisut, the most popular being the [[Eskaleut language]], with both languages having been used in public affairs since the introduction of home rule in 1979. Despite Greenlandic's official status, Danish remains widely used in administration, education, skilled trades, and other professions. The orthography of Greenlandic, initially established in 1851,<ref>Kleinschmidt, Samuel 1968 (1851): Grammatik der grønlændischen Sprache : mit teilweisem Einschluss des Labradordialekts. Hildesheim : Olms, 1968.</ref> was [[Kalaallisut orthography|revised]] in 1973. Greenland has a [[Literacy|literacy rate]] of 100%.<ref name="cia-factbook">{{Cite web |title=Greenland |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greenland/ |access-date=15 May 2007 |website=[[The World Factbook|CIA World Factbook]] |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109162939/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greenland/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Kalaallisut-noentry-sign-home-rule.jpg|thumb|Sign in Greenland written in Greenlandic and Danish]]
Approximately 12% of Greenland's population speaks Danish as a first or sole language, primarily comprising Danish immigrants. For many, Danish remains the dominant language, particularly in Nuuk and other larger towns. Historically, Danish served as a second language for most multiethnic Inuit ancestors, although Greenlandic was more dominant in smaller settlements. In larger towns, especially Nuuk, Danish speakers have held significant social influence.

Debate continues over the evolving roles of Greenlandic and Danish in Greenland's future. While Greenlandic holds official status and is widely spoken, Danish remains critical for administration and business. English, increasingly important in Greenland, is now taught starting from the first year of school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travelling in Greenland |url=http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/About%20Greenland/Travelling%20in%20Greenland.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516025948/http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/About%20Greenland/Travelling%20in%20Greenland.aspx |archive-date=16 May 2014 |publisher=Greenland Representation to the EU, Greenland Home Rule Government}}</ref>

[[Kitaa|West Greenland]] has historically been the most populous region of the island and the center of its de&nbsp;facto official language, Greenlandic. However, linguistic diversity persists in other regions. Approximately 3,000 people speak [[Tunumiisut|East Greenlandic]], referred to as Tunumiisut, and nearly 1,000 residents around [[Qaanaaq]] in the north speak [[Inuktun]]. Notably, Inuktun shares closer similarities with the Inuit languages of Canada than with other Greenlandic dialects.<ref>Mennecier, Philippe (1978). ''Le tunumiisut, dialecte inuit du Groenland oriental: description et analyse'', Collection linguistique, 78, Societé de linguistique de Paris.</ref>

These regional varieties of Greenlandic are largely unintelligible to each other, with some linguists even classifying Tunumiisut as a separate language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas of the world's languages in danger |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187026 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=unesdoc.unesco.org |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111222724/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187026 |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[UNESCO]] report has labeled these other varieties as endangered, prompting efforts to preserve and protect the East Greenlandic dialect in particular.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2010 |title=Sermersooq will secure Eastern Greenlandic |url=http://www.knr.gl/index.php?id=6700&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=51930&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=6702&cHash=b321fb7a1d |url-status=live |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516235314/http://www.knr.gl/index.php?id=6700&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=51930&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=6702&cHash=b321fb7a1d |archive-date=16 May 2016 |access-date=19 May 2010 |publisher=[[Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa]] |language=da}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{See also|Education in Greenland}}
[[File:Ilimmarfik.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Greenland]] campus is in Nuuk.]]
[[Education in Greenland]] closely follows the [[Education in Denmark|Danish system]] and is free and compulsory for children aged 7 to 16. The primary language of instruction is Greenlandic, with Danish introduced as a second language in primary school. The education system aims to foster cultural and linguistic unity through a bilingual model, integrating Greenlandic and Danish-speaking students.

The public school system, managed by [[Administrative divisions of Greenland|municipalities]], encompasses approximately 100 schools. It focuses on teaching Greenlandic from kindergarten through high school, while also providing [[Vocational education|vocational]] and [[technical education]] during secondary school. For higher education, the [[University of Greenland]] in Nuuk provides local academic opportunities, while vocational training institutions are also available. Students who wish to study in Denmark have equal admission rights and access to scholarships, provided they meet residency requirements.

Since 1994, reforms in [[bilingual education]] have generated positive results, ensuring students gain proficiency in both Greenlandic and Danish and promoting equal access to education across linguistic groups.

== Religion ==
{{Main article|Religion in Greenland}}
The traditional religion of the nomadic Inuit was [[Shamanism|shamanistic]], centered around appeasing a vengeful and [[Sedna (mythology)|fingerless sea goddess]] known as Sedna, who was believed to control the success of [[seal hunting|seal]] and [[Whaling|whale hunts]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gpCKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT169|title=Taboo, Personal and Collective Representations: Origin and Positioning Within Cultural Complexes|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2019|isbn=978-1-351-03988-8|access-date=18 September 2022|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920174357/https://books.google.com/books?id=gpCKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT169|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first [[Norse settlements in Greenland|Norse settlers in Greenland]] worshipped the [[Norse pantheon]], but a major shift occurred when [[Leif Erikson]], the son of [[Erik the Red]], converted to [[Christianity]] during a visit to Norway in 999 under the influence of [[List of Norwegian monarchs|King]] [[Olaf Tryggvason]]. Leif returned to Greenland with missionaries who quickly established a Christian presence, including sixteen parishes, monasteries, and a bishopric at [[Garðar, Greenland|Garðar]].

The rediscovery of Greenland's Norse settlements and the spread of [[Reformation|Protestant Reformation]] ideas were main motivations behind [[Danish colonization of the Americas|Denmark's recolonization of Greenland]] in the 18th century. Under the direction of the [[College of Missions|Royal Mission College]] in Copenhagen, Norwegian and Danish [[Church of Denmark|Lutherans]], as well as German [[Moravian Church|Moravian missionaries]], undertook expeditions to locate the lost Norse settlements. However, they found no surviving Norse inhabitants and instead focused their efforts on converting the Inuit population to Christianity.

Significant figures in Greenland's [[Christianization]] included [[Hans Egede]], his son [[Paul Egede|Poul Egede]], and German missionary [[Matthäus Stach|Matthias Stach]]. Hans Egede established the first permanent Danish-Norwegian mission on [[Kangeq|Kangeq Island]] in 1721, where efforts to translate religious texts began. The [[New Testament]] was translated into Greenlandic in parts over several years, but the full Bible was not translated until 1900. A modern translation of the Bible, reflecting contemporary Greenlandic orthography, was completed in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sørensen |first=Leif Kiil |date=29 November 2000 |title=Grønlandsk bibel præsenteret &#124; Kristeligt Dagblad |url=http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/225350:Kirke---tro--Groenlandsk-bibel-praesenteret |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511084103/http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/225350:Kirke---tro--Groenlandsk-bibel-praesenteret |archive-date=11 May 2011 |access-date=6 September 2010 |publisher=Kristeligt-dagblad.dk}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2024}}

[[File:Nanortalik church.jpg|thumb|Most Greenlandic villages, including [[Nanortalik]], have their own church.]]
The predominant religion in Greenland is [[Protestantism|Protestant Christianity]], primarily represented by the Church of Denmark, which follows [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] teachings. Although there are no official census records on religious affiliation in Greenland, the [[Bishop of Greenland]], [[Sofie Petersen]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120325215706/http://www.oikoumene.org/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/bells-ring-a-wake-up-call.html "Bells ring a wake-up call for climate justice."] ''World Council of Churches''. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010</ref> estimates that approximately 85% of the population are members of the Church of Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grønland, Grundloven og Gejstligheden |url=http://www.groenlandsstift.dk/fileadmin/filer/Biskoppen/Groenland_GRUNDLOVEN_og_GEJSTLIGHEDEN_1005_2009_laast_til_ado.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231654/https://www.groenlandsstift.dk/fileadmin/filer/Biskoppen/Groenland_GRUNDLOVEN_og_GEJSTLIGHEDEN_1005_2009_laast_til_ado.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012 }}</ref> As part of the Danish Realm, the Church of Denmark holds the status of the [[State religion|established church]] under the [[Constitution of Denmark|Danish Constitution]], which extends to Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution of Denmark – Section IV |url=http://www.parliament.am/library/sahmanadrutyunner/dania.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301205429/http://www.parliament.am/library/sahmanadrutyunner/dania.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2016 |access-date=22 September 2016 |quote=The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the Established Church of Denmark, and, as such, it shall be supported by the State.}}</ref>

In Greenland, the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] minority is pastorally served by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Copenhagen]], which oversees Catholic activities across the Danish Realm. While Catholics form a small portion of the population, their presence is supported through limited church infrastructure and pastoral care.

Christian missionaries continue to operate in Greenland, with a significant presence from [[charismatic movement]]s. Their efforts are primarily focused on strengthening the faith of existing Christians rather than actively seeking to convert non-believers.<ref name="jazbablog">{{Cite news |date=8 August 2011 |title=The only Muslim in Greenland who fasts for 21 hours |work=The Jazba Blog |url=http://jazbablog.com/2011/08/08/the-only-muslim-in-greenland-who-fasts-for-21-hours/ |access-date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801063031/http://jazbablog.com/2011/08/08/the-only-muslim-in-greenland-who-fasts-for-21-hours/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Social issues ==
Greenland faces significant social challenges, including [[List of countries by suicide rate|high suicide rates]], which have led to the country being reported as having the highest suicide rate in the world according to a 2010 census.<ref name="The Suicide Capital of the World">{{Cite journal |date=9 October 2009 |title=The Suicide Capital of the World |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/2009/10/the_suicide_capital_of_the_world.single.html#pagebreak_anchor_2 |url-status=live |journal=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304003350/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/2009/10/the_suicide_capital_of_the_world.single.html#pagebreak_anchor_2 |archive-date=4 March 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="Rising suicide rate baffles Greenland">{{Cite web |title=Rising suicide rate baffles Greenland |url=http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/europe/rising-suicide-rate-baffles-greenland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323061827/http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/europe/rising-suicide-rate-baffles-greenland |archive-date=23 March 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref> These mental health issues are often linked to a combination of cultural, environmental, and socio-economic factors, including the impacts of isolation and limited access to mental health services.

[[Alcoholism]] is another prominent issue in Greenland,<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18249474 "Greenland profile – Overview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918032735/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18249474 |date=18 September 2018 }}. ''BBC News''.</ref> with consumption rates peaking in the 1980s at twice the level in Denmark. Although alcohol consumption has slightly decreased by 2010, it remains a major social concern due to its high cost and the negative effects it has on communities. The high prices of alcohol in Greenland make it an expensive habit; further, the associated social problems, including addiction, domestic violence, and health issues, have a considerable impact on society.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Aage |first=H. |year=2012 |title=Alcohol in Greenland 1951–2010: consumption, mortality, prices |journal=International Journal of Circumpolar Health |volume=71 |page=18444 |doi=10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18444 |pmc=3525923 |pmid=23256091}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Madsen |first1=M. H. |last2=Grønbæk |first2=M. |last3=Bjerregaard |first3=P. |last4=Becker |first4=U. |year=2005 |title=Urbanization, migration and alcohol use in a population of Greenland Inuit |journal=International Journal of Circumpolar Health |volume=64 |issue=3 |pages=234–45 |doi=10.3402/ijch.v64i3.17987 |pmid=16050317 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[HIV/AIDS]] prevalence was once high in Greenland, peaking in the 1990s, but it has since decreased significantly due to effective public health initiatives and treatments. As of recent years, the prevalence rate has dropped to around {{circa}} 0.13%,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bjorn-Mortensen |first1=K. |last2=Ladefoged |first2=K |last3=Obel |first3=N. |last4=Helleberg |first4=M. |year=2013 |title=The HIV epidemic in Greenland – a slow spreading infection among adult heterosexual Greenlanders |journal=Int J Circumpolar Health |volume=7232 |page=19558 |doi=10.3402/ijch.v72i0.19558 |pmc=3577920 |pmid=23431117}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2019 |title=Nye tilfælde af HIV blandt unge |url=https://naalakkersuisut.gl/da/Naalakkersuisut/Nyheder/2018/11/1311_nye_tilfaelde_hiv |access-date=22 November 2019 |publisher=[[Naalakkersuisut]] |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004132/https://naalakkersuisut.gl/da/Naalakkersuisut/Nyheder/2018/11/1311_nye_tilfaelde_hiv |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is [[HIV adult prevalence rate|lower than in many other countries]].

[[Unemployment]] in Greenland remains higher than in Denmark,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arbejde |url=https://europas-lande.dk/dan/Lande/Gr%C3%B8nland/Erhverv%20og%20%C3%B8konomi/Arbejde/Sv%C3%A6r/ |access-date=22 November 2019 |publisher=europas-lande.dk |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004450/https://europas-lande.dk/dan/Lande/Gr%25C3%25B8nland/Erhverv%2520og%2520%25C3%25B8konomi/Arbejde/Sv%25C3%25A6r/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> with rates around 6.8% in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2017 |title=Unemployment rate |url=http://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__AR__AR40/ARXLED7.px/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=ARXLED222-11-2019%2020:30:33 |access-date=22 November 2019 |publisher=Statistics Greenland }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> compared to Denmark’s 5.6%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Euro area unemployment at 8.7%, December 2017 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/8631691/3-31012018-BP-EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201506/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/8631691/3-31012018-BP-EN.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-12 |url-status=live |access-date=22 November 2019 |publisher=[[Eurostat]]}}</ref>

=== Fertility control ===
{{Main article|Spiral case}}
The practice of forced sterilization and the widespread use of [[intrauterine device]]s (IUDs) on Greenlandic Inuit women and girls during the 1960s and 1970s is a controversial chapter in the history of Denmark and Greenland. As part of a population control policy, roughly half of all fertile Greenlandic Inuit women and girls were fitted with IUDs, including children as young as 12. These procedures were often carried out without consent or knowledge from the girls' parents; in some cases, girls were taken directly from school to have the devices inserted. This practice was also applied to Inuit girls attending boarding schools in Denmark.

This issue came to public attention decades later, and in 2022, the [[Ministry of Health (Denmark)|Danish Health Minister]], [[Magnus Heunicke]], confirmed that an official investigation would take place to uncover the decisions and actions that led to the forced procedures.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63049387|title=Inuit Greenlanders demand answers over Danish birth control scandal|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2022|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001140536/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63049387|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, it was found that after Greenland gained control of its healthcare system in 1991, Greenlandic doctors continued the practice on some Inuit women, despite the legal and ethical concerns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grønland har ansvar for 15 spiralsager |url=https://www.sermitsiaq.ag/samfund/gronland-har-ansvar-for-15-spiralsager/1292890 |access-date=20 October 2024 |publisher=Sermitsiaq}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{main article|Culture of Greenland}}
Greenlandic culture is a unique fusion of traditional Inuit (Kalaallit, Tunumiit, and Inughuit) traditions and Scandinavian influences, reflecting the island's history and geography. Inuit culture, particularly that of the Kalaallit, has a rich artistic heritage dating back thousands of years. One notable art form is the creation of tupilak, or "spirit objects," which are intricately carved figures often imbued with symbolic or spiritual significance. Originally, tupilaks were used in shamanic rituals, but today, they are primarily made as art pieces.

Traditional art-making practices, including carving, thrive in regions like [[Ammassalik Island|Ammassalik]],<ref name="ingo20">[[#Hessel|Hessel]], p. 20</ref> where local artists often work with materials like wood, stone, and bone. [[Sperm whale]] ivory remain especially valued mediums for carving.<ref>[[#Hessel|Hessel]], p. 21</ref>

=== Music ===
{{main article|Music of Greenland}}{{See also|Greenland|Nanook (band)}}
Greenland has a successful, though small, music culture. Notable Greenlandic bands and artists include [[Sumé (band)|Sumé]], [[Chilly Friday]], [[Nanook (band)|Nanook]], [[Siissisoq]], [[Nuuk Posse]], and [[Rasmus Lyberth]], who [[Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979|competed in the Danish national final]] for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1979|1979 Eurovision Song Contest]], singing in Greenlandic. Singer-songwriter [[Simon Lynge]] is the first Greenlandic artist to release an album across the United Kingdom and perform at the [[Glastonbury Festival]]. In 2021, UNESCO recognized Inuit drum dancing and singing as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drum dance and drum song – Trap Greenland |url=https://trap.gl/en/kultur/drum-dance-and-drum-song/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inuit drum dancing and singing - UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/inuit-drum-dancing-and-singing-01696 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}}</ref>

The drum, or qilaat, is the traditional Greenlandic instrument, crafted from [[driftwood]] or walrus ribs and covered with polar bear or walrus stomach or bladder. Unlike typical drumming, the drum is played from underneath the frame with a stick. Traditional drum dances involved simple melodies and served dual purposes: dispelling fear during long, dark winters and resolving disputes. In the latter case, individuals would take turns drumming and singing to ridicule each other, with the audience’s laughter determining the winner.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-15 |title=UNESCO honours Inuit drum dancing |url=https://unric.org/en/unesco-honours-inuit-drum-dancing/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=United Nations Western Europe |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Qilaat - The Greenlandic frame drum |url=https://greenlandicpopularmusic.com/en/qilaaat-the-greenlandic-frame-drum/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=greenlandicpopularmusic |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Shamanism|Shaman]]s also used the drum in rituals to conjure spirits. However, after missionaries arrived in the 18th century, drum dances were banned as [[Paganism|pagan]] practices. They were replaced by [[Polyphony|polyphonic]] choral singing, known for its distinctive sound, blending German hymns, influenced by the [[Herrnhuter Brüdergemeinde]], with secular songs. Whalers from Scandinavia, Germany, and Scotland introduced instruments like the fiddle and accordion, as well as dances such as the polka, or kalattuut, which is now performed with intricate steps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music in Greenland |url=https://visitgreenland.com/about-greenland/music-in-greenland/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Visit Greenland |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
{{main article|Sport in Greenland}}
Sports play a significant role in Greenlandic culture, with the population maintaining an active lifestyle.<ref>[[#Wilcox|Wilcox and Latif]], p. 109</ref> Popular sports include [[association football]], [[track and field]], [[handball]], and [[skiing]]. Handball, often regarded as the national sport,<ref name="handball">[[#Wilcox|Wilcox and Latif]], p. 110</ref> saw the [[Greenland men's national handball team|men's national team]] rank among the top 20 globally in 2001.

Greenland's natural environment offers ideal conditions for activities like [[skiing]], [[fishing]], [[snowboarding]], [[ice climbing]], and [[rock climbing]]. However, [[hiking]] and [[Mountaineering|mountain climbing]] are more commonly enjoyed by the general population. While Greenland's landscape is not well-suited for [[golf]], Nuuk is home to a golf course.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gif.gl/program/index.php?sprog=3&t_id=113&keyword=&action=none&skiftsprog&music=1&nyhed_id=2|title=Arctic Winter Games|publisher=Gif.gl|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070325214906/http://www.gif.gl/program/index.php?sprog=3&t_id=113&keyword=&action=none&skiftsprog&music=1&nyhed_id=2|archive-date=25 March 2007|url-status=dead|accessdate=6 August 2011}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{main article|Greenlandic cuisine}}
[[File:Pilersuisoq Supermarket, Kangerlussuaq (Quintin Soloviev).png|thumb|[[Pilersuisoq]] Supermarket in [[Kangerlussuaq]].]]
The national dish of Greenland is [[suaasat]], a traditional soup prepared with [[seal meat]]. The Greenlandic diet heavily relies on meat from marine mammals, game, birds, and fish, as the glacial landscape limits agricultural options. Most ingredients are sourced from the ocean,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2010 |title=Greenland – Greenlandic cuisine – Official Greenland Travel Guide |url=http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414020510/http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine |archive-date=14 April 2010 |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> and seasoning is typically limited to salt and pepper.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2010 |title=Greenland – Traditional Greenlandic food – Official Greenland Travel Guide |url=http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine/traditional_greenlandic_food |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327215022/http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine/traditional_greenlandic_food |archive-date=27 March 2010 |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>

Greenlandic coffee is a notable dessert beverage, distinct for being "flaming" as it is set alight before serving. Made with [[coffee]], [[Whisky|whiskey]], [[Kahlúa]], [[Grand Marnier]], and topped with [[whipped cream]], it is stronger than the more widely known [[Irish coffee]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2010 |title=Greenland – Greenlandic coffee – Official Greenland Travel Guide |url=http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine/greenlandic_coffee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330004520/http://www.greenland.com/content/english/tourist/culture/greenlandic_cuisine/greenlandic_coffee |archive-date=30 March 2010 |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>

=== Media ===
[[Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa]] (KNR) is Greenland's public broadcasting company and an associate member of both [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] and the [[Nordvision]] network. Employing nearly 100 people, KNR is among the largest organizations in the territory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa {{!}} KNR|url=https://knr.gl/da/om-knr/kalaallit-nunaata-radioa|access-date=19 April 2021|website=knr.gl|archive-date=28 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128064050/https://knr.gl/da/om-knr/kalaallit-nunaata-radioa|url-status=live}}</ref> Nuuk also has its own radio and television station, including [[Nanoq Media]], a local television channel established on August 1, 2002. Nanoq Media is the largest local station in Greenland, reaching over 4,000 households, approximately 75% of all households in Nuuk.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nanoq Media|url=https://nanoqmedia.gl/?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6&lang=ka_gl|access-date=19 April 2021|website=nanoqmedia.gl|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419151126/https://nanoqmedia.gl/?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6&lang=ka_gl|url-status=live}}</ref>

Greenland has two nationally distributed newspapers. [[Sermitsiaq (newspaper)|Sermitsiaq]], a weekly publication named after the nearby [[Sermitsiaq (mountain)|Sermitsiaq mountain]], is released every Friday, with its online edition updated multiple times daily. It was initially distributed only in Nuuk, but expanded nationwide in the 1980s. [[Atuagagdliutit/Grønlandsposten]] (AG) is a bi-weekly newspaper, published in Greenlandic as Atuagagdliutit and in Danish as Grønlandsposten, with all articles appearing in both languages. It is released every Tuesday and Thursday.

=== Fine arts ===
The Inuit of Greenland have a rich tradition of arts and crafts, including the carving of [[Tupilaq|tupilaks]], small sculptures representing avenging spirits or mythical beings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The making of a tupilak and its consequences|url=https://www.museon.nl/en/globeitem/the-making-of-a-tupilak-and-its-consequenses|website=Museon|access-date=5 January 2022|archive-date=5 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105170919/https://www.museon.nl/en/globeitem/the-making-of-a-tupilak-and-its-consequenses|url-status=live}}</ref> The term "tupilak," from Greenlandic, translates to the soul or spirit of a deceased person. These carvings, often no more than {{convert|20|cm|round=0.5}} tall, are traditionally crafted from walrus ivory and feature grotesque or imaginative designs. Once associated with [[Shamanism|shamanic ritual]]s, tupilaks are now mainly regarded as collectible artifacts. Modern Greenlandic artisans continue to work with native materials such as musk ox wool, seal fur, soapstone, reindeer antlers, and gemstones.

Greenlandic painting began in the mid-19th century with [[Aron von Kangeq]], whose watercolors and drawings illustrated traditional sagas and myths. In the 20th century, landscape and animal painting emerged alongside printmaking and book illustration. Artists such as [[Kistat Lund]] and [[Buuti Pedersen]] earned international acclaim for their expressive landscapes, while [[Anne-Birthe Hove]] focused on themes of Greenlandic social life. The [[Nuuk Art Museum]] showcases these works along with others.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Greenland topics}}

[[Category:Demographics of Greenland]]
[[Category:Greenland]]
[[Category:Society of Greenland]]