Talk:Greenland

Not Least Densely Populated Region in World

The article states: “With a population of 56,583 (2022), Greenland is the least densely populated region in the world.” This is not entirely accurate as Antarctica has a far larger area and far fewer people, so it would deserve the title of “least populated region in the world.” Someone please edit this statement for accuracy. Thank you. 66.91.36.8 (talk) 16:22, 11 January 2025 (UTC)

You are correct. In addition, the cited source "Population density (people per sq. km of land area)" The World Bank simply provides the number, the statement in the article that "Greenland is the least densely populated region in the world" is "original research" that breaches WP:NOR, and therefore should be removed.

Additionally, this article should be unlocked - the people that appear to have a finger on the pulse are IPs who are not allowed to edit. 14.2.207.148 (talk) 00:41, 13 January 2025 (UTC)

I replaced this incorrect information with the words "least densely populated country" and this change has been reverted. I'm not going to get into an edit war, so one needs to understand why that person may disagree.

The most likely reason is the idea that Greenland is not a country. It is true that the World Bank uses the phrase "countries and dependencies". Does this imply that a dependency is not a country? If you read the Country article you find this is not the case, particularly in the case of a self-governing country which is what Greenland is. It is a particular type of country.

On the other hand, Antarctica is not a country (or several countries) because there is no agreed division by the many countries which claim a part of it: it's 'just' a continent.

Therefore I suggest the use of the word country in this sentence is the appropriate one. Chris55 (talk) 20:01, 29 March 2025 (UTC)

Please use or continue, but not restart, the discussion in #Country v. autonomous territory below. Errantios (talk) 23:16, 29 March 2025 (UTC)

This is NOT to do with whether, in the lede Greenland is described as country or territory. It is both. If you are defining it it's appropriate to use the word territory. In this context one does not need to be so specific. Indeed using the word 'territory' is wrong because Antarctica is also described as a territory or territories. By contrast, region is imprecisely defined so both Greenland and Antartica can be so described. Chris55 (talk) 09:36, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

The issue in the present section as well as in the section #Country v. autonomous territory below seems to be, or could most usefully be formulated as: Is Greenland a country' or, if not, what is it? Let's not pursue all those herrings in two places at once, but continue just with the discussion below. Errantios (talk) 13:12, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

Not at all. The issue in the present section is whether Greenland is the least populated region of the globe. It isn't. That distinction clearly belongs to Antarctica. It IS, or can be argued to be, the least populated country, but you seem to be devoted to a different question entirely. Chris55 (talk) 13:44, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

The superlative should be removed. Even the raw population density isn't that helpful to a reader; it's not like people are evenly spread throughout Greenland. It is however a quantifiable figure. CMD (talk) 14:05, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

Social problems

Hello, I would like to mentions something about the quiet heartbreaking social problems in Greenland. I'm thinking with regard to alcoholism, rape, and incest. You just like to menton it here first. Maybe somebody has some good sources in mind :)--Marginataen (talk) 10:43, 13 January 2025 (UTC)

There is a "Social issues" section that covers alcoholism and some other issues? Martinevans123 (talk) 11:31, 13 January 2025 (UTC)

Here are a few sources: Rape highest in world, Violence, Alcohol

Sadly this is not unusual in isolated arctic communities. Chris55 (talk) 11:48, 30 March 2025 (UTC)

Continent

The English-language WP obviously considers Greenland a part of North America without any doubt. It is disputed which continent Greenland should be considered part of however. Greenland is on the North American Plate. However, Malta is on the African plate yet is clearly considered to be in Southern Europe by WP without any doubt as well. If you're as persistent about Greenland being North American as you are, you should consider Malta a part of Africa. However, almost everyone (myself included) consider Malta a part of Europe, and for the same reasons Malta is I consider Greenland a part of Europe too. There's also the Greenland plate so that Greenland (and the Arctic) may be considered a separate continent. But we don't draw continent boundaries along plate ones, otherwise there'd be an Arabian continent and other continents too, and Europe and Asia would be one continent. This page and any page dealing with Greenland shouldn't consider it so persistently to be in North America. On the NA plate yes, but not necessarily part of the continent. The page should make clear that it may be considered part of either continent or its own continent. 2001:4BC9:82B:EB01:C8C8:178D:7E79:3988 (talk) 16:15, 5 February 2025 (UTC)

Geographical entities provide the names of continental plates, not vice versa? Martinevans123 (talk) 14:51, 17 February 2025 (UTC)

The issue here is that there are several interpretations as to what constitutes a "continent". The article should expound on differing expert views on Greenland's status. An argument could also be made that Greenland is not part of any continent, a la Pacific islands. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:4040:B07B:9700:ADA1:4780:D6A7:E207 (talk) 02:13, 31 March 2025 (UTC)

Incorrect information on the page for Greenland

Hi team, The page for Greenland says that Greenland is the largest island, which is false.

Area of Greenland: 2,166,086 km2 Area of Australia: 7,688,287 km2

There is much social debate over Australia's classification as an island which is how I imagine this error arose, however Australia is definitely classified as an island and is considered to be the world's largest island. Please see below link to the Australian government's own page stating this explicitly:

https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/australias-size-compared

I think this should be satisfactory proof for my edit request, however do let me know if more proof is required. I expect an edit to the Greenland page should also be paired with an edit to the page for Australia, though I won't make a 2nd request as it seems unessessary.

Thanks!!

• What I think should be changed (format using Template:Tl):
• Why it should be changed:
• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

49.183.163.45 (talk) 22:51, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done We would need more than that to say in Wiki voice that Australia is an island for purposes of determining the largest island. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of reliable sources that address this issue say that Greenland is the biggest island. Donald Albury 22:57, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

Wikipedia should be consistent with itself. Inasmuch as the List of islands by area article recognizes that there are differing views on Australia being either an island or a non-island continental mass, there's no reason this article reach a definitive conclusion on the same question. Perhaps more importantly, logic demands that it is the burden of an individual claiming a definitive answer to provide conclusive substantiation. This article should therefore recognize that the open question exists. This could be easily enough done with a minor edit to say that Greenland is the largest non-continental island in the world. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:4040:B07B:9700:ADA1:4780:D6A7:E207 (talk) 02:21, 31 March 2025 (UTC)

The Australian government page cited earlier is not conclusive. It says, more fully: "although it is the smallest continental land mass, it is the world's largest island". The former and not the latter matches everyday Australian usage, in which the place is referred to as a continent and not as an island. Errantios (talk) 23:55, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

Moxy🍁 20:19, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the Template:Tlx template. meamemg (talk) 19:46, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

Gini Update

Gini of Greenland is 56.0, I'm new can someone update.

Glamoirs (talk) 08:39, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

Sport section

Avannaata Qimussersua, not yet mentioned. Good luck (while i fix articles that can take ip-edits.) 2001:2020:8353:9E76:0:0:212F:AAC1 (talk) 15:49, 3 April 2025 (UTC)