The World’s Largest Island — an Autonomous Territory of Denmark
Greenland is the world’s largest island (2,166,086 km², three times the size of Texas) and a self-governing autonomous territory of Denmark. About 80% of the island is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet — the world’s second-largest after Antarctica, holding enough ice to raise global sea levels by approximately 7.2 metres if it melted entirely.
Only 56,000 people live on Greenland, almost all in small coastal settlements (Nuuk, the capital, has about 19,000 residents). The population is approximately 88% Inuit; the Greenlandic language (Kalaallisut) is an official language, and the indigenous culture remains central to national identity.
Greenland has been in the news in recent years over increasing geopolitical importance (Arctic shipping routes, mineral resources, Trump’s 2019 offer to buy the island). An independence referendum remains a possibility, though heavy dependence on Danish subsidies complicates the path.
A Brief History
Greenland was inhabited by Paleo-Eskimo peoples from around 2500 BC. Viking Norse (Erik the Red) colonised southern Greenland from 985 AD until around 1450 when the Norse settlements mysteriously died out. Danish-Norwegian recolonisation came in 1721. Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and self-government in 2009.
Geography and Climate
Greenland covers 2,166,086 km² — the world’s largest island. The Greenland Ice Sheet covers about 80%. Climate is polar and subarctic.
Culture, Language and Religion
Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) and Danish are official. Religion: majority Evangelical Lutheran.
The Economy
Greenland’s economy is small (~$3 billion GDP) and heavily subsidised by Denmark. Fishing (shrimp, halibut, cod) is the main sector; tourism and mining are growing.
UNESCO Sites
Greenland has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Ilulissat Icefjord, the Kujataa Greenland farming landscape (Norse-Inuit agricultural heritage), and Aasivissuit – Nipisat (Inuit hunting ground).
Travel Guide
Entry: Schengen/Danish visa-free rules apply — 90 days for most Western nationalities.
Best seasons: June-September (midnight sun, hiking); February-April (northern lights).
Budget: Extremely expensive — daily mid-range €250-€400 (logistics drive prices).
Surprising Facts
- Greenland is 50 times larger than Denmark but only has 1% of its population.
- Nuuk is the world’s least-populated capital (~19,000 residents).
- Greenland has no roads connecting settlements — travel is by plane, helicopter, boat, or dog sled.
- The Greenland Ice Sheet is losing approximately 270 billion tonnes of ice per year.
- Ilulissat Icefjord produces about 10% of all Greenland’s icebergs.
- The Titanic iceberg likely came from Greenland’s glaciers.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.