Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Greenland
Greenland: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 11.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Greenland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Greenland is 11.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Greenland peaked at 41.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2025.
Greenland ranks 181st of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Greenland, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 41.7% | — |
| 1961 | 40.2% | -3.7% |
| 1962 | 38.0% | -5.4% |
| 1963 | 35.5% | -6.8% |
| 1964 | 32.9% | -7.1% |
| 1965 | 31.0% | -5.9% |
| 1966 | 29.8% | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 28.8% | -3.1% |
| 1968 | 28.0% | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 27.4% | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 26.9% | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 26.5% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 26.3% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 26.1% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 25.9% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 25.7% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 25.4% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 25.1% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 24.8% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 24.2% | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 23.6% | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 23.2% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 22.9% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 22.5% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 22.0% | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 21.5% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 20.9% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 20.6% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 20.5% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 20.3% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 20.0% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 19.8% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 19.7% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 19.5% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 19.2% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 18.9% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 18.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 18.9% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 18.2% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 17.9% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 17.7% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 17.4% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 17.3% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 17.2% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 15.5% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 15.1% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 14.6% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 13.8% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 11.9% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 11.7% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 11.4% | -2.2% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 11.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 61% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 11.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 38% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 33.3% | 27.4% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.7% | 24.2% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.8% | 20.3% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.3% | 18.8% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 16.1% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 13.0% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 11.4% | 12.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
More agriculture & rural data for Greenland
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.6% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2018)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 9,686 current US$ per person (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1656 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.03 % change on previous year (2023)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.6% (2023)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2018)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0 hectares per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Greenland?
- Rural population in Greenland was 11.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2025.
- How does Greenland rank for rural population?
- Greenland ranks 181st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Greenland data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.