This is a list of cities and towns in Greenland as of 2021. The term 'city' is used loosely for any populated area in Greenland, given that the most populated place is Nuuk, the capital, with 19,900 inhabitants.[1] In Greenland, two kinds of settled areas are distinguished: illoqarfik (Greenlandic for 'town'; by in Danish) and nunaqarfik (Greenlandic for 'settlement'; bygd in Danish). The difference between the two decreased since the new administrative units were introduced in 2009, with the influence of previous municipality centers decreasing.
As of October 2021, Greenland has 56,523 people living along the coast and many islands.
There are 13 towns in Greenland with a population exceeding 1,000:[2][3][4]
Rank | Population (Jan. 2024) | Greenlandic name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19,872 | Nuuk | Godthåb Godthaab Ny-Herrnhut |
Sermersooq |
2 | 5,412 | Sisimiut | Holsteinsborg | Qeqqata |
3 | 4,963 | Ilulissat | Jakobshavn | Avannaata |
4 | 3,047 | Qaqortoq | Julianehåb Julianehaab |
Kujalleq |
5 | 2,951 | Aasiaat | Egedesminde | Qeqertalik |
6 | 2,547 | Maniitsoq | Nye-Sukkertoppen Sukkertoppen |
Qeqqata |
7 | 1,829 | Tasiilaq | Ammassalik Angmagssalik |
Sermersooq |
8 | 1,383 | Uummannaq | Uummannaq | Avannaata |
9 | 1,278 | Narsaq | Nordprøven | Kujalleq |
10 | 1,193 | Paamiut | Frederikshåb Frederikshaab |
Sermersooq |
11 | 1,095 | Nanortalik | Nanortalik | Kujalleq |
12 | 1,064 | Upernavik | Upernavik | Avannaata |
13 | 1,015 | Qasigiannguit | Christianshåb Christianshaab |
Qeqertalik |
There are 14 towns and settlements in Greenland with a population between 200 and 1,000:[2][3]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 833 | Qeqertarsuaq | Godhavn Lievely |
Qeqertalik |
15 | 591 | Qaanaaq | Thule | Avannaata |
16 | 505 | Kangaatsiaq | — | Qeqertalik |
17 | 460 | Kangerlussuaq | Bluie West-8 Søndre Strømfjord Sondrestrom |
Qeqqata |
18 | 436 | Kullorsuaq | — | Avannaata |
19 | 343 | Ittoqqortoormiit | Scoresbysund | Sermersooq |
20 | 293 | Kangaamiut | Gammel Sukkertoppen Sukkertoppen |
Qeqqata |
21 | 258 | Tasiusaq | — | Avannaata |
22 | 249 | Saattut | — | Avannaata |
23 | 247 | Kuummiit | — | Sermersooq |
24 | 244 | Ikerasak | — | Avannaata |
25 | 242 | Niaqornaarsuk | — | Qeqertalik |
26 | 215 | Kulusuk | Kap Dan | Sermersooq |
27 | 208 | Nuussuaq | Kraulshavn | Avannaata |
There are 14 settlements in Greenland with a population between 100 and 200:[3]
Rank | Population | Greenlandic Name | Danish name | Municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
28 | 199 | Upernavik Kujalleq | Søndre Upernavik | Avannaata |
29 | 197 | Attu | — | Qeqertalik |
30 | 196 | Atammik | — | Qeqqata |
31 | 193 | Sermiligaaq | — | Sermersooq |
32 | 152 | Innaarsuit | — | Avannaata |
33 | 162 | Qaarsut | — | Avannaata |
34 | 176 | Qeqertarsuatsiaat | Fiskenæsset | Sermersooq |
35 | 167 | Alluitsup Paa | Sydprøven | Kujalleq |
36 | 136 | Ukkusissat | — | Avannaata |
37 | 153 | Aappilattoq | — | Avannaata |
38 | 155 | Saqqaq | Solsiden | Avannaata |
39 | 139 | Kangersuatsiaq | Prøven | Avannaata |
40 | 153 | Narsarsuaq | Bluie West-1 | Kujalleq |
41 | 117 | Qeqertaq | Øen | Avannaata |
There are 30 settlements in Greenland with a population below 100:[3]