Characteristic	Description
Capital	Nuuk, located on the southwest coast, is also the largest city.
Official Language	Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), an Inuit language, is the sole official language. Danish is also commonly spoken.
Population	As of 2025, the estimated population is about 57,000, making it the most sparsely populated territory in the world. The majority are of Inuit descent.
Geography	Located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, Greenland is mostly covered by a massive ice sheet. The ice-free areas are along the coastline, which features fjords and rocky, mountainous terrain.
Economy	Fishing, especially shrimp and halibut, is the dominant industry. The economy is heavily dependent on subsidies from Denmark. Greenland also has significant mineral and rare-earth element deposits, and tourism is a growing sector.

• Arctic climate: Greenland has an Arctic to subarctic climate, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
• Melting ice sheet: The ice sheet is the second largest in the world after Antarctica's. Due to climate change, it is melting at an accelerated rate, which contributes to rising global sea levels.
• Wildlife: The rugged environment is home to polar bears, musk-oxen, seals, and whales. 

• Indigenous roots: The ancestors of today's Inuit migrated from North America around 4,500 years ago.
• Norse settlement: Norse settlers, led by Erik the Red, established settlements in the 10th century but disappeared by the 15th century for reasons that are not fully understood.
• Home rule: Greenland became an integral part of Denmark in 1953 and was granted home rule in 1979. The Self-Government Act of 2009 further expanded its autonomy.
• Political system: Greenland is a parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy, with Denmark managing foreign relations and defense. The local legislature is called the Inatsisartut. 

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