Population and Identity
Greenland, known in Greenlandic as Kalaallit Nunaat, has a population of approximately 56,000 people. Around 80–90% identify as Inuit or mixed Inuit-Danish heritage. The majority of Greenland’s Inuit call themselves Kalaallit, meaning “Greenlanders.”
About 20% of the population was born outside Greenland, primarily in Denmark.
Early Inuit Settlement
The ancestors of modern Greenlandic Inuit descend from the Thule culture, which migrated eastward from Arctic Canada around the 13th century. The Thule replaced the earlier Dorset culture and are considered the direct predecessors of today’s Inuit in Greenland.
They adapted to harsh Arctic conditions during the period later known as the Little Ice Age, developing highly specialized hunting techniques focused on marine mammals such as seals and whales, as well as caribou.
Early European Contact
European contact with the eastern Arctic increased from the 16th century onward. Basque whalers operated in the North Atlantic and along the coast of Labrador beginning in the 1500s. Inuit groups encountered European fishers and whalers, sometimes trading and sometimes repurposing materials such as iron tools left behind.
English explorers such as Martin Frobisher and John Davis sailed to Arctic waters in the late 16th century in search of the Northwest Passage. These voyages marked early interactions between Inuit communities and European exploration efforts.
Contact brought new materials and technologies — including metal tools — but also devastating diseases such as smallpox, measles, and tuberculosis, which caused significant population losses in Arctic communities.
Colonial Period and Missionary Influence
Denmark-Norway formally re-established colonial presence in Greenland in the early 18th century. Lutheran missionaries, beginning with Hans Egede in 1721, played a central role in colonization and the spread of Christianity.
Missionaries introduced new religious beliefs, literacy, European goods, and trade systems. Inuit communities increasingly participated in fur trading and adopted imported tools and materials.
While European medicine and trade goods brought some benefits, colonial policies also disrupted traditional lifestyles and governance systems.
Political Development and Self-Government
In 1953, Greenland’s status as a Danish colony formally ended, and it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
In 1979, Greenland was granted Home Rule, giving it control over many domestic affairs.
In 2009, following a referendum in which approximately 75% voted in favor, Greenland transitioned to Self-Government. Today, Greenland retains extensive autonomy, including control over natural resources, while Denmark remains responsible for foreign affairs and defense.
Modern Greenlandic Society
Greenland’s settlements are widely dispersed along the coast, with no road connections between towns. Transportation primarily relies on boats and aircraft. Air transport expanded significantly during and after World War II, when the United States established military bases in Greenland.
Mid-20th-century modernization policies, influenced by Danish and international models, encouraged urbanization and centralization. Some Inuit families were relocated from smaller settlements to larger towns, which significantly altered traditional patterns of movement and subsistence.
Economy and Contemporary Life
Today, Greenland’s economy is heavily dependent on fishing, particularly shrimp and halibut, which make up the majority of exports. There is also increasing discussion around mining, rare earth minerals, tourism, and climate-related economic opportunities.
Kalaallit society blends traditional practices with modern governance, education, and global connections. Greenlandic language and culture remain central to national identity, and efforts to strengthen language use and cultural preservation continue.
A Changing Arctic Homeland
Greenland’s Inuit communities are navigating rapid environmental, economic, and political change. Climate change is affecting sea ice, hunting conditions, and infrastructure, while also opening new global interest in Arctic shipping and resources.
Kalaallit Nunaat today represents both continuity and transformation — a society rooted in Arctic traditions while shaping its own political and cultural future.
Source:The Arctic by Richard Sale, Arctic Human Development Report
