Greenland is the world’s largest island, spanning approximately 2.17 million square kilometers. Despite its massive size, it remains one of the least densely populated territories on Earth. The vast majority of Greenland’s surface is inhospitable to permanent human habitation. The island’s unique geography dictates that the area where people can live is a tiny fraction of its total size, constrained by immense ice and severe environmental factors.
The Vast Domain of the Ice Sheet
The overwhelming reason for Greenland’s limited habitability is the immense presence of the Greenland Ice Sheet, known locally as Sermersuaq. This single ice mass blankets about 80% of the entire land area, covering roughly 1.7 million square kilometers. This permanent ice cover makes building, farming, or establishing stable infrastructure impossible across the island’s interior.
The ice sheet averages 1.67 kilometers in thickness, reaching over 3 kilometers at its deepest point. The weight of this immense ice mass has caused the bedrock beneath the center of the island to be pressed significantly below sea level. This massive dome of ice also creates its own high-altitude climate, with the ice surface peaking at elevations of up to 3,200 meters.
Quantifying Greenland’s Ice-Free Area
The ice-free land forms a discontinuous ring around the periphery of the island, accounting for the remaining 20% of the territory. This coastal perimeter measures approximately 410,500 square kilometers, an area comparable in size to Norway. Although this sounds substantial, this ice-free area is not synonymous with truly habitable land.
This 20% figure represents all exposed rock, tundra, and mountainous terrain. Much of this land is too rugged or climatically challenging for large-scale development. Therefore, while the ice-free region offers potential space, the actual usable land is much smaller.
The Narrow Strip of Human Settlement
The reality of habitation is far more restricted than the 20% ice-free boundary suggests, as the entire population of approximately 56,600 people is concentrated in a few dozen settlements. Nearly all residents live in the southern and western coastal regions, where the climate is slightly milder due to the influence of the North Atlantic Ocean. Habitable land requires specific conditions: access to a safe harbor, a relatively flat area for construction, and proximity to infrastructure or resources.
The population is primarily organized into 16 towns and 54 smaller settlements. The capital, Nuuk, is the largest urban center, home to about 19,600 people. This concentration means that actual human settlement occupies a minute fraction of the ice-free coastal strip, focused mainly around the deep fjords of the southwest coast.
Environmental Constraints on Coastal Settlement
Even the ice-free coastal areas present formidable obstacles that prevent widespread settlement. A significant portion of this exposed land is underlain by permafrost, ground that remains permanently frozen for at least two consecutive years. Constructing infrastructure on permafrost is technically difficult and expensive, as the ground can become unstable if the frozen layer thaws.
The coastal landscape is extremely rugged, characterized by steep, mountainous terrain and deep fjords carved out by glaciers. This topography severely limits the flat ground available for establishing communities or connecting existing ones. The harsh climates of the northern and eastern coasts also discourage habitation, as these areas are far more isolated and subject to intense Arctic conditions.