Greenland

Northern America / Arctic

North America

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with its own tax system. Immigration and citizenship are linked to Danish law, while housing, transport, and consumer costs are strongly affected by its remote Arctic geography.

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Overall score

Insufficient data · 49% data coverage

Language

Greenlandic, Danish

Currency

DKK

Citizenship

Danish citizenship rules, generally 9 years

Personal tax

Combined rates vary by municipality, up to about 44%

Cost of living

DKK 16,000 / mo (single; remote areas vary)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

65Residence12%

72Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

–Salary and work12%

65Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

42Taxes7%

70Business8%

50Investment5%

Daily life

25%

68Quality of life18%

–Education7%

–

Rights and institutions

13%

–Freedom6%

–Rule of law7%

Pros

Country-wide comparison coverage
Local residence and work pathways available

Cons

Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle

Best for

Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

–

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

–

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

100

Infrastructure

–

Education

–

HDI

–

Rights and institutions

Freedom

–

Rule of law

–

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Good

Migrant stock10.4% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality1.50 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Moderate

Years required	Danish citizenship rules, generally 9 years
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: Danish citizenship rules, generally 9 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

189 / 198

Mobility

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free142
On arrival38
eTA9
Visa required9

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Data not available

–

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$40,270 PPP (2007)

Consumption / person$22,719 PPP (2021)

Price level87 (US = 100) (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Limited

Price level87 (US = 100) (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	DKK 16,000 / mo (single; remote areas vary)
Cities	Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$3.3B (2023)

GDP / person$58,499 (2023)

GNI / person$40,270 PPP (2007)

GDP growth0.9% / yr (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture16.6% of GDP (2023)

Industry18.4% of GDP (2023)

Services61.0% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Fishing & seafoodMiningTourismPublic sector

Top exports

Fish & shrimpMinerals

Type	High-income, fisheries-led (with Danish transfers)
Key sectors	Fisheries, Mining potential, Tourism
Summary	An Arctic economy overwhelmingly dependent on fisheries and Danish block grants, with untapped mineral wealth.
Currency	Danish krone

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Limited

Personal	Combined rates vary by municipality, up to about 44%
Corporate	Generally 25%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Low

Personal	Combined rates vary by municipality, up to about 44%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	Generally 25%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Good

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality1.50 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness1.35 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Data not available

–

Salary & work

Data not available

–

Business

Good

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Limited

Cost of living

Limited

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Good

Personal safety

Homicide rate5.4 per 100,000 (2016)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.48 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability1.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy70.3 years (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians1.14 per 1,000 (1980)

Hospital beds14.35 per 1,000 (1970)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

100

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure1.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Data not available

–

Digital infrastructure

Internet use69.5% (2017)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Data not available

–

Tuition	Public higher education is generally tuition-free
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Greenlandic, Danish
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Data not available

–

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Freedom score

Data not available

–

Rule of law

Rule of law score

Data not available

–

Resources

Official references

UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.org PwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.com Greenland public services: Taxsullissivik.gl Danish Ministry: Citizenshipuim.dk World Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.org

Quick links

Greenland visa & immigrationgoogle.com Greenland tax residency rulesgoogle.com Greenland citizenship requirementsgoogle.com Cost of living in Greenlandgoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.