Greenland Has 56,740 People. Why Do Almost All of Them Live on the Coast?

Greenland is the world's largest island — but only 56,740 people lived there at the start of 2026, and almost every permanent community sits along the coast. Why? In this episode of Why On Earth?, we look at the geography behind Greenland's population map: the ice sheet, rugged coast, fjords, lack of roads between towns, air and sea transport, Nuuk's rapid concentration, fishing, imports, South Greenland agriculture and the new airport network reshaping travel in 2026. This is not a story about an “empty” culture. Greenland's coast has supported human communities for thousands of years. It is a story about how geography decides where modern settlements can grow. Main sources: Statistics Greenland Visit Greenland Greenland Airports Air Greenland #Greenland #Geography #Arctic #WhyOnEarth