Administrative divisions of Greenland

Greenland is divided into five municipalities – Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, and Sermersooq – as well as the large Northeast Greenland National Park which is unincorporated. The Pituffik Space Base is administered by the United States Space Force and operates as an unincorporated enclave surrounded by territory of Avannaata.

Municipalities

Administrative divisions of Greenland (2018)

Name	Kalaallisut	Municipality center	Coat of Arms	ISO	Population	Area (km2)	Density
Avannaata	Avannaata Kommunia	Ilulissat		GL-AV	10,726	522,700	0.02
Kujalleq	Kommune Kujalleq	Qaqortoq		GL-KU	6,439	32,000	0.2
Qeqertalik	Kommune Qeqertalik	Aasiaat		GL-QT	6,340	62,400	0.11
Qeqqata	Qeqqata Kommunia	Sisimiut		GL-QE	9,378	115,500	0.08
Sermersooq	Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq	Nuuk		GL-SM	23,123	531,900	0.04

History

Greenland was originally divided between the two colonies of North Greenland with its capital at Qeqertarsuaq (formerly Godhavn) and South Greenland with its capital at Nuuk (formerly Godthaab). These were directed by inspectors until 1924, when the officials were promoted to governors. The colonies were united in 1940 and the administration centralized at Godthaab.

In 1953 a new Danish constitution promoted Greenland to full membership in the Danish state with all of its inhabitants given Danish citizenship.

Divisions and national park

For statistical and some regulatory purposes the country was divided into three divisions (landsdele) in 1951: West Greenland, North Greenland and East Greenland. The large Northeast Greenland National Park was established in 1974 encompassing the northern part of East Greenland and amended with the eastern part of North Greenland in 1988.

With the advent of Home Rule in 1979, these names were Greenlandicized to Kitaa, Tunu, and Avannaa. By 2008, Kitaa had 15 municipalities, Tunu 2, and Avannaa 1.

Municipalities

In 1908 Greenland was divided into 63 municipalities with elected municipal councils. After the modernization phase started in the 1950s these were consolidated and by 1979 there were 18 municipalities.

The structural reform in 2008-09 created 4 enlarged municipalities. Of these the largest, Qaasuitsup Kommunia, was partitioned on 1 January 2018 to form the new municipalities of Avannaata and Qeqertalik.

Kitaa (West Greenland)

The three former counties of Greenland, including the boundaries of the former municipalities and the Northeast Greenland National Park area.

Southern part:

• Nanortalik Municipality
• Qaqortoq Municipality
• Narsaq Municipality
• Ivittuut Municipality
• Paamiut Municipality

Central part:

• Nuuk Municipality
• Maniitsoq Municipality
• Sisimiut Municipality
• Kangaatsiaq Municipality
• Aasiaat Municipality
• Qasigiannguit Municipality
• Ilulissat Municipality
• Qeqertarsuaq Municipality

Northern part:

• Uummannaq Municipality
• Upernavik Municipality

Tunu (East Greenland)

• Ammassalik Municipality
• Ittoqqortoormiit Municipality
• Northeast Greenland National Park (southern part) (unincorporated)

Avannaa (North Greenland)

• Qaanaaq Municipality
• Thule Air Base (Pituffik) (unincorporated)

See also

• KANUKOKA, the municipalities' leadership council
• Subdivisions of the Nordic countries
• ISO 3166-2:GL
• ISO 3166-2:DK