Administrative divisions of Greenland

Greenland is divided into five municipalities – Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, and Sermersooq[1][2] – as well as the large Northeast Greenland National Park which is unincorporated. The Thule Air Base is administered by the United States Air Force and operates as an unincorporated enclave surrounded by territory of Avannaata.

Greenland
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Greenland
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Naalakkersuisut
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Parliament of Greenland
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Related topics

Municipalities
Administrative divisions of Greenland (2018)
NameKalaallisutMunicipality center Coat of Arms ISO[3] Population Area (km2)
Avannaata Avannaata Kommunia Ilulissat GL-AV 10,726[4] 522,700
Kujalleq Kommune Kujalleq Qaqortoq GL-KU 6,439 32,000
Qeqertalik Kommune Qeqertalik Aasiaat GL-QT 6,340[5] 62,400
Qeqqata Qeqqata Kommunia Sisimiut GL-QE 9,378 115,500
Sermersooq Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Nuuk GL-SM 23,123 531,900

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.[2]

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:

Central part:

Northern part:

Tunu (East Greenland)

Avannaa (North Greenland)

See also

References
  1. Statistics Greenland, Greenland in Figures, 2014
  2. "Qaasuitsup Kommunia".
  3. ISO 3166-2:GL (ISO 3166-2 codes for the subdivision of Greenland)
  4. "Kommuni pillugu". Avannaata Kommunia.
  5. "Kommuni pillugu". Kommune Qeqertalik.
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