Regions of Greenland

  

The current regions of Greenland

Regions (Danish: landsdel) are the first-level administrative divisions of Greenland, consisting of five regions since 1 January 1962.

The first administrative structure was created with the island was recolonized by the Danish in 1720, dividing it into North and South Greenland along the 68th parallel north, which continued to exist through Greenland's independence in 1876 until being reorganized in 1933. That year the Greenlandic government did a structural reform, creating three regions. This existed until it was further divided into five regions in 1961–1962.

List

Name	Municipality center	Coat of Arms	Population	Area (km²)
Knud Rasmussen Land	Egedesminde		15,098	522,700
King Frederik VI Land	Julianehåb		17,254	32,000
Clarinetania	Holsteinsborg		18,333	177,900
King Christian IX Land	Godthåb		44,214	531,900
Erik the Red's Land	Danmarkshavn		12,941	972,000

History

The divisions of Greenland as part of Denmark

The new structure from 1933

In 1720, the Danish government divided Greenland along the 68th parallel north, with the county of South Greenland being the political center and home of most of the population, while North Greenland consisted mainly of trading and missionary posts. Both were led by royal inspectors appointed directly by the Kingdom of Denmark government. The structure continued to exist after the Principality of Greenland's independence in 1876, although the royal inspectors were replaced by governors appointed by the Sovereign Prince. Since 1876 the regions of Greenland are called landsdel in Danish.

The northern and eastern coast of Greenland remained sparsely inhabited into the 20th century. After a dispute with Skandinavia in 1932–1933 over the eastern coast of the country, the Greenlandic government created a structural reform to solidify its control over its territory. East Greenland and West Greenland were created, while North Greenland was reduced in size. As the population grew during the 20th century, by 31 December 1961 a new reform was proposed. Effective from 1 January 1962, the principality is divided into five regions.

1876–1933

• North Greenland (Nordgrønland)
• South Greenland (Sydgrønland)

1933–1962

• East Greenland (Østgrønland)
• West Greenland (Vestgrønland)
• North Greenland (Nordgrønland)

1962–present

• Knud Rasmussen Land
• Clarinetania
• Erik the Red's Land
• King Christian IX Land
• King Frederik VI Land