The American Presidentp repeated statements and threats directed at Greenland have created insecurity in the population and caused the quality of life to drop significantly. At the same time, more are experiencing signs of psychological unhappiness.
This is confirmed by a survey among 308 citizens who in January and February answered an online questionnaire sent out on social media by researchers from the Center for Public Health in Greenland, which belongs to the State’s Institute for Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
The American Presidentp repeated statements and threats directed at Greenland have created insecurity in the population and caused the quality of life to drop significantly. At the same time, more are experiencing signs of psychological unhappiness.
This is confirmed by a survey among 308 citizens who in January and February answered an online questionnaire sent out on social media by researchers from the Center for Public Health in Greenland, which belongs to the State’s Institute for Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
The situation affects people
– The survey confirms what we probably had the feeling: That the threats from the USA really affect the population, says Professor Peter Bjerregaard to Sermitsiaq and elaborates:
– It is the whole situation that affects people. The way they shoot with scattershot and the disrespect that is spoken from the American side. Now there has been a bit of calm in Greenland, while there has been war in Iran, but no one believes that the issue of Greenland is buried.
According to Peter Bjerregaard, it is important that the population’s unhappiness is taken seriously, and that Naalakkersuisut and the authorities are aware that any statement from the president that undermines Greenland’s sovereignty is perceived by the population and has a negative impact on well-being.
Peter Bjerregaard refers to the fact that the president recently wrote on his social media Truth Social that Greenland was a “big, poorly governed, piece of ice.”
Decrease in well-being and quality of life
In the survey, one in three states that they have symptoms of psychological unhappiness. By comparison, this applied to seven percent in a population survey from 2025.
When it comes to the perceived quality of life, it has also fallen. While 84 percent in 2025 indicated that their quality of life was high, this year it is 64 percent.
Research coordinator Ingelise Olesen from the Center for Public Health in Greenland and Ilisimatusarfik, states in a press release that the study confirms the impression many have had of the well-being in the country.
– It is well known in Greenland that the US’s statements about taking over control of the country create uncertainty and insecurity. It is a tense situation, which occupies a lot of space in everyday life and in the media. Many have already expressed their concerns, so the results confirm the picture we have seen and the impression we have had, she says.
Phases of shock, anxiety and anger
Member of the Folketing for Inuit Ataqatigiit, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, has also seen the survey and tells Sermitsiaq that it confirms the mood that was in Greenland, perhaps especially in Nuuk at the beginning of the year:
– The American aggression towards the Greenlandic people left very clear traces. I think everyone went through different phases of shock, anxiety and also anger. It is completely unreasonable pressure to put on a country and basically shows how much words can hurt.
We must repeat our messages
According to Naaja H. Nathanielsen, it is also tiring to constantly have to repeat to an ally that Greenland is a well-functioning democratic country with a legal society.
– It is tiring to have to repeat to an ally that Greenland is a well-functioning democracy and therefore a society governed by the rule of law – inhabited by a people with their own culture and a sense of belonging to the country. But this is the reality we live in and must act in. So we must repeat our message to the outside world once more. But by now it must be clear to everyone that the American foreign policy line is based on an expansionist nationalism that I had hoped belonged to the past. It is not just Greenland that is affected by this. It has also affected Panama, Venezuela, Canada, Cuba and Ukraine, she says.
Most responses from Nuuk
The questionnaire could be completed by all persons in Greenland aged 15 and over. A total of 308 people participated. Most responses came from Nuuk. However, all municipalities and several smaller settlements are represented.
Although the survey is not representative, as it is random who has seen the link and the answer to the survey, it gives a picture of how a part of the population thinks and feels, say the researchers.
