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United States vs Greenland

18 metrics with data for both countries. The solid line is United States; the dashed grey line is Greenland.

Country A · United States
Country B · Greenland

Climate

CO2 emissions

United States: 4,904 Mt CO2/year · 2024Greenland: 0.62 Mt CO2/year · 2024
02k4k6k18001850190019502000Greenlandhigh 2005

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

United States: 14.2 t CO2/person/year · 2024Greenland: 11.1 t CO2/person/year · 2024
0102018001850190019502000Greenlandhigh 1973

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

United States: 0.83 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025Greenland: 1.71 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
-20219401960198020002020Greenlandhigh 2016low 1942

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

United States: 76,800 kWh/person/year · 2024Greenland: 46,981 kWh/person/year · 2023
050k100k197019801990200020102020Greenlandhigh 1979low 2020

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

United States: 8.60 % of electricity · 2025Greenland: 0.00 % of electricity · 2024
051990200020102020Greenland

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

United States: 10.3 % of electricity · 2025Greenland: 0.00 % of electricity · 2024
05101990200020102020Greenlandhigh 2024

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

United States: 16.3 % of electricity · 2025Greenland: 0.00 % of electricity · 2024
02040601990200020102020Greenlandhigh 1988low 2024

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

United States: 0.70 % of electricity · 2025Greenland: 16.7 % of electricity · 2024
020401990200020102020Greenlandhigh 1989low 2024

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

United States: 40.0 % of electricity · 2025Greenland: 0.00 % of electricity · 2024
020401990200020102020Greenlandhigh 2024low 1988

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Forest area

United States: 33.8 % of land · 2025Greenland: 0.00 % of land · 2025
01020301990200020102020Greenlandhigh 2015

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Red List Index

United States: 0.83 index (1 = species safe) · 2024Greenland: 0.90 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
00.51200020102020Greenlandlow 2020

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

United States: 12.9 % of land area · 2024Greenland: 41.9 % of land area · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024Greenland

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

United States: 19.0 % of territorial waters · 2024Greenland: 4.20 % of territorial waters · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024Greenland

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

United States: 80.2 % living in cities · 2025Greenland: 88.6 % living in cities · 2025
0501960198020002020Greenlandhigh 2010

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Annual precipitation

United States: 810.4 mm/year · 2025Greenland: 482.2 mm/year · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Greenlandhigh 2019low 1966

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

United States: -0.10 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025Greenland: 16.9 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Greenlandhigh 2019low 1966

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

United States: 97.0 % of population · 2024Greenland: 0.00 % of population · 2022
05010020002005201020152020Greenland

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

United States: 7.50 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024Greenland: 1.10 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
051020002005201020152020Greenlandhigh 2000low 2019

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data