Urban pattern
The municipality's urban pattern includes 4 towns and 8 settlements, with a total of approximately 6,500 inhabitants. An urban pattern has been established with Aasiaat as the capital and administrative center, and Kangaatsiaq, Qasigiannguit and Qeqertarsuaq as urban centers for the settlements. Towns and settlements are most concentrated around Disko Bay.
Aasiaat, located on the southwestern part of Disko Bay, is the municipality's largest town with a population of just over 3,100. The main industry is fishing and the fishing industry, but Aasiaat has an important role as an educational town and a growing tourism industry. Aasiaat includes the settlements of Akunnaaq, Ikamiut and Kitsissuarsuit.
Qasigiannguit is a medium-sized town with about 1,100 inhabitants. It is located in the southeastern part of Disko Bay and the town has hunting and fishing as its main industry, but also plays a role in tourism. There are no settlements attached to Qasigiannguit.
The municipality's smallest towns are Qeqertarsuaq and Kangaatsiaq. Qeqertarsuaq is located on Disko Island and has approx. 850 inhabitants, while Kangaatsiaq, facing Davis Strait, is the southernmost town with approx. 550 inhabitants. The towns are typical fishing and hunting communities, but also benefit from tourism and activities within kayaking and dog sledding, mountain hiking, sailing, cruises, village visits, etc.
To Qeqertarsuaq belongs the settlement of Kangerluk, while Kangaatsiaq has 4 settlements (Attu, Iginniarfik, Ikerasaarsuk and Niaqornaarsuk).
The positive development of tourism around Ilulissat Icefjord also positively affects tourism in Municipality Qeqertalik, which with the Icefjord as a draw and the new airport in Ilulissat, will be able to strengthen tourism throughout Northwest Greenland.
Population development
Population of Municipality Qeqertalik
The figures represent the development since the first digital Municipal Plan from 2014.
National figures
On 01.01.2025, almost 10.5% of Greenland's population lived in Municipality Qeqertalik.
On 01.01.2025, the population of Municipality Qeqertalik was 5,969 people.
The distribution of the population in the settlements was:
Place of residence: Aasiaat with 2,992 inhabitants, corresponding to 50.1% of the municipality's total population.
Place of residence: Qasigiannguit with 961 inhabitants, corresponding to 16.1% of the municipality's total population.
Place of residence: Qeqertarsuaq with 799 inhabitants, corresponding to 13.4% of the municipality's total population.
Place of residence: Kangaatsiaq with 481 inhabitants, corresponding to 8.1% of the municipality's total population.
Settlements: Akunnaaq, Ikamiut, Kitsissuarsuit (Aasiaat) with 185 inhabitants, corresponding to 3.1% of the municipality's total population.
The settlements: Attu, Iginniarfik, Ikerasaarsuk, Niaqornaarsuk (Kangaatsiaq) with 554 inhabitants corresponding to 9.1% of the municipality's total population.
Place of residence: Kangerluk (Qeqertarsuaq) with 7 inhabitants, corresponding to 0.1% of the municipality's total population.
The population living in the four settlements Aasiaat, Kangaatsiaq, Qasigiannguit and Qeqertarsuaq make up 88%, while the last 12% live in the 8 settlements Akunnaaq, Ikamiut, Kitsissuarsuit, Attu, Iginniarfik, Ikerasaarsuk, Niaqornaarsuk and Kangerluk.
Development
In 2014, the “urban population” accounted for 86% and the “rural population” for 14%.
Since 2014, the population has decreased by 712 people, corresponding to approximately 10%, while the total population in Greenland has increased by 0.3% in the same period.
The decrease has occurred in both larger settlements (-483 people) and smaller settlements (-229 people). From 2024 to 2025, the decline in population in the 4 larger settlements has been -54 people and in the 8 smaller settlements -35 people.