Approx. 18,000 inhabitants live in the municipality, spread between 8 towns and 32 settlements. The municipality’s biggest town is Ilulissat, with approx. 4,500 inhabitants. The town is located at the base of Disko Bay, close to the mouth of Ilulissat Icefjord. The municipality’s main administration is located in Ilulissat. The town is the starting point for fishing of especially shrimp and halibut. Ilulissat is also the centre for the majority of tourism in the municipality due to, among other things, the town's good infrastructure as well as close vicinity to the World Heritage area, Ilulissat Icefjord.
Aasiaat is located just south of Disko Bay and has a population of slightly more than 3,000 people. The town’s largest workplace is the fish factory where shrimps are processed. Moreover, the town is home to one of Greenland's three upper secondary schools.
Uummannaq has approx. 1500 inhabitants. The town is located on a small island north of Disko Bay. Surrounded by spectacular nature, the town has been well-frequented by tourists for many years. There has also been some mineral extraction in the area and it is expected that the lead and zinc mine near Mamorilik at the base of Uummannaq fjord will reopen in 2010.
Upernavik has approx. 1200 inhabitants. The town had a runway built for fixed-wing aircraft in 2000. This has opened up the town and district for tourism and has thus also given a significant improvement of the town's facilities. In recent years, there has been strong growth in fishing in the municipality, which in so doing has begun to replace hunting as the most important industry.
Among the municipality’s other towns are Qasigiannguit, Qeqertarsuaq, Kangaasiaq and Qaanaaq, all of which have between 600 and 1200 inhabitants.
In addition to the 8 towns, the 32 settlements in the municipality are home to approcximately 4.400 people. In the northern part of the municipality is the American military base, Thule Air Base (in Greenlandic, “Pituffik”) where more than 500 people live and work.
