Nunavut is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada. It has a land area of . It has a population of 36,858 in the 2021 Census. In the 2016 census the population was 35,944, up 12.7% from the 2011 census figure of 31,906. In 2016, 30,135 people identified themselves as Inuit (83.8% of the total population), 190 as North American Indian (0.5%), 165 Métis (0.5%) and 5,025 as non-aboriginal (14.0%).

Nunavut's small and sparse population makes it unlikely the territory will be granted provincial status in the foreseeable future. Age structure The median age in Nunavut is 25.1 years, according to the 2016 census. This is significantly younger than the median age of Canada (41.2 years). Those aged 65 years and over account for 3.8% of the population.

Population history

Population geography Communities with more than 1,000 people Municipality 2011 %change 2006 %change 2001 %changeIqaluit 6,699 8.3 6,184 18.1 5,236 24.1Arviat 2,318 12.5 2,060 8.5 1,899 21.8Rankin Inlet2006 Census Profile Rankin Inlet2001 Census Profile Rankin Inlet 2,266 -3.9 2,358 8.3 2,177 5.8Baker Lake2001 Census Profile Baker Lake 1,872 8.3 1,728 14.7 1,507 8.8Cambridge Bay2001 Census Profile Cambridge Bay 1,608 8.9 1,477 12.8 1,309 -3.1Pond Inlet2001 Census Profile Pond Inlet 1,549 17.8 1,315 7.8 1,220 5.7Igloolik 1,454 -5.5 1,538 19.6 1,286 5.5Kugluktuk 1,450 11.4 1,320 7.4 1,212 0.9Pangnirtung 1,425 7.5 1,325 3.8 1,276 2.7Kinngait2006 Census Profile Cape Dorset2001 Census Profile Cape Dorset 1,363 10.3 1,236 7.7 1,148 2.7Gjoa Haven2001 Census Profile Gjoa Haven 1,279 20.2 1,064 10.8 960 9.2

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

+Visible minority & Indigenous population in Nunavut (2001–2021)GroupPopulation2021 census2016 census2011 census2006 census2001 census Indigenous group Inuk (Inuit) 30,865 30,135 27,070 24,640 22,560 Multiple Indigenous responses 195 55 20 30 0 First Nations 180 190 130 100 95 Métis 120 165 135 125 55 Indigenous responses, 30 10 15 20 10 Total Indigenous population 31,390 30,555 27,360 24,915 22,720 Non-Indigenous / non-visible minority group British Isles 4,110 5,815 4,810 4,260 3,825 French 1,175 1,645 1,125 980 850 Western European 850 980 800 680 510 Eastern European 455 515 400 375 320 Northern European 440 675 385 345 295 Southern European 415 420 390 240 190 European, & 410 340 200 100 50 Total non-Indigenous / non-visible minority population 3,890 4,120 3,830 3,990 3,735 Visible minority group Black 565 330 115 100 65 Filipino 310 230 130 80 35 South Asian 180 115 95 85 30 Chinese 65 70 65 75 35 Latin American 60 40 30 20 10 Multiple visible minorities 50 15 0 15 0 Arab 35 40 15 15 10 Visible minority, 25 20 0 10 0 Southeast Asian 20 25 25 10 10 Japanese 10 0 10 10 0 Korean 0 10 10 10 10 West Asian 0 10 10 0 10 Total visible minority population 1,320 905 510 420 210 Total responses 36,600 35,580 31,700 29,325 26,665 Total population 36,858 35,944 31,906 29,474 26,745

Language The 2016 Canadian census showed a population of 35,944. In terms of 'mother tongue', 34,960 people were reported as learned a single language first. The languages most commonly reported were: 1.Inuktitut22,07063.1%2.English11,02031.5%3.French5951.7%4.Inuinnaqtun4951.4%5.Indo-European languages2700.8%6.Tagalog1350.4%Other languages3751.1% There were also 735 responses of both English and a 'non-official language' (mainly Inuktitut); 10 of both French and a 'non-official language; 25 of both English and French; and about 140 people who either did not respond to the question, or reported multiple non-official languages, or else gave some other unenumerated response. Only English and French were counted as official languages in the census. Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.

Religion The dominant religion in Nunavut is Christianity; Catholicism, Anglicanism and Pentecostalism are highly prevalent.

Religious groups in Nunavut (1991−2021)Religious group2021 Canadian census2011 Canadian census2001 Canadian census1991 Canadian census Christianity 26,915 27,255 24,855 20,290 Irreligion 9,115 4,100 1,655 775 Indigenous spirituality 180 135 30 10 Islam 140 50 30 10 Hinduism 60 35 10 10 Judaism 35 10 10 10 Buddhism 20 20 20 20 Sikhism 10 10 10 10 Other 135 85 70 65 Total responses 36,605 31,695 26,670 21,195 Total population 36,858 31,906 26,745

Migration Immigration The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 1,165 persons or 3.2 percent of the total population of Nunavut. Five years prior, the 2016 census counted a total of only about 920 immigrants in Nunavut, including about 185 from the Philippines, 80 from the United Kingdom, 60 from the United States, 35 from Zimbabwe and 30 each from India, Nigeria and Pakistan. +Immigrants in Nunavut by country of birthCountry of birth2021 census2016 census2011 census2006 census2001 censusPhilippines2601851004025United States6560654055Nigeria6530151010Zimbabwe6035000Cameroon6020000India6030352010United Kingdom558010090125Jamaica4525101010Pakistan3030101010China2520252010Total immigrants1,165920615450445Total responses36,60035,58031,70029,32526,665Total population36,85835,94431,90629,47426,745

Recent immigration The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 250 people who immigrated to Nunavut between 2016 and 2021. Recent immigrants to Nunavut by country of birth (2016 to 2021)Country of birthPopulation% recent immigrantsPhilippines50Nigeria20India20United States15Jamaica15Zimbabwe10Cameroon10United Kingdom10Pakistan10China10Ethiopia10France10Ghana10Mexico10Brazil10Ukraine10Libya10Morocco10Total recent immigrants250

Internal migration While there is some internal migration from the rest of Canada to Nunavut (usually on a temporary basis), there is very little external migration from outside of Canada to Nunavut.

A total of 4,940 people moved to Nunavut from other parts of Canada between 1996 and 2006 while 5,615 people moved in the opposite direction. These movements resulted in a net influx of 355 from Newfoundland and Labrador; and a net outmigration of 355 to Alberta, 295 to the Northwest Territories, 235 to Ontario and 160 to Quebec. There was a net outmigration of 150 francophones from Nunavut to Quebec during this period. (All net inter-provincial and official minority movements of more than 100 persons are given).

See also List of communities in Nunavut Demographics of Canada Population of Canada by province and territory

Notes

Iqaluit is both the capital of Nunavut and the regional centre for the Qikiqtaaluk Region, while Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay are the regional centres for the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot Regions respectively. Official language of Nunavut

References