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Demographics of the Northwest Territories

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The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada. It has an area of 1,171,918 square kilometres and a population of 41,786 as of the 2016 Canadian census.

Population history

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Timeline of the divisions of Canada; size of the Northwest Territories changes throughout 1870 to 1999, introducing large instant changes in its population
Census year Population 5-year % change 10-year % change Rank among provinces and territories Notes on changes impacting area and attendant population, and count provinces and territories
1871 48,000 n/a n/a 5
1881 56,446 n/a 17.6 7
  • In 1874, NWT ceded land to the expansion of the province of Ontario.
  • In 1876, NWT ceded land to the creation of District of Keewatin.
  • In 1880, NWT gained the British Arctic Territories, transferred to Canada from the United Kingdom.
  • In 1881, NWT ceded land to the expansion of Manitoba.
  • In 1881, Canada had 2 territories and 7 provinces
1891 98,967 n/a 75.3 7
  • In 1886, NWT gained land back from District of Keewatin.
  • In 1891, Canada had 2 territories and 7 provinces
1901 184,430 n/a 86.4 6
  • In 1895, NWT ceded land to the expansion of District of Keewatin.
  • In 1898, NWT ceded land to the creation of Yukon Territory and the expansion of the province of Quebec.
  • In 1901, Canada had 3 territories and 7 provinces
1911 6,507 n/a -96.5 11
  • In 1905, NWT ceded land to the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, while District of Keewatin rejoined NWT.
  • In 1906, North-West Territories renamed Northwest Territories (NT)[1]
  • In 1911, Canada had 2 territories and 9 provinces
1921 8,143 n/a 25.1 10
  • In 1912, NT ceded land to the expansion of the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
  • In 1921, Canada had 2 territories and 9 provinces
1931 9,316 n/a 14.4 10
  • In censuses of 1931 and 1941, Canada had 2 territories and 9 provinces
1941 12,028 n/a 29.1 10
1951 16,004 n/a 33.1 10
  • In censuses of 1951 through 1996, Canada had 2 territories and 10 provinces
1956 19,313 20.7 n/a 11
1961 22,998 19.1 43.7 11
1966 28,738 25.0 48.8 11
1971 34,807 21.1 51.3 11
1976 42,609 22.4 48.3 11
1981 45,740 7.3 31.4 11
1986 52,235 14.2 22.6 11
1991 57,649 10.3 26.0 11
1996 64,402 11.7 23.2 11
2001 37,360 -42.0 -35.2 11
  • In 1999, NT ceded land to the creation of Nunavut.
  • In 2001, Canada had 3 territories and 10 provinces
2006 41,464 11.0 -35.6 11
  • Since 2001 census, Canada has 3 territories and 10 provinces
2011 41,462 0.0 10.9 11
2016 41,786 0.1 0.1 11
2021 41,070 -1.7 -0.9 11

Source: Statistics Canada,[2][3][4][5] with Social Science Federation of Canada for 1871–1901[6]

Population geography

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Ten largest population centres

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Ten largest municipalities by population
Municipality 2011 2006 2001 1996
Yellowknife 19,234 18,700 16,541 17,275
Hay River 3,606 3,648 3,510 3,611
Inuvik 3,463 3,484 2,894 3,296
Fort Smith 2,093 2,364 2,185 2,441
Behchokǫ̀ 1,926 1,894 1,552 1,662
Fort Simpson 1,238 1,216 1,163 1,257
Tuktoyaktuk 854 870 930 943
Fort McPherson 792 776 761 878
Fort Providence 734 727 753 748
Norman Wells 727 761 666 798

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

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Indigenous identity by community, 2021
Visible minority and Indigenous population (2021 Canadian census)[7]
Population group Population %
European[a] 15,430 38.2%
Visible minority group South Asian 770 1.9%
Chinese 335 0.8%
Black 1,060 2.6%
Filipino 1,665 4.1%
Arab 225 0.6%
Latin American 125 0.3%
Southeast Asian 305 0.8%
West Asian 35 0.1%
Korean 75 0.2%
Japanese 105 0.3%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 50 0.1%
Multiple visible minorities 170 0.4%
Total visible minority population 4,915 12.2%
Indigenous group First Nations (North American Indian) 12,315 30.5%
Métis 2,890 7.2%
Inuk (Inuit) 4,150 10.3%
Multiple Indigenous responses 405 1.0%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 270 0.7%
Total Indigenous population 20,035 49.6%
Total population 40,380 100.0%

Languages

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French was made an official language in 1877 by the appointed government, after lengthy and bitter debate resulting from a speech from the throne in 1888 by Lt. Governor Joseph Royal. The members voted on more than one occasion to nullify and make English the only language used in the assembly. After some conflict with Ottawa and a decisive vote on January 19, 1892, the issue was put to rest as an English-only territory.

In the early 1980s, the government of Northwest Territories was again under pressure by the federal government to reintroduce French as an official language. Some native members walked out of the assembly, protesting that they would not be permitted to speak their own language. The executive council appointed a special committee of MLAs to study the matter. They decided that if French was to be an official language, then so must the other languages in the territories.

The Northwest Territories's Official Languages Act recognizes the following eleven official languages, which is more than any other political division in Canada:[8]

NWT residents have a right to use any of the above languages in a territorial court and in debates and proceedings of the legislature. However, laws are legally binding only in their French and English versions, and the government only publishes laws and other documents in the territory's other official languages when the legislature asks it to. Furthermore, access to services in any language is limited to institutions and circumstances where there is significant demand for that language or where it is reasonable to expect it given the nature of the services requested. In reality, this means that English language services are universally available and there is no guarantee that other languages, including French, will be used by any particular government service except for the courts.

The 2006 Canadian census showed a population of 41,464. Of the 40,680 singular responses to the census question concerning 'mother tongue' the most commonly reported languages (official languages in bold) were:

Mother tongue Speakers Share
1. English 31,545 77.54%
2. Athapaskan languages 4,710 11.58%
Dogrib 1,950 4.79%
South Slavey 1,285 3.16%
North Slavey 835 2.05%
Chipewyan 390 0.96%
Gwich'in 190 0.47%
Dene 50 0.12%
3. French 975 2.40%
4. Inuktitut 695 1.71%
5. Malayo-Polynesian languages 530 1.30%
Tagalog 505 1.24%
6. Vietnamese 305 0.75%
7. Chinese 260 0.64%
Cantonese 120 0.29%
8. Algonquian languages 250 0.61%
Cree 190 0.47%
Ojibway 35 0.09%
9. German 190 0.47%
10= Arabic 105 0.26%
10= Creole 105 0.26%
12. Dutch 95 0.23%
13. Spanish 90 0.22%
14. Niger-Congo languages 80 0.20%
Bantu languages 55 0.14%
15. Yugoslavian languages 60 0.15%
16= Inuinnaqtun 55 0.14%
16= Italian 55 0.14%

There were also about 40 single-language responses for Ukrainian; 35 for the Scandinavian languages, Slovak and Urdu; and 30 for Hungarian, the Iranian languages and Polish. In addition, there were also 320 responses of both English and a 'non-official language'; 15 of both French and a 'non-official language; 45 of both English and French, and about 400 people who either did not respond to the question, or reported multiple non-official languages, or else gave some other unenumerated response. The Northwest Territories' official languages are shown in bold. Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.)[9]

Religion

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Religious beliefs in NWT (2011 census)[10]
Religion Adherents % of the population
Christianity 27,050 66.3%
Irreligious 12,450 30.51%
Traditional (Aboriginal) Spirituality 500 1.23%
Islam 275 0.67%
Buddhism 170 0.42%
Hinduism 70 0.17%
Judaism 40 0.1%
Sikhism 20 0.05%
Other religions 220 0.54%
Total 40,800 100%

Migration

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Immigration

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Northwest Territories immigration[11]: 239 [12]: 108 
Year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total population
1881 0.8% 453 56,446
1891 18.9% 18,712 98,967
1901 0.7% 147 20,129
1911 1.8% 116 6,507
1921 2.5% 207 8,143
1931 5.7% 534 9,316
1941 6.8% 818 12,028
1951 6.5% 1,042 16,004
1961 8.5% 1,963 22,998
1971 6.4% 2,245 34,810

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 4,145 persons or 10.3 percent of the total population of the Northwest Territories.[13]

Immigrants in Northwest Territories by country of birth
Country of Birth 2021[13] 2016[14] 2011[15][16] 2006[17][18] 2001[19][20]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Philippines 1,175 28.3% 955 25.9% 630 21.9% 555 19.8% 355 14.9%
United Kingdom 275 6.6% 320 8.7% 280 9.7% 340 12.1% 460 19.3%
India 265 6.4% 180 4.9% 70 2.4% 30 1.1% 55 2.3%
United States of America 175 4.2% 220 6% 225 7.8% 235 8.4% 215 9%
Vietnam 165 4% 175 4.7% 95 3.3% 245 8.7% 140 5.9%
Germany 115 2.8% 125 3.4% 110 3.8% 130 4.6% 145 6.1%
China 100 2.4% 110 3% 170 5.9% 100 3.6% 60 2.5%
South Africa 90 2.2% 40 1.1% 35 1.2% 40 1.4% 50 2.1%
Zimbabwe 80 1.9% 70 1.9% 145 5% 10 0.4% 10 0.4%
Bangladesh 80 1.9% 95 2.6% 0 0% 10 0.4% 0 0%
Total immigrants 4,145 10.3% 3,685 9% 2,880 7.1% 2,810 6.8% 2,380 6.4%
Total responses 40,375 98.3% 41,135 98.4% 40,800 98.4% 41,060 99% 37,100 99.3%
Total population 41,070 100% 41,786 100% 41,462 100% 41,464 100% 37,360 100%

Recent immigration

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The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 810 people who immigrated to the Northwest Territories between 2016 and 2021.[13]

Recent immigrants to Northwest Territories by country of birth (2016 to 2021)[13]
Country of birth Population % recent immigrants
Philippines 275 34%
India 95 11.7%
Sudan 35 4.3%
Syria 35 4.3%
South Africa 25 3.1%
France 25 3.1%
China 20 2.5%
Zimbabwe 20 2.5%
Bangladesh 20 2.5%
Pakistan 20 2.5%
Jamaica 20 2.5%
Somalia 20 2.5%
Eritrea 20 2.5%
Ethiopia 20 2.5%
Total 810 100%

Internal migration

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Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces
Main article: Interprovincial migration in Canada

A total of 12,100 people moved to the Northwest Territories from other parts of Canada between 1996 and 2006 while 15,955 people moved in the opposite direction. These movements resulted in a net influx of 825 from Newfoundland and Labrador, 295 from Nunavut, 235 from Quebec and 195 from Nova Scotia; and a net outmigration of 3,955 to Alberta, 705 to British Columbia, 260 to Manitoba, 245 to Ontario and 230 to the Yukon. (All inter-provincial movements and official minority movements of more than 100 persons are given.)[21][22]

See also

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Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories

Notes

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  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.

References

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  1. ^ "History of the Name of the Northwest Territories". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  2. ^ Population urban and rural, by province and territory (Northwest Territories) Archived 2006-12-31 at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Canada, 2005.
  3. ^ Canada's population Archived November 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Canada. Last accessed September 28, 2006.
  4. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  5. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "2021 Census of Population geographic summary: Northwest Territories [Territory]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  6. ^ "Series A2-14. Population of Canada, by province, census dates, 1851 to 1976". Historical Statistics of Canada | Section A: Population and Migration (PDF). Statistics Canada and Social Science Federation of Canada (Report). 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  8. ^ Northwest Territories Official Languages Act, 1988 Archived March 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (as amended 1988, 1991-1992, 2003)
  9. ^ Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) (2006 Census)[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ StatCan. "NHS Profile, Northwest Territories, 2011". Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Sixth census of Canada,1921 . Vol. II: Ages, conjugal condition, birthplace, birthplace of parents, year of immigration and naturalization, language spoken, literacy, school attendance, blindness and deaf-mutism". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (4 September 2022). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I – partie 3. Birthplace. TABLE 42. Population Bom Outside Canada, Showing Numerical and Percentage Distribution, for Canada and Provinces, 1921-1971". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  13. ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-06-21). "Place of birth and period of immigration by gender and age: Province or territory". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-17). "Data tables, 2016 Census Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Place of Birth (272), Age (7A) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile - Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  16. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Citizenship (5), Place of Birth (236), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2009-03-23). "Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (8) and Place of Birth (261) for the Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Places of Birth (85) for the Immigrant Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  21. ^ Province or Territory of Residence 5 Years Ago (14), Mother Tongue (8), Age Groups (16) and Sex (3) (2006 Census) Archived February 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Province or Territory of Residence 5 Years Ago (14), Mother Tongue (8), Age Groups (16) and Sex (3) (2001 census)". Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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