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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census agglomeration of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Map of Yellowknife, CA (shaded in green), Northwest Territories

Map of Yellowknife

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Yellowknife, CA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Yellowknife, CA - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Terr. rank
1
Nat. rank
107

In 2011, the population of Yellowknife census agglomeration (CA) was 19,234, representing a percentage change of 2.9% from 2006. This compares to the national growth of 5.9% and to the average growth among all CAs of 4.2%.

In Yellowknife, the land area is 105.44 square kilometres with a population density of 182.4 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the national land area of 8,965,121.42 square kilometres with a population density of 3.7 persons per square kilometre. The land area of all CAs is 232,264.62 square kilometres with 18.56 persons per square kilometre.

In total, there were 6,938 private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Yellowknife in 2011. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 4.9%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Census subdivisions in the Yellowknife CA

Table 1 Yellowknife CA – Census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name Type Population
2011 2006 % change
Yellowknife CY 19,234 18,700 2.9

Census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs) in Northwest Territories

Table 2 Northwest Territories – Metropolitan areas, population rank and population change, 2006 to 2011
CMA or CA name Type Population Rank
2011 2006 % change Nat. Prov.
Yellowknife CA 19,234 18,700 2.9 107 1

Age and sex

Yellowknife – Age distribution

Chart C: Yellowknife - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Yellowknife - Population by broad age groups

Table 3 Yellowknife – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 19.9% 20.1% 19.7%
15 to 64 76.5% 76.3% 76.8%
65 and over 3.6% 3.6% 3.6%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Yellowknife was 3.6%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 76.5% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 19.9%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Yellowknife – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 4 Yellowknife – Population by broad age groups and sex, and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 19,235 18,700 535 2.9
0 to 14 3,820 4,015 -195 -4.9
15 to 64 14,720 14,215 505 3.6
65 and over 695 465 230 49.5
Males
Total 9,690 9,510 180 1.9
0 to 14 1,945 2,005 -60 -3.0
15 to 64 7,395 7,280 115 1.6
65 and over 350 225 125 55.6
Females
Total 9,540 9,190 350 3.8
0 to 14 1,875 2,010 -135 -6.7
15 to 64 7,325 6,940 385 5.5
65 and over 340 240 100 41.7

Yellowknife – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Yellowknife - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Yellowknife - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 5 Yellowknife – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 19,235 9,690 9,540
0 to 4 years 1,455 740 715
5 to 9 years 1,230 615 615
10 to 14 years 1,140 590 545
15 to 19 years 1,430 725 700
20 to 24 years 1,560 790 770
25 to 29 years 1,790 905 880
30 to 34 years 1,825 875 950
35 to 39 years 1,565 755 810
40 to 44 years 1,495 760 735
45 to 49 years 1,625 785 845
50 to 54 years 1,525 785 735
55 to 59 years 1,170 605 565
60 to 64 years 730 405 325
65 to 69 years 320 185 135
70 to 74 years 160 75 80
75 to 79 years 95 45 50
80 to 84 years 70 30 35
85 to 89 years 30 5 25
90 to 94 years 10 5 10
95 to 99 years 5 0 5
100 years and over 0 0 0
Median age 32.6 32.6 32.7

Yellowknife – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, Northwest Territories and Yellowknife - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, Northwest Territories and Yellowknife - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

The median age in Yellowknife was 32.6 years. In comparison, the median age of Northwest Territories was 32.3 years.

Table 6 Canada, Northwest Territories and Yellowknife – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Northwest Territories 31.2 32.3
Yellowknife 32.2 32.6

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Yellowknife was 5,110, which represents a change of 1.6% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Yellowknife, 58.3% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 24.8% were common-law-couples and 16.9% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Yellowknife - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Yellowknife - Census families by family structure

Yellowknife – Family structure

Table 7 Canada, Northwest Territories, Yellowknife – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
Northwest Territories 10,930 5,465 50.0 3,135 28.7 2,330 21.3 0.5
Yellowknife 5,110 2,980 58.3 1,265 24.8 865 16.9 1.6

Yellowknife – Presence of children within couple families

Chart G: Yellowknife - Presence of children within couple families
Married couples Common-law-couples
with children without children with children without children
1,800 (42.4%) 1,185 (27.9%) 560 (13.2%) 705 (16.6%)

Chart G description: Yellowknife - Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census agglomeration of Yellowknife, 55.5% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Among couples with children aged 24 and under at home in the census agglomeration of Yellowknife, 84.7% were intact families, that is, in which all children were the biological or adopted children of both parents, while 15.5% were stepfamilies, in which there was at least one child was the biological or adopted child of only one married spouse or common-law partner. For Canada as a whole in 2011, 12.6% of couples with children aged 24 and under were stepfamilies.

Yellowknife – Marital status

Chart H: Yellowknife - Marital status

Chart H description: Yellowknife - Marital status

In Yellowknife, 56.7% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (40.1%) or living with a common-law partner (16.5%).

The remaining 43.3% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 8 Canada, Northwest Territories, Yellowknife – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 15,415 100.0 32,450 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 8,735 56.7 17,665 54.4 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 6,185 40.1 11,375 35.1 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 2,550 16.5 6,295 19.4 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 6,675 43.3 14,785 45.6 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 5,270 34.2 11,785 36.3 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 385 2.5 780 2.4 698,245 2.5
Divorced 755 4.9 1,300 4.0 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 270 1.8 920 2.8 1,584,525 5.7

Yellowknife – Types of private households

There were 6,940 private households3 in Yellowknife in 2011, a change of 4.7% from 2006. Of these, 32.6% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -5.6% compared with five years earlier.

Table 9 Canada, Northwest Territories, Yellowknife – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Private households 6,940 100.0 14,700 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 2,265 32.6 4,665 31.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 1,760 25.4 3,355 22.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 795 11.5 1,955 13.3 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 1,520 21.9 3,475 23.6 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple-family households8 140 2.0 470 3.2 268,060 2.0
Other households9 455 6.6 780 5.3 543,340 4.1

Yellowknife – Structural type of dwelling

In Yellowknife, 51.3% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 2.2% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 10 Canada, Northwest Territories, Yellowknife – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 6,935 100.0 14,700 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 3,560 51.3 8,585 58.4 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 150 2.2 845 5.7 646,240 4.9
Row house 835 12.0 1,620 11.0 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 150 2.2 215 1.5 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 1,760 25.4 2,385 16.2 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 125 1.8 210 1.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 330 4.8 370 2.5 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 35 0.5 465 3.2 183,510 1.4

Language

Yellowknife – Mother tongue

Chart J: Yellowknife - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Yellowknife - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Yellowknife, 79.6% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 4.3% reported French only, and 14.7% reported only a non-official language, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 76.5% for English only, 2.6% for French only and 19.6% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 90.2% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 2.4% spoke only French and 5.9% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 88.9% for English only, 1.3% for French only and 8.8% for only a non-official language.

Table 11 Yellowknife – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 18,995 100.0 18,995 100.0
English 15,120 79.6 17,135 90.2
French 810 4.3 460 2.4
Non-official language 2,790 14.7 1,115 5.9
Multiple responses 270 1.4 285 1.5
Table 12 Yellowknife – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.7 99.3 0.4
French 69.5 48.6 20.9
Non-official language 72.0 41.5 30.5

Yellowknife – Non-official languages

In Yellowknife, the three most common mother tongues were Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (2.7%), Tlicho (Dogrib) (1.5%) and Vietnamese (0.8%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Tlicho (Dogrib) (4.9%), Slavey, n.o.s. (3.3%) and Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (1.5%).

Table 13 Yellowknife – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 520 17.3 2.7
Tlicho (Dogrib) 285 9.5 1.5
Vietnamese 155 5.2 0.8
German 140 4.7 0.7
Dene 125 4.2 0.7
Inuktitut 125 4.2 0.7

Yellowknife – Bilingualism

Table 14 Yellowknife – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 14.7 12.1 90.1 6.8
0 to 19 17.1 15.5 79.4 10.0
20 to 44 15.5 12.9 91.8 6.1
45 to 64 11.4 7.1 90.2 7.2
65 and over 9.6 8.8 80.0 2.5
Table 15 Yellowknife – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 18,995 100.0
English only 16,065 84.6
French only 40 0.2
English and French 2,820 14.8
Neither English nor French 70 0.4

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

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