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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Northwest Territories 1

Map of Canada with Northwest Territories shaded in green

Map of Northwest Territories

Interactive version of map

In 2011, the enumerated population of Northwest Territories was 41,462 which represents a change of 0.0% from 2006. This compares to the national average of 5.9%.

The land area of Northwest Territories is 1,143,793.47 square kilometres with a population density of 0.0 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.

In total, there were 14,700 private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Northwest Territories in 2011. This represents an increase of 3.3% of the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006. For Canada as a whole, the total number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Population and dwelling counts

Canada, provinces and territories – Population, percentage change between 2006 and 2011

Table 1 Canada, provinces and territories – Population change, 2006 to 2011
Geographic name Population
2011 2006 Change % change % of nat. pop.
Canada  33,476,688 31,612,897 1,863,791 5.9 100.00
Newfoundland and Labrador 514,536 505,469 9,067 1.8 1.54
Prince Edward Island 140,204 135,851 4,353 3.2 0.42
Nova Scotia 921,727 913,462 8,265 0.9 2.75
New Brunswick 751,171 729,997 21,174 2.9 2.24
Quebec  7,903,001 7,546,131 356,870 4.7 23.61
Ontario  12,851,821 12,160,282 691,539 5.7 38.39
Manitoba  1,208,268 1,148,401 59,867 5.2 3.61
Saskatchewan  1,033,381 968,157 65,224 6.7 3.09
Alberta  3,645,257 3,290,350 354,907 10.8 10.89
British Columbia  4,400,057 4,113,487 286,570 7.0 13.14
Yukon 33,897 30,372 3,525 11.6 0.10
Northwest Territories 41,462 41,464 -2 0.0 0.12
Nunavut 31,906 29,474 2,432 8.3 0.10

Northwest Territories – Census metropolitan areas (CMAs), census agglomerations (CAs) and regions outside CMAs and CAs

In 2011, 46.4% of the population of Northwest Territories lived inside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA). That represents 19,234 persons.


The number of persons living outside a census metropolitan area (CMA) and a census agglomeration (CA) was 22,228 which accounts for 53.6% of the territorial population.

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

Northwest Territories – Census subdivisions with population greater than 5000

Table 3 Northwest Territories – Census subdivisions with population greater than 5000, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name Type Population
2011 2006 % change
Yellowknife CY 19,234 18,700 2.9

Age and sex

Northwest Territories – Age distribution

Table 4 Northwest Territories – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 21.7% 21.5% 21.9%
15 to 64 72.5% 72.7% 72.3%
65 and over 5.8% 5.8% 5.8%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Northwest Territories was 5.8%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 72.5% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 21.7%. 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.

Northwest Territories – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Northwest Territories – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 and 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 41,460 41,465 -5 0.0
0 to 14 9,010 9,920 -910 -9.2
15 to 64 30,055 29,570 485 1.6
65 and over 2,395 1,975 420 21.3
Males
Total 21,060 21,225 -165 -0.8
0 to 14 4,535 5,020 -485 -9.7
15 to 64 15,310 15,230 80 0.5
65 and over 1,220 985 235 23.9
Females
Total 20,400 20,240 160 0.8
0 to 14 4,475 4,905 -430 -8.8
15 to 64 14,750 14,345 405 2.8
65 and over 1,180 990 190 19.2

Northwest Territories – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Northwest Territories – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 41,460 21,060 20,400
0 to 4 years 3,285 1,655 1,630
5 to 9 years 2,860 1,435 1,425
10 to 14 years 2,865 1,450 1,420
15 to 19 years 3,390 1,760 1,625
20 to 24 years 3,340 1,690 1,650
25 to 29 years 3,445 1,770 1,675
30 to 34 years 3,305 1,625 1,680
35 to 39 years 2,990 1,450 1,535
40 to 44 years 3,035 1,535 1,500
45 to 49 years 3,380 1,695 1,685
50 to 54 years 3,105 1,615 1,490
55 to 59 years 2,390 1,255 1,135
60 to 64 years 1,680 915 760
65 to 69 years 975 555 420
70 to 74 years 580 280 305
75 to 79 years 395 200 200
80 to 84 years 235 105 130
85 to 89 years 120 45 80
90 to 94 years 60 25 35
95 to 99 years 15 5 10
100 years and over 5 0 0
Median age 32.3 32.3 32.2

Northwest Territories – Median age2 of the population in the last 90 years

The median age in Northwest Territories was 32.3 years. In comparison, the median age of Canada was 40.6 years.

Chart E: Northwest Territories - Median age of the population in the last 90 years

Chart E description: Northwest Territories - Median age of the population in the last 90 years

Table 7 Northwest Territories and Canada – Median age of the population, 1921 to 2011 censuses
Median age Census year
1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011
Canada 23.9 24.7 27.0 27.7 26.3 26.2 29.6 33.5 37.6 40.6
Northwest Territories 19.7 20.9 23.5 22.5 21.4 19.1 22.0 24.8 30.1 32.3

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families3 in Northwest Territories was 10,930, which represents a change of 0.5% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Northwest Territories, 50.0% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 28.7% were common-law-couples and 21.3% were lone-parent families.

Family structure

Table 8 Canada, provinces and territories – 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
Newfoundland and Labrador 159,385 114,335 71.7 20,630 12.9 24,420 15.3 2.3
Prince Edward Island 40,850 29,695 72.7 4,570 11.2 6,580 16.1 4.2
Nova Scotia 270,065 184,870 68.5 38,460 14.2 46,735 17.3 1.0
New Brunswick 224,590 152,455 67.9 35,945 16.0 36,190 16.1 3.1
Quebec  2,203,625 1,143,370 51.9 694,750 31.5 365,515 16.6 3.9
Ontario  3,612,205 2,612,890 72.3 394,670 10.9 604,645 16.7 5.5
Manitoba  327,875 232,635 71.0 39,060 11.9 56,185 17.1 4.8
Saskatchewan  285,375 202,770 71.1 35,785 12.5 46,825 16.4 6.7
Alberta  999,525 719,355 72.0 135,660 13.6 144,510 14.5 10.5
British Columbia  1,238,155 887,990 71.7 160,360 13.0 189,805 15.3 6.6
Yukon 9,330 5,080 54.4 2,340 25.1 1,915 20.5 11.9
Northwest Territories 10,930 5,465 50.0 3,135 28.7 2,330 21.3 0.5
Nunavut 7,780 3,035 39.0 2,545 32.7 2,195 28.2 10.5

Northwest Territories – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in Northwest Territories, 57.5% 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 province of Northwest Territories, 84.7% were intact families, that is, in which all children were the biological or adopted children of both parents, while 15.3% were stepfamilies, in which 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 at home were stepfamilies.



Northwest Territories – Marital status

In Northwest Territories, 54.4% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (35.1%) or living with a common-law partner (19.4%).


The remaining 45.6% 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 9 Canada, Northwest Territories – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Northwest Territories Canada
number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 32,450 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 17,665 54.4 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 11,375 35.1 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 6,295 19.4 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 14,785 45.6 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 11,785 36.3 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 780 2.4 698,245 2.5
Divorced 1,300 4.0 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 920 2.8 1,584,525 5.7

Northwest Territories – Types of private households

There were 14,700 private households4 in Northwest Territories in 2011, a change of 3.3% from 2006. Of these, 31.7% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -4.8% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Northwest Territories – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type5 Northwest Territories Canada
number % number %
Total - Private households 14,700 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children6 4,665 31.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children7 3,355 22.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households8 1,955 13.3 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 3,475 23.6 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple-family households9 470 3.2 268,060 2.0
Other households10 780 5.3 543,340 4.1

Canada's territories – Size of private households

The average household size in Northwest Territories was 2.8 persons in 2011, compared to the Canadian average household size of 2.5 persons.

In Northwest Territories, the proportion of total private households with only one person has increased over time, while the proportion of larger households (five or more persons) has decreased.

Table 11 Canada's territories – Proportion of total private households with one person and five or more persons, 1961 to 2011 censuses
Private household size 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
One person 11.9 12.6 14.6 16.0 17.9 18.4 20.0 20.6 23.5 24.2 25.0
Five or more persons 38.3 41.4 35.3 29.2 24.5 22.9 21.1 19.5 17.6 16.2 15.4

Northwest Territories – Structural type of dwelling

In Northwest Territories, 58.4% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 1.5% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 12 Canada, Northwest Territories – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Northwest Territories Canada
number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 14,700 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 8,585 58.4 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 845 5.7 646,240 4.9
Row house 1,620 11.0 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 215 1.5 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 2,385 16.2 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 210 1.4 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house11 370 2.5 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling12 465 3.2 183,510 1.4

Language

Northwest Territories – Mother tongue

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

Chart J description: Northwest Territories - 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 Northwest Territories, 76.5% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 2.6% reported French only, and 19.6% reported only a non-official language, in 2011. In comparison, the national percentages were 56.9% for English only, 21.3% for French only and 19.8% for non-official languages only.

In 2011, 88.9% of the population spoke English only most often at home, 1.3% spoke only French, and 8.8% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the national percentages were 64.8% for English only, 20.6% for French only and 11.1% for only a non-official language.

Table 13 Northwest Territories – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected language Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 41,035 100.0 41,040 100.0
English 31,375 76.5 36,485 88.9
French 1,080 2.6 550 1.3
Non-official language 8,045 19.6 3,615 8.8
Aboriginal language 5,485 13.4 2,415 5.9
Non-Aboriginal language 2,560 6.2 1,200 2.9
Multiple responses 540 1.3 385 0.9
Table 14 Northwest Territories – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention13
(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 99.6 98.7 0.9
French 63.2 43.2 20.1
Non-official language 70.9 41.1 29.8
Aboriginal language 70.9 38.5 32.4
Non-Aboriginal language 70.7 46.5 24.2

Northwest Territories – Non-official languages

In Northwest Territories, the three most common mother tongues were Tlicho (Dogrib) (4.9%), Slavey, n.o.s. (3.3%) and Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) (1.5%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the national level were Panjabi (Punjabi) (1.4%), Chinese, n.o.s. (1.3%) and Spanish (1.3%).

Table 15 Northwest Territories – 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.
Tlicho (Dogrib) 2,000 23.5 4.9
Slavey, n.o.s. 1,370 16.1 3.3
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 615 7.2 1.5
Inuvialuktun 545 6.4 1.3
Dene 465 5.5 1.1
South Slavey 405 4.8 1.0
Gwich'in 260 3.1 0.6
Inuktitut 240 2.8 0.6
North Slavey (Hare) 205 2.4 0.5
German 190 2.2 0.5

Northwest Territories – Bilingualism

Table 16 Northwest Territories – 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 9.0 7.7 88.8 3.3
0 to 19 9.1 8.5 79.5 3.6
20 to 44 9.9 8.4 91.3 3.2
45 to 64 8.0 5.5 89.2 3.5
65 and over 6.8 6.3 100.0 2.7
Table 17 Northwest Territories – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 41,040 100.0
English only 37,045 90.3
French only 45 0.1
English and French 3,720 9.1
Neither English nor French 235 0.6

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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