> > Home >> Canada >> Ethnic Origin >> Northwest Territories
Ethnic Origin in Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories a federal territory of Canada has a racially and ethnically diverse population. Ethnic origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of the respondent’s ancestors. About 250 ethnic origins were reported in Canada’s 2021 Census. The Ethnic Origin most often reported is First Nations (North American Indian), followed by English, Scottish, Irish & Inuit.
European origins are 38.2% of the population and Aboriginals make up 49.6% of the Northwest Territories Population. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit are major Aboriginal people.
Almost 12.18% of the population of the Northwest Territories belongs to a visible minority group. The Main Visible minority communities are Filipino, Black, South Asian, Chinese, and Arab.
also read about the Population of Northwest Territories
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Northwest Territories Ethnic composition
The ethnic origin most often reported in Northwest Territories was First Nations (North American Indian), followed by English, Scottish, Irish & Inuit.
*”Canadian” as an ethnic group has since 1996 been added to census questionnaires for possible ancestral origin or descent. “The Respondents generally are visibly European (Anglophones and Francophones) and no longer self-identify with their ethnic ancestral origins. This response is attributed to a multitude or generational distance from ancestral lineage.
Let’s look at the top Ethnic Origins in Northwest Territories
| # | Origin | Pop. 2021 | Percent |
| 1 | First Nations (North American Indian) | 12,315 | 30.50% |
| 2 | English | 5,495 | 13.61% |
| 3 | Scottish | 5,270 | 13.05% |
| 4 | Irish | 4,720 | 11.69% |
| 5 | Inuit origins | 4,150 | 10.28% |
| 6 | Canadian | 3,380 | 8.37% |
| 7 | French origins | 3,330 | 8.25% |
| 8 | Inuvialuit | 3,280 | 8.12% |
| 9 | Métis | 2,890 | 7.16% |
| 10 | German | 2,815 | 6.97% |
| 11 | Gwich’in | 1,875 | 4.64% |
| 12 | Tlicho (Dogrib) | 1,730 | 4.28% |
| 13 | Filipino | 1,550 | 3.84% |
| 14 | Cree origins | 1,435 | 3.55% |
| 15 | Ukrainian | 1,025 | 2.54% |
| 16 | Chipewyan (Denesuline) | 1,005 | 2.49% |
| 17 | Dutch | 945 | 2.34% |
| 18 | British Isles | 900 | 2.23% |
| 19 | Norwegian | 680 | 1.68% |
| 20 | Polish | 615 | 1.52% |
| 21 | Welsh | 455 | 1.13% |
| 22 | Italian | 445 | 1.10% |
| 23 | Indian (India) | 430 | 1.06% |
| 24 | Dene Tha’ (Slavey) | 410 | 1.02% |
| 25 | Chinese | 365 | 0.90% |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Visible minorities and Aboriginals in Northwest Territories
As per the Census 2021, Aboriginals people at 49.6% are the largest group in Northwest Territories. About 12.18% of the population of the Northwest Territories belongs to a visible minority.
Visible minority populations
Almost 12.18% of the population of the Northwest Territories belongs to a visible minority group. Filipino, Black, South Asian, Chinese, etc. are the main visible minorities.
| # | Groups | Pop. 2021 | % of Total |
| 1 | Filipino | 1665 | 4.12% |
| 2 | Black | 1060 | 2.63% |
| 3 | South Asian | 775 | 1.92% |
| 4 | Chinese | 335 | 0.83% |
| 5 | Southeast Asian | 305 | 0.76% |
| 6 | Arab | 225 | 0.56% |
| 7 | Latin American | 125 | 0.31% |
| 8 | Japanese | 105 | 0.26% |
| 9 | Korean | 75 | 0.19% |
| 10 | West Asian | 35 | 0.09% |
| 11 | Others | 45 | 0.11% |
| 12 | Multiple visible minorities | 170 | 0.42% |
| – | Total | 4920 | 12.18% |
Aboriginal populations
Around 49.6% of the population of the Northwest Territories belongs to Indigenous People.
| Aboriginal group | Pop. 2021 | Percent |
| First Nations | 12,315 | 30.5% |
| Inuit | 4,150 | 10% |
| Métis | 2,890 | 7.1% |
| Total Aboriginal population | 20,035 | 49.6% |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
English
Español
Português
Deutsch