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Ethnic Origin in Nunavut
Nunavut, 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 origins most often reported are Inuit (North American Indian), followed by Scottish and Irish.
European origins make up 11.4% of the population, while Aboriginals account for 85% of Nunavut’s population. About 3.61% of the population belongs to a visible minority group. The main visible minority communities include Black, Filipino, South Asian, and Latin American.
Also read about Population of Nunavut.
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Nunavut Population by Ethnic Origin
Inuit origins are by far the largest ethnic group in Nunavut, making up 85% of the territory’s population. They are followed by smaller European-origin communities, primarily Scottish, Irish, and English, which together account for about 11.4% of the population. The “Canadian” ethnic origin is also reported, though most respondents no longer self-identify with distant ancestral origins.
Top Ethnic Origins in Nunavut
| # | Origin | Pop. 2021 | Percentage |
| 1 | Inuit origins | 31,160 | 85.14% |
| 2 | Scottish | 2,100 | 5.74% |
| 3 | Irish | 1,585 | 4.33% |
| 4 | English | 1,405 | 3.84% |
| 5 | Canadian | 1,025 | 2.80% |
| 6 | French origins | 880 | 2.40% |
| 7 | German | 610 | 1.67% |
| 8 | Filipino | 310 | 0.85% |
| 9 | British Isles | 285 | 0.78% |
| 10 | African | 255 | 0.70% |
| 11 | Dutch | 190 | 0.52% |
| 12 | First Nations (North American Indian) | 180 | 0.49% |
| 13 | Welsh | 170 | 0.46% |
| 14 | Italian | 160 | 0.44% |
| 15 | Ukrainian | 160 | 0.44% |
| 16 | American | 150 | 0.41% |
| 17 | French Canadian | 140 | 0.38% |
| 18 | Polish | 135 | 0.37% |
| 19 | Danish | 130 | 0.36% |
| 20 | Métis | 125 | 0.34% |
| 21 | Norwegian | 120 | 0.33% |
| 22 | Mi’kmaq origins | 110 | 0.30% |
| 23 | Chinese | 100 | 0.27% |
| 24 | Swedish | 100 | 0.27% |
| 25 | Inuvialuit | 100 | 0.27% |
| 26 | Indian (India) | 95 | 0.26% |
| 27 | Portuguese | 95 | 0.26% |
| 28 | Russian | 95 | 0.26% |
| 29 | Acadian | 95 | 0.26% |
| 30 | Jamaican | 80 | 0.22% |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
*”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.
Visible minorities in Nunavut
Almost 3.61% of Nunavut’s population belongs to a visible minority group. The main communities include Black, Filipino, South Asian, and Latin American populations.
Visible Minority Population in Nunavut (2021)
| # | Group | Pop. 2021 | Percentage |
| 1 | Black | 565 | 1.54% |
| 2 | Filipino | 310 | 0.85% |
| 3 | South Asian | 180 | 0.49% |
| 4 | Chinese | 65 | 0.18% |
| 5 | Latin American | 60 | 0.16% |
| 6 | Arab | 35 | 0.10% |
| 7 | Southeast Asian | 20 | 0.05% |
| 8 | Japanese | 10 | 0.03% |
| 9 | Others | 25 | 0.07% |
| 10 | Multiple visible minorities | 50 | 0.14% |
| – | Total | 1320 | 3.61% |
Indigenous population in Nunavut
Indigenous people form the overwhelming majority of Nunavut’s population at 85%, with Inuit being the dominant group. The Inuit population has shaped the territory’s culture, language, and social structure, making Nunavut unique among Canadian provinces and territories.
Smaller Indigenous communities include First Nations and Métis, contributing to the cultural diversity and heritage of the territory. These groups play a vital role in local governance, traditions, and community life.
| Indigenous Group | Population 2021 | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Inuit | 30,865 | 84% |
| First Nations | 180 | – |
| Métis | 120 | – |
| Total Indigenous population | 31,390 | 85% |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Key Highlights
Nunavut is predominantly Indigenous, with Inuit making up 84% of the population.
European origins account for 11.4% of the population, mostly Scottish, Irish, and English.
Visible minorities represent 3.61% of the population, mainly Black, Filipino, South Asian, and Latin American.
“Canadian” is listed as an ethnic origin, but most residents are visibly European or Indigenous.
The territory has one of the highest percentages of Indigenous people in Canada.
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