Canada >> Provinces >> Nunavut

Population of Nunavut

Nunavut is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada. Nunavut is the least populous of Canada’s provinces and territories and one of the world’s most remote, sparsely settled regions. As per the Canada Census Bureau, the population of Nunavut in 2021 is 36,858. and its population in 2024 is 40,758

Source: Statistics Canada

Nunavut Population 2016-2021

Nunavut has a population growth rate of 2.5% during 2016-2021. It has population increase of 914 since 2016.

NunavutCensus 2021
Total Population36,858
Percentage Change since 20162.5%
Population Rank13th
Total Land Area1,877,787 km2 (725,018 sq mi)
Area Rank1st
Population Density0.02/km2 (0.05/sq mi)
Capital CityIqaluit
Largest CityIqaluit

Source: Statistics Canada

Nunavut Historical Population

Nunavut has a population growth rate during 2016-2021 of 2.5%. In 1999, Northwest Territories ceded land to the creation of Nunavut Territory. Let’s look at population and percentage change from the year 2001 to 2021.

Census YearPopulationAbsolute ChangePercentage Change
200126,745
200629,474+2,729   +10.20%      
201131,906+2,432   +8.25%
201635,944+4,038   +12.66%
202136,858+914+2.5%     
Source: Statistics Canada

Religion in Nunavut

Christianity is the largest religion in Nunavut and is followed by 73.5% of people. Roughly 24.9% of the Nunavut population had no religious affiliation. 

With immigration patterns, there were growing proportions of the population who reported religious affiliations other than Christian. These religions included Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists.

In 2021, people who identified themselves as Muslim made up 0.5% of the population, Hindu 0.2%, and Jews 0.1%.  Indigenous religion is followed by 0.5% and Other smaller faiths are 0.4% of the population.

Let’s Look at the Religion wise population & percentage of Nunavut

ReligionNumbersPercentage
Christian26,91573.5%
No religion and secular perspectives9,11524.9%
North American Indigenous1800.5%
Muslim1400.4%
Hindu550.2%
Jewish350.1%
Buddhist150
Sikh100
Other religions and spiritual traditions1350.4%

Source: Statistics Canada 2021

Christianity in Nunavut

As per Canadian Census 2021, 73.5% of the Nunavut population reported that they were affiliated with a Christian religion. Anglicans were the largest religious group in Nunavut and about 39.1% of people identified themselves as Anglican. Roman Catholics were the second largest and followed by 22.5%. It’s followed by the Pentecostal (4%), United Church, and Baptist.

Let’s look at the Christian Affiliations percentage and numbers in Nunavut 

Christian AffiliationsNumbersPercentage
Anglican14,29539.1%
Catholic8,23522.5%
Pentecostal and other Charismatic1,4504%
United Church1650.5%
Baptist950.3%
Presbyterian550.2%
Jehovah’s Witness500.1%
Christian Orthodox400.1%
Methodist and Wesleyan (Holiness)400.1%
Latter Day Saints250.1%
Lutheran250.1%
Anabaptist150
Reformed00
Christian not specified2,0155.5%
Other Christian and Christian-related traditions4151.1%
Total26,91573.5%

Source: Statistics Canada 2021

Nunavut Ethnic composition

Ethnic origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of the respondent’s ancestors.  The Ethnic Origin most often reported is Inuit (North American Indian) followed by Scottish and Irish. Aboriginals account for 85% of the population and European origins are 11.4%. About 3.61% of the population of Nunavut belongs to a visible minority group.

read in detail about race and ethnicity  in Nunavut

Nunavut Population 2024 | Religion in Nunavut