Nunavut, Iqaluit populations rise eight per cent: 2011 census

Iqaluit’s population growth mirrored that of Nunavut’s in the latest figures from Statistics Canada. 2011 census numbers show both registered a population growth of eight per cent since the 2006 census.Nunavut’s capital city now counts 6,699 residents. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nunavut’s population continues to grow faster than the national average, according to the latest census numbers released Feb.8.

The territory’s population has risen roughly eight per cent to 31,906 since 2006 — compared with the six per cent growth recorded Canada-wide within that period.

In May, 2011, 33,476,688 Canadians were counted by census-takers.

Only Alberta and the Yukon saw higher growth than Nunavut. Yukon registered the highest growth of the country’s provinces and territories at 11.6 per cent, while the Northwest Territories’ population remained unchanged since 2006.

Despite Nunavut’s growth, the territory was one of three provinces or territories that did not see larger growth than in the previous census period (2001-2006) when the territory’s population rose by more than ten per cent.

All but six Nunavut municipalities grew in population over the past five years, with Nunavut’s capital mirroring the same rate of growth as the territory as a whole.

Iqaluit’s population rose to 6,699 in 2011, up eight per cent from 2006.

Nunavut’s next largest community, Arviat, grew by 12 per cent to reach 2,318, while the territory’s third largest community, Rankin Inlet, lost four per cent of its population and now sits at 2,266.

Several communities marked significant growth since the last census, including Repulse Bay (+26 per cent) Gjoa Haven (+20 per cent) and Arctic Bay (+19 per cent.)

But Nunavut’s smallest community got even smaller; Grise Fiord lost four per cent of its population since 2006 and sits at 130. Both Hall Beach and Igloolik also lost residents over the last five years, shrinking by 17 and six per cent respectively.

See a full breakdown of the territory’s municipality counts here.

Nunavut’s overall growth is tied to the territory’s high fertility levels, a trend that statisticians noticed in most provinces and territories this census period.

Nunavut women bear an average of 3.2 children each.

But Nunavut’s sprawling landmass of 1,877,787 square kilometres — the largest land area of any Canadian province or territory — means its population density per square kilometre remains at zero.