Canadian North’s population still younger than national average

Yukon has oldest population of the territories, Nunavut the youngest

A group of children laugh at Maani Ulujuk school in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, during a governor general's visit in 2009. According to 2011 census data, 32.5 per cent of Nunavut's population is under the age of 15. (Sean Kilpatrick/ Canadian Press )While the latest census figures show Canada has a higher proportion of seniors than ever before, the North’s population is still younger than the national average, according to new data available from the 2011 census.

Statistics Canada defines median age as the point where exactly one half of the population is older than the median age and the other half is younger. Nationally, the median age in 2011 was 40.6 years.

According to the Statistics Canada census, the median age in Nunavut is 24, the lowest in the country, and the largest group in Nunavut’s population is children ages zero to four at more than 3,900. The number of children ages zero to 14 grew by 4.3 per cent between 2006 and 2011, while the number of seniors over 65 grew by 30.9 per cent.

In the N.W.T. the median age is 32. The number of children ages zero to 14 in the territory dropped about nine per cent between 2006 and 2011, while the number of seniors over 65 increased by 21.3 per cent.

Yukon has the oldest population in the North, with a median age of 39. The number of children ages zero to 14 in the territory increased by 2.6 per cent while the number of seniors over 65 grew by 35 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

Community 2011 % pop 2006 % change
YUKON
Median age 39.1
Children (0-14) 5865 17.3 5715 2.6
Working age (15-64) 24,940 73.6 22370 11.5
Seniors (65 plus) 3,090 9.1 2285 35.2
—–
Whitehorse
Median Age 37.1 36.8
Female 11,735 50.4 10,400 12.8
Male 11,545 49.6 10,065 14.7
Children 4,210 18.1 3,990 5.5
Working Age 17,165 73.7 15,100 13.7
Seniors 1,900 8.2 1,375 38.2
—–
NWT
Median age 32.3
Children 9,010 21.7 9,920 -9.2
Working age 30,055 72.5 29,570 1.6
Seniors 2,395 5.8 1,975 21.3
——
Yellowknife
Median Age 32.6 32.2
Female 9,540 49.6 9,185 3.9
Male 9.695 50.4 9,510 1.9
Children 3,825 19.9 4,015 -4.7
Working Age 14,720 76.5 14,215 3.6
Seniors 695 3.6 470 47.9
——
NUNAVUT
Median age 24.1
Children 10,425 32.7 10,000 4.3
Working age 20,420 64.0 18,660 9.4
Seniors 1,060 3.3 810 30.9
——
Iqaluit
Median Age 30.1 28.8
Female 3,300 49.3 3,005 9.8
Male 3,400 50.7 3,180 6.9
Children 1,600 23.9 1,560 2.6
Working Age 4,935 73.7 4,500 9.7
Seniors 165 2.5 130 26.9

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