The population of the Northwest Territories started 2025 with an estimated 45,074 people, up 575 residents (or 1.3 per cent) from Jan. 1, 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Birth outpaced deaths by 483 to 330 in 2024 while net migration was positive at 422 new residents.
In comparison, the national rate of growth from Jan. 1, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025 was 1.8 per cent.
Regionally, Yellowknife, Tlicho and the Dehcho saw slight increases in population while the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu and South Slave realized minor decreases.
In terms of age, 70.2 per cent of the NWT's population falls in the category of 15 to 64 years. Those between zero and 14 years made up 18.6 per cent of the overall population as of July 1, 2024. Those 65 years and older comprised 11.2 per cent of NWT residents.
In comparison, the national population is older, with 65.9 per cent in the 15 to 64 years category, 18.9 per cent in the 65 years and older group and 15.2 per cent ages 14 and under.
Of the 44,731 people estimated to reside in the NWT as of July 1, 2024, 22,951 were men (51.3 per cent) while 21,780 were women (48.7 per cent).
When it comes to ethnicity, 22,606 people (50.5 per cent) were classified as non-Indigenous while 22,125 were Indigenous (49.5 per cent).
Among the Indigenous population were 14,188 Dene, 4,901 Inuit and 3,036 Metis.
For more stories from Opportunities North, click this link.
Fact file
NWT population by region and community as of July 1, 2024
Beaufort Delta region: 6,800
Aklavik 644
Fort McPherson 745
Inuvik 3,282
Paulatuk 360
Sachs Harbour 111
Tsiigehtchic 179
Tuktoyaktuk 1,024
Ulukhaktok 455
Dehcho region: 3,223
Fort Liard 485
Fort Providence 705
Fort Simpson 1,313
Jean Marie River 66
Kakisa 38
K'atl'odeeche First Nation 264
Nahanni Butte 87
Sambaa K'e 112
Wrigley 131
Sahtu region: 2,585
Colville Lake 156
Deline 640
Fort Good Hope 565
Norman Wells 698
Tulita 526
South Slave region: 6,801
Enterprise 91
Fort Resolution 503
Fort Smith 2,459
Hay River 3,349
Lutsel K'e 328
Tlich谦 region: 3,025
Behchoko 1,998
Gamet谋虁 286
Wekweeti 128
What谋虁 613
Yellowknife region 22,297
Dettah 213
Yellowknife 21,788
Yellowknife unorganized: 296
Source: NWT Bureau of Statistics
