Northwest Territories’s Population Demographics by Ethnicity

The Northwest Territories (NWT), a vast and remote region in Northern Canada, is characterized by a uniquely high proportion of Indigenous peoples compared to the rest of the country. According to the 2021 Census, nearly half of the NWT’s population identifies as Indigenous, highlighting the territory’s rich cultural and ancestral heritage.

Key Insights on Northwest Territories Demographics:

• Indigenous peoples are the largest ethnic group in the Northwest Territories, comprising nearly 49% of the population — the highest proportion of any Canadian region.
• White residents form the second-largest group at 37.9%.
• The Filipino community is the largest visible minority at 3.8%, followed by Black residents at 2.4%.
• The presence of other ethnic groups remains modest but contributes to the territory’s cultural mosaic, particularly in cities like Yellowknife.

Northwest Territories Population by Ethnicity (2021)

Ethnicity	Population	% of Population
White	15,300	37.9%
South Asian	730	1.8%
Chinese	300	0.7%
Black	965	2.4%
Filipino	1,520	3.8%
Arab	230	0.6%
Latin American	125	0.3%
Southeast Asian	290	0.7%
West Asian	35	0.1%
Korean	75	0.2%
Japanese	70	0.2%
Other ethnicities	325	0.8%
Two or more ethnicities	655	1.6%
Indigenous peoples	19,765	48.9%

FAQ

What is the largest ethnic group in the Northwest Territories?
The largest ethnic group in the Northwest Territories is Indigenous peoples, making up 48.9% of the population.

What percentage of the Northwest Territories population is White?
White residents account for approximately 37.9% of the Northwest Territories’ population, according to the 2021 Census.

Which visible minority group is largest in the Northwest Territories?
The Filipino community is the largest visible minority in the Northwest Territories, representing 3.8% of the population.

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0324-01  Visible minority and population group by generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts