Demographics of Yukon

Yukon is the westernmost of Canada's three northern territories. Its capital is Whitehorse. People from Yukon are known as Yukoners (French: Yukonnais). Unlike in other Canadian provinces and territories, Statistics Canada uses the entire territory as a single at-large census division.

Population of Yukon: 40,232 (2021 Census)

Population history[edit]

Year Population Five-year
% change
Ten-year
% change
Rank among provinces
and territories
1901 27,219 n/a n/a 10
1911 8,512 n/a -68.7 10
1921 4,157 n/a -51.1 10
1931 4,230 n/a 1.8 11
1941 4,914 n/a 16.2 11
1951 9,096 n/a 85.1 12
1956 12,190 34.0 n/a 12
1961 14,628 20.0 60.8 12
1966 14,382 -1.7 18.0 12
1971 18,390 27.9 25.7 12
1976 21,835 18.7 51.8 12
1981 23,150 6.0 25.9 12
1986 23,505 1.5 7.6 12
1991 27,797 18.3 20.1 12
1996 30,766 10.7 30.9 12
2001 28,674 -6.8 3.2 12
2006 30,372 5.9 -1.3 12
2011 33,897 11.6 18.2 12
2016 35,874 5.8 13.6 13
2021 40,232 12.1 18.7 12

Source: Statistics Canada[1][2][3][4]

Population geography[edit]

Major communities[edit]

Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories
The largest communities by population[5]
Community 2016 2011 2006 2001
Whitehorse 25,085 23,276 20,461 19,058
Dawson City 1,375 1,319 1,327 1,251
Watson Lake 790 802 846 912
Haines Junction 613 593 589 531
Carmacks 493 503 425 431
Mount Lorne 437 408 370 379
Ibex Valley 411 346 376 315
Pelly Crossing 353 336 296 328
Faro 348 344 341 313
Carcross 301 289 280 152
Ross River 293 352 313 337
Tagish 249 391 222 206
Old Crow 221 245 253 299
Mayo 200 226 248 267

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples[edit]

Census divisions by province and territory
Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)[6]
Population group Population %
European[a] 25,715 65.0%
Visible minority group
South Asian 1,035 2.6%
Chinese 640 1.6%
Black 560 1.4%
Filipino 1,945 4.9%
Arab 20 0.1%
Latin American 235 0.6%
Southeast Asian 170 0.4%
West Asian 25 0.1%
Korean 85 0.2%
Japanese 175 0.4%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 25 0.1%
Multiple visible minorities 140 0.4%
Total visible minority population 5,065 12.8%
Indigenous group
First Nations (North American Indian) 6,935 17.5%
Métis 1,285 3.2%
Inuk (Inuit) 260 0.7%
Multiple Indigenous responses 190 0.5%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 135 0.3%
Total Indigenous population 8,810 22.3%
Total population 39,590 100.0%


Yukon to Canada Comparison (1996)[7]
Total population Total aboriginal First Nation Métis Inuit Multiple Other Percentage of total
Yukon Total 30,650 6,175 5,330 550 95 30 170 20.1%
Male 15,810 2,965 2,850 260 40 10 80 18.7%
Female 14,840 3,210 2,750 290 55 20 90 21.6%
Canada Total 28,528,125 799,010 529,035 204,115 40,225 6,415 19,215 2.8%
Male 14,046,880 390,870 258,330 101,435 20,180 3,175 7,750 2.8%
Female 14,481,245 408,140 270,700 102,685 20,040 3,240 11,465 2.8%
Communities in order of percent of Indigenous population (1996)[7]
Rk Name Total pop. Indigenous pop. Percent Rk Name Total pop. Indigenous pop. Percent
1 Upper Liard 110 110 100% 12 Beaver Creek 130 60 46.1%
2 Two Mile Village 100 100 100% 13 Haines Junction 575 230 40.0%
3 Two and One-Half Mile Village 40 40 100% 14 Ibex Valley 320 90 28.2%
4 Old Crow 280 250 89.3% 15 Watson Lake 995 220 27.1%
5 Pelly Crossing 240 205 84.5% 16 Dawson City 1280 345 26.9%
6 Ross River 350 275 78.6% 17 Tagish 165 40 26.7%
7 Carcross 275 185 67.3% 18 "Unorganised" 1855 345 18.6%
8 Burwash Landing 60 40 66.7% 19 Whitehorse 20,960 2,775 13.2%
9 Teslin 305 195 63.9% 20 Mount Lorne 400 35 8.75%
10 Carmacks 465 295 63.4% 21 Faro 1260 80 6.34%
11 Mayo 320 200 62.5% 22 Stewart Crossing 45 0 0%

Languages[edit]

The 2006 Canadian census showed a population of 30,372.
Of the 29,940 singular responses to the census question concerning 'mother tongue' the most commonly reported languages were:

1. English 25,655 85.69%
2. French 1,105 3.69%
3. German 775 2.59%
4. Athapaskan languages 650 2.17%
Gwich'in 75 0.25%
North Slavey 30 0.10%
5. Chinese 260 0.87%
Cantonese 85 0.28%
Mandarin 70 0.23%
6. Malayo-Polynesian languages 165 0.55%
Tagalog 145 0.48%
7. Dutch 140 0.47%
8. Spanish 130 0.43%
9. Vietnamese 105 0.35%
10. Yugoslavian languages 95 0.32%
Slovenian 45 0.15%
11= Hungarian 80 0.27%
11= Panjabi 80 0.27%
13. Tlingit 70 0.23%
14= Algonquian languages 55 0.18%
Cree 50 0.17%
14= Russian 55 0.18%
14= Inuktitut 55 0.18%

There were also about 40 single-language responses for Ukrainian; 30 each for Czech and the Scandinavian languages; and about 25 single-language responses each for Italian and Japanese. In addition, there were also 130 responses of both English and a 'non-official language'; 10 of both French and a 'non-official language'; 110 of both English and French; and about 175 people who either did not respond to the question, or reported multiple non-official languages, or else gave some other unenumerated response. Yukon's official languages are English and French. (Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.)[8]

Religion[edit]

Religious groups in Yukon (1981−2021)
Religious group 2021[9] 2011[10] 2001[11] 1991[12] 1981[13]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Irreligion 23,640 59.71% 16,635 49.92% 11,010 38.6% 9,475 34.26% 4,680 20.28%
Christianity 13,860 35.01% 15,375 46.14% 16,655 58.39% 17,560 63.5% 18,100 78.44%
Sikhism 380 0.96% 90 0.27% 100 0.35% 40 0.14% 45 0.2%
Indigenous spirituality 325 0.82% 395 1.19%
Hinduism 265 0.67% 165 0.5% 10 0.04% 15 0.05% 0 0%
Buddhism 260 0.66% 290 0.87% 130 0.46% 40 0.14% 75 0.33%
Islam 185 0.47% 40 0.12% 55 0.19% 35 0.13% 5 0.02%
Judaism 70 0.18% 20 0.06% 35 0.12% 45 0.16% 20 0.09%
Other 600 1.52% 300 0.9% 520 1.82% 445 1.61% 130 0.56%
Total responses 39,590 98.4% 33,320 98.3% 28,525 99.48% 27,655 99.49% 23,075 99.68%
Total population 40,232 100% 33,897 100% 28,674 100% 27,797 100% 23,150 100%

The Majority of Christians in Yukon are Anglicans and Roman Catholics, with a small number of Presbyterians and members of the United Church of Canada.

Migration[edit]

Immigration[edit]

Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces
Yukon Immigration Statistics[14]: 239 [15]: 108 
Year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total population
1901 70% 19,056 27,219
1911 54.8% 4,662 8,512
1921 37.5% 1,557 4,157
1931 37.2% 1,572 4,230
1941 29% 1,427 4,914
1951 17.9% 1,630 9,096
1961 18.6% 2,714 14,628
1971 13.8% 2,545 18,385

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 5,385 persons or 13.6 percent of the total population of Yukon.[16]

Immigrants in Yukon by country of birth
Country of Birth 2021[16] 2016[17] 2011[18][19] 2006[20][21] 2001[22][23]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Philippines 1,405 26.1% 1,010 22.9% 555 14.8% 160 5.3% 155 5.1%
United States 530 9.8% 555 12.6% 495 13.2% 600 20% 580 19.2%
United Kingdom 525 9.7% 515 11.7% 595 15.8% 550 18.3% 550 18.2%
Germany 470 8.7% 440 10% 410 10.9% 400 13.3% 400 13.2%
India 360 6.7% 110 2.5% 100 2.7% 70 2.3% 90 3%
China 230 4.3% 230 5.2% 105 2.8% 90 3% 105 3.5%
France 170 3.2% 75 1.7% 110 2.9% 75 2.5% 70 2.3%
Switzerland 130 2.4% 135 3.1% 90 2.4% 130 4.3% 105 3.5%
Netherlands 100 1.9% 135 3.1% 130 3.5% 110 3.7% 110 3.6%
Czechia 75 1.4% 50 1.1% 30 0.8% 30 1% 35 1.2%
Total 5,385 13.6% 4,415 12.6% 3,755 11.3% 3,005 10% 3,025 10.6%
Total responses 39,590 98.4% 35,110 97.9% 33,320 98.3% 30,190 99.4% 28,525 99.5%
Total population 40,232 100% 35,874 100% 33,897 100% 30,372 100% 28,674 100%

Recent immigration[edit]

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 1,125 people who immigrated to Yukon between 2016 and 2021.[16]

Recent immigrants to Yukon by Country of birth (2016 to 2021)[16]
Country of Birth Population % recent immigrants
India 255 22.7%
Philippines 230 20.4%
Germany 75 6.7%
United Kingdom 50 4.4%
France 45 4%
United States 40 3.6%
Japan 40 3.6%
Mexico 35 3.1%
China 30 2.7%
South Korea 25 2.2%
Total 1,125 100%

Internal migration[edit]

A total of 7,400 people moved to Yukon from other parts of Canada between 1996 and 2006 while 10,505 people moved in the opposite direction. These movements resulted in a net influx of 230 from the Northwest Territories; and a net outmigration of 2,505 to Alberta, 915 to British Columbia and 115 to New Brunswick. There was a net influx of 120 francophones from Quebec during this period. All net inter-provincial and official minority movements of more than 100 persons are given.[24][25]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Population urban and rural, by province and territory Archived 2007-03-10 at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Canada. Last accessed February 13, 2007.
  2. ^ Canada's population Archived November 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Canada. Last accessed September 28, 2006.
  3. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  4. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 and 2011 censuses". Statistics Canada. February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Census Program". Statistics Canada. 15 January 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
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  8. ^ contenu, English name of the content author / Nom en anglais de l'auteur du. "English title / Titre en anglais". 12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2018. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  10. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  12. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-03-29). "Data tables, 1991 Census R9101 - Population by Religion (29), Showing Age Groups (13) Education (20% Data) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  13. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1981 Census of Canada 20 per cent data base : highlight information on ethnicity, place of birth, citizenship, income, language, immigration, religion, shelter costs". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Sixth census of Canada,1921 . Vol. II: Ages, conjugal condition, birthplace, birthplace of parents, year of immigration and naturalization, language spoken, literacy, school attendance, blindness and deaf-mutism". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (4 September 2022). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I – partie 3. Birthplace. TABLE 42. Population Bom Outside Canada, Showing Numerical and Percentage Distribution, for Canada and Provinces, 1921-1971". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  16. ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-06-21). "Place of birth and period of immigration by gender and age: Province or territory". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-17). "Data tables, 2016 Census Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Place of Birth (272), Age (7A) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile - Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Citizenship (5), Place of Birth (236), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2009-03-23). "Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (8) and Place of Birth (261) for the Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Places of Birth (85) for the Immigrant Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  24. ^ Province or Territory of Residence 5 Years Ago (14), Mother Tongue (8), Age Groups (16) and Sex (3) (2006 Census) Archived February 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "File not found - Fichier non trouvé". 12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2018.