Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 23, 2007

INUVIK - The 2006 Canadian census has revealed a narrowing population gap between men and women in the NWT.

The territory also retains one of the youngest average populations in Canada, second only to Nunavut.

While the census is managed by Statistics Canada, which is a federal agency, NWT territorial statistician Angelo Cocco shared a few thoughts with News/North on July 18.

"The number of men to women is still relatively higher - it's still about 105 men for 100 women," he said. "This is down from 109 to 100 in 1991."

While the rate of change is slow - a difference of four percent over 16 years - this change could have repercussions in the future, Cocco said.

For instance, a greater proportion of women could possibly lead to more children, increasing the territory's birth rate, and perhaps speaks to the NWT offering more jobs to women in various industries.

According to the latest census, conducted in 2006, Canada's population stands at 31.6 million people.

An 11 per cent increase was reported overall in the population of the NWT, with newcomers mostly in the 15-64 age group.

The NWT's number of elders - defined here as people 65 or older - also increased by one per cent, while the number of children aged less than 14 declined by three per cent.

In the Yukon, the population increased by nearly six per cent, while Nunavut increased 10.2 per cent.

As Canada's "youngest territory," Nunavut's median age is only 23.1, while the NWT's median age is 31.2. This compares to 38.4 in the Yukon.

Results of the 2006 census are available online. The next census is scheduled for 2011.