Population & Migration · Chart
Northwest Territories population 2026: 45,904
Northwest Territories' population was 45,904 on July 1, 2026, according to Statistics Canada. It shrank by 127 people (0.28%) over the previous 12 months and holds 0.1% of Canada's population.
- 45,904people on July 1, 2026, 12th of 13 provinces and territories
- 0.1%of Canada's population
- −127in the 12 months to July 1, 2026 (-0.28%), 13th of 13 by growth rate
- +3.0%over five years, from 44,579 in July 2021
N.W.T. lost 127 people, the only drop in Canada
The Northwest Territories lost 127 people, the only one of the 13 provinces and territories to shrink. That is its biggest yearly loss since 2009, when it lost 214. The whole drop came in the last quarter: the population fell 167 between April 1 and July 1, 2026, after small gains in the three quarters before. Over five years it grew 3.0%, the slowest of the 13.
People added in each 12 months to July 1, 2001 to 2026. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0009-01.
Quarter by quarter
| Three months | Population change |
|---|---|
| July 1 to Oct. 1, 2025 | +7 |
| Oct. 1, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026 | +8 |
| Jan. 1 to April 1, 2026 | +25 |
| April 1 to July 1, 2026 | −167 |
Common questions
What is the population of Northwest Territories in 2026? 45,904 on July 1, 2026, according to Statistics Canada's latest estimate.
Is Northwest Territories's population growing? Not this year. It lost 127 people in the year to July 1, 2026, after adding 757 the year before.
How does Northwest Territories rank? 12th of 13 provinces and territories by population, 13th by growth rate and 13th by number of people added.
All provinces and territories on one page: Canada population 2026 by province and territory
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