Northwest Territories is one of 13 provinces and territories of Canada located in the northern region of the country. It is known for its resource wealth including diamonds and oil , with an economy based on mining, tourism, government services.
The Northwest Territories is one of Canada’s federal territories. It is located in Northern Canada, and it has a total area of 442,000 square miles, making it the second-largest territory by area of the three territories in Northern Canada. Its total area makes up 13.5% of the entire nation.
Northwest Territory has a varied climate based on its geography:
• Northern Region
Subarctic climate with long, harsh winters and shorter, cooler summers.
• Southern Region
Milder climate, particularly in coastal areas, with moderate temperatures.
Average Age
34 years
Median Age
33 years
Female (48.9%)
Male (51.1%)
The 2021 census found the racial and ethnic composition of Northwest Territory was:
Indigenous (50.7%)
White (44.3%)
Filipino (1.8%)
South Asian (1.2%)
Black (0.9%)
Chinese (0.6%)
Southeast Asian (0.3%)
Arab (0.1%)
Latin American (0.1%)
English (77.5%)
Indigenous Languages (19.2%)
French (2.3%)
Other (1.0%)
Average Household Income
$88,700
Median Household Income
$82,100
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Dene, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples had thriving cultures adapted to the northern environment.
The Hudson's Bay Company was granted control of the entire Hudson Bay watershed, including much of what would become NWT.
The Northwest Territories were transferred from the Hudson's Bay Company to the new Dominion of Canada.
The territory was reduced in size as the Yukon Territory, Alberta, and Saskatchewan were created.
The territorial capital moved from Ottawa to Yellowknife.
Nunavut was created from the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories, fulfilling a land claim agreement with the Inuit.