Date | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 45,750 |
| 2024 Q1 | 45,387 |
| 2023 Q4 | 45,148 |
| 2023 Q3 | 44,975 |
| 2023 Q2 | 44,596 |
Yukon is the westernmost and also the smallest of Canada’s territories. The capital is Whitehorse, which is also the largest city in the territory. The population report in 2011 was 33,897 with a recent 5-year growth rate of 11.6%. Yukon's estimated population in 2014 is 37,000. Much of the growth of the territory, which is higher than the average for Canada, is due to internal migration from other territories. Yukon has a total area of 482,443 square kilometers (186,272 square miles) with a population density of just 0.07 people per square kilometer, or 0.18 per square mile.
About 75% of Yukon’s inhabitants live in the capital of Whitehorse and its surrounding areas with a population estimated at 24,000. The next biggest town is called Dawson, with a population of just 1,300. All other towns have a population of less than 1,000. Most towns have experienced a decline in population, except for Whitehorse.
Yukon is culturally abundant; a lively outdoorsy kind of place. Despite its sparse population, cold climate and forested areas the territory does have modern infrastructure. Whitehorse is a thriving city with small town values and it’s a great place to raise a family. There are many cultural and sporting attractions in the city which serve not only the residents but the frequent tourists to the area. Perhaps most useful is the international airport in the city which is used by 3 airlines.
The people in Yukon are generally active and hardworking and have a reputation for being very welcoming. Interestingly, all communities of Yukon have access to good internet and broadband service. When asked about their ethnicity only 43% of the inhabitants reported a single ethnic background, making it difficult to assess clearly on the ethnic make-up of the territory. The only clear statistic is that 25% of the population is from an Aboriginal or native ethnic background. The census categories make it confusing to determine ethnicity and origin with categories such as "European" versus "West European." Languages are clearer with 80% of the population stating English as their mother tongue; 4% reported French as their mother tongue.
Yukon does not appear to be a significantly religious territory with 37.4% of residents claiming to have no religion which is higher than the national average of around 24%. The highest percentage of those actually reporting a faith is 22% of the population declaring Roman Catholic as their faith. The Anglican Church of Canada has around 13% of the residents. Additionally, the median age of the residents of Yukon is 39.1 years which is not far different from the national average of 40.6 years. The percentage of people living in Yukon in 2011 over the age of 65 years is quite low compared to the national averages – Yukon has 9.1% of its residents over 65 compared with the national percentage of 14.8%. Also, the territory has a slightly higher proportion of children and a significantly higher proportion of people of working age – 73.6% compared with the national average of 68.5%.
As the population continues to grow, residents are mainly employed in government roles. Aside from this sector, manufacturing and hydroelectricity are important industries. Yukon also is a popular tourist destination with a tourist motto of “Larger than Life.” There are many activities to be enjoyed in much of Yukon’s pristine landscapes, from hunting, fishing, nature, lake sports and of course the winter sports activities. Yukon, overall, has a GDP per capita of $72,880 which is very respectable and reflects the high proportion of working residents.