Yellowknife Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Yellowknife. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:217 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Yellowknife Population

Total Population (2021)

20,340

Total Population (2016)

19,569

Population Growth

+3.9% (+771)

Growth Rank

#390 of 688Same geo level

Male

50.0%10,160

Female

50.1%10,185

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.998

Average Age

35.5

Median Age

35.2

Age Rank

#28 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

1,360(6.7%)

5–9

1,420(7.0%)

10–14

1,340(6.6%)

15–19

1,195(5.9%)

20–24

1,310(6.4%)

25–29

1,630(8.0%)

30–34

1,855(9.1%)

35–39

1,745(8.6%)

40–44

1,670(8.2%)

45–49

1,410(6.9%)

50–54

1,325(6.5%)

55–59

1,385(6.8%)

60–64

1,115(5.5%)

65–69

725(3.6%)

70–74

425(2.1%)

75–79

235(1.2%)

80–84

95(0.5%)

85+

105(0.5%)

Yellowknife Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.7

Total Private Dwellings

7,975

Occupied Private Dwellings

7,519

Size Distribution

1 Person

1,785 (23.7%)

2 Persons

2,305 (30.7%)

3 Persons

1,360 (18.1%)

4 Persons

1,310 (17.4%)

5+ Persons

755 (10.0%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

2,270(30.2%)

Couples without children

1,575(20.9%)

One-parent families

740(9.8%)

One-person households

1,785(23.7%)

Multigenerational

210(2.8%)

Multiple-family

55(0.7%)

Yellowknife Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$137,000After tax

Median Household Income

$126,000After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$65,700After tax

Median Individual Income

$62,000After tax

Income Rank

#5 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

91.6%

Employment Income

84.6%

Government Transfers

8.3%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

1,435(9.1%)

$10k–$20k

855(5.4%)

$20k–$30k

1,195(7.6%)

$30k–$40k

1,110(7.1%)

$40k–$50k

1,085(6.9%)

$50k–$60k

1,020(6.5%)

$60k–$70k

940(6.0%)

$70k–$80k

1,040(6.6%)

$80k–$90k

940(6.0%)

$90k–$100k

945(6.0%)

$100k+

5,135(32.7%)

Yellowknife Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

74.4%

Unemployment Rate

5.8%

Total Labour Force

12,475

Employed

11,755

Unemployed

720

Not in Labour Force

3,320

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

4.3%

Children (0–17)

6.3%

Adults (18–64)

3.4%

Seniors (65+)

5.4%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.2910 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.262

Yellowknife Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

16,485 (82.4%)

French Only

85 (0.4%)

English & French

3,340 (16.7%)

Neither

100 (0.5%)

Mother Tongue

English

15,280 (76.3%)

French

855 (4.3%)

Non-official languages

3,070 (15.3%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

15,280(76.3%)

French

855(4.3%)

Tagalog

650(3.2%)

Vietnamese

150(0.7%)

Punjabi

135(0.7%)

Cantonese

120(0.6%)

Arabic

115(0.6%)

Mandarin

85(0.4%)

Spanish

85(0.4%)

Urdu

65(0.3%)

Yellowknife Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

3,335(44.4%)

Semi-detached

195(2.6%)

Row house

890(11.8%)

Duplex

310(4.1%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

1,940(25.8%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

300(4.0%)

Other attached

20(0.3%)

Movable

545(7.3%)

Community snapshot

About Yellowknife

Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories, on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake on the Canadian Shield. Government, mining heritage, and northern research shape a compact city of old town rock outcrops, Frame Lake trails, and a modern downtown. It is the territories’ main air hub and service centre. About 20,000 people live in Yellowknife.

Known for

Capital of the Northwest Territories
Great Slave Lake waterfront and Old Town rock outcrops
Northern lights viewing and polar-day summers
Diamond and gold mining heritage
Main air and government hub for the N.W.T.

See & do

Old Town / Pilot’s Monument
Historic harbour quarter and lookout over the bay.
Frame Lake Trail
Popular urban walking loop around Frame Lake.
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Territorial museum of northern cultures and history.
Bush Pilots Monument / Ragged Ass Road area
Classic Yellowknife viewpoints and colourful streets.
Great Slave Lake shore ice road season
Winter lake travel and summer floatplane country.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution