Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik

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Release date: March 29, 2016

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About the data sources

The 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) and the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) are the main data sources for this fact sheet. The 2011 NHS collected social and economic data about the Canadian population. The 2012 APS was a national survey of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit aged 6 and older. The data are for the Aboriginal identity population, which refers to people who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation. It was possible to report both single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity questions on the NHS and the APS. The NHS data in this fact sheet are based on single responses only. The APS data represent a combination of the single and multiple Aboriginal identity populations. Nearly all off-reserve First Nations, Métis, and Inuit respondents reported a single identity.

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Aboriginal people account for the majority of the population in Nunavik

Numbering 10,880, 24% of the Aboriginal identity population inside Inuit Nunangat^{Note 1} lived in Nunavik in 2011. Aboriginal people made up 90% of the total population of Nunavik.
Nunavik was home to 10,755 Inuit, 55 First Nations people, and 50 Métis^{Note 2} with the rest reporting more than one Aboriginal identity (20). From 2006 to 2011, the Inuit identity population in Nunavik increased by 12%.^{Note 3}
Just over 18% of the Inuit identity population in Canada lived in Nunavik.

Inuit population younger than non-Aboriginal

Over half (58%) of Inuit in Nunavik were under the age of 25, compared with 16% of the non-Aboriginal population.
In 2011, the median age of Inuit was 20.6. This was younger than the non-Aboriginal population, whose median age was 37.4.

Three in five Inuit children live with both parents

In Nunavik, 58% of Inuit children aged 14 and younger lived in a family with both their parents in 2011. The corresponding percentage for non-Aboriginal children was 85%.
Three in ten (30%) Inuit children lived in a lone-parent family, a rate that was higher than that for their non-Aboriginal peers (12%).

Table 1
Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Nunavik, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Inuit single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population^{Table 1, Note 1}
Children of both parents^{Table 1, Note 2}	57.9	84.6
Stepchildren	5.2	0.0
Children of lone parent	30.1	11.5
Grandchildren in skip-generation family	2.0	0.0
Foster children	3.5	0.0
Children living with other relatives^{Table 1, Note 3}	1.1	0.0
Note 1. The non-Aboriginal identity population excludes those who reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status. Return to table 1, note 1 referrer Note 2. Includes children in a two-parent family where there may also be stepsiblings or half-siblings present. Also includes children in a two-parent family for whom it cannot be determined if they are stepchildren. Return to table 1, note 2 referrer Note 3. Non-relatives may be present. Excludes foster children. Return to table 1, note 3 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Almost half of Inuit live in crowded homes

In 2011, 49% of Inuit in Nunavik lived in crowded homes, that is, with more than one person per room. The comparable figure for the non-Aboriginal population was 7%.
Over a third of Inuit (39%) lived in homes in need of major repairs. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 21%.

Table 2
Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Nunavik, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Inuit single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population^{Table 2, Note 1}
Crowding^{Table 2, Note 2}	48.8	6.8
Home in need of major^{Table 2, Note 3} repairs	38.7	21.2
Note 1. The non-Aboriginal identity population excludes those who reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status. Return to table 2, note 1 referrer Note 2. More than one person per room. Return to table 2, note 2 referrer Note 3. For example, dwellings with defective plumbing or electrical wiring and dwellings needing structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings. Return to table 2, note 3 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Almost all Inuit report ability to speak an Aboriginal language

In Nunavik, 99% of Inuit reported the ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language. The Aboriginal language most commonly spoken by Inuit was Inuktitut. At the same time, 98% of Inuit reported an Aboriginal language as their mother tongue.
Not only did 6% of the non-Aboriginal population in Nunavik report an Aboriginal mother tongue, but 15% reported being able to converse in an Aboriginal language.
Based on results of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 96% of Inuit aged 6 and older reported that speaking and understanding an Aboriginal language was important to them.

One Inuit in four has postsecondary qualifications

In 2011, 24% of Inuit aged 25 to 64 in Nunavik had a certificate, diploma or degree from a trade school, college or university. The comparable percentage for their non-Aboriginal counterparts was 87%.
Among those with postsecondary credentials, Inuit were more likely than non-Aboriginal graduates to have completed apprenticeship or trades programs.
There was also a difference in the proportion of Inuit and non-Aboriginal people with “no certificate, diploma or degree”. In 2011, 60% of Inuit aged 25 to 64 did not have a certificate, diploma or degree. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 5%.

Table 3
Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Nunavik, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64 Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Inuit single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population^{Table 3, Note 1}
No certificate, diploma or degree	59.7	5.3
High school diploma or equivalent	15.9	7.9
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	24.3	86.8
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma	16.7	11.1
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	4.7	20.1
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level^{Table 3, Note 2}	1.4	6.3
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above	1.4	49.2
Note 1. The non-Aboriginal identity population excludes those who reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status. Return to table 3, note 1 referrer Note 2. Comparisons with other data sources suggest that the category “University certificate or diploma below bachelor level” was overreported in the National Household Survey (NHS). The results for this category should be interpreted with caution. For more information on concepts and data quality, refer to the NHS reference guides and Education Reference Guide on the Statistics Canada website. Return to table 3, note 2 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Employment rates and median total income increase with education

In 2011, the employment rate of Inuit aged 25 to 64 in Nunavik who did not have a certificate, diploma or degree was 55.2%. Employment rates were higher for those with further education. For example, the employment rate of Inuit with postsecondary credentials was 79.3%.

Table 4
Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64, by highest level of educational attainment and selected Aboriginal identity group, Nunavik, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64 Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using employment rate (percent) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	employment rate (percent)
	Inuit single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population^{Table 4, Note 1}
Total	63.9	94.1
No certificate, diploma or degree	55.2	77.8
High school diploma or equivalent	72.4	86.7
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	79.3	95.2
Note 1. The non-Aboriginal identity population excludes those who reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status. Return to table 4, note 1 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Median total income^{Note 4} was also higher for those with higher education levels. Among Inuit aged 25 to 64, median total income (rounded to the nearest $1,000) ranged from $24,000 for those with no certificate, diploma or degree to $43,000 for those with postsecondary credentials.

Four in ten Inuit rated their health as excellent or very good

Based on results of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 41% of Inuit aged 12 and older in Nunavik rated their health as excellent or very good in 2012.

Chart 1 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Nunavik, 2012

Description for Chart 1

The title of the graph is "Chart 1 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Nunavik, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 4 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 60 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 1 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Age groups."
The title of series 1 is "Inuit."
The minimum value is 29.4 and it corresponds to "45 years and over."
The maximum value is 52.4 and it corresponds to "12 to 24 years."

Data table for Chart 1
Chart 1 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Nunavik, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 1 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over Total, 12 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years and 45 years and over (appearing as column headers).
	Total	12 to 24 years	25 to 44 years	45 years and over
Inuit	40.8	52.4	35.9	29.4
Source: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012.

A similar proportion (43%) of Inuit aged 18 and older reported excellent or very good mental health.^{Note 5}

Table 5
Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of Inuit population aged 18 and over, by age group, Nunavik, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of Inuit population aged 18 and over percent (appearing as column headers).
	percent
Total	43.2
18 to 24	37.9
25 to 44	45.9
45 and over	43.3
Source: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012.

Three in ten Inuit (30%) 12 and older reported that they had been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. The most commonly reported condition was high blood pressure (8%).

Six in ten Inuit smoked daily

In 2012, 63% of Inuit aged 12 and older in Nunavik reported that they smoked daily. At ages 25 to 44, 72% of Inuit reported daily smoking.

Chart 2 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, Nunavik, 2012

Description for Chart 2

The title of the graph is "Chart 2 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, Nunavik, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 3 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 70 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 1 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Health behaviours."
The title of series 1 is "Inuit."
The minimum value is 36.0 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 63.0 and it corresponds to "Daily smoking."

Data table for Chart 2
Chart 2 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, Nunavik, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 2 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Inuit (appearing as column headers).
	Inuit
Daily smoking	63.0
Heavy drinking^{Chart 2, Note 1}	49.1
Non-drinking	36.0
Note 1. Heavy drinking refers to the consumption of five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the 12 months preceding the survey. Return to chart 2, note 1 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012.

For Inuit aged 12 and older, the rate of heavy drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the previous 12 months) was 49%. At the same time, 36% were non-drinkers; that is, consumed no alcohol in the previous 12 months.

Table 6
Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Nunavik, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over percent (appearing as column headers).
Total
	percent
Daily smoking	63.0
Heavy drinking^{Table 6, Note 1}	49.1
Non-drinking	36.0
12 to 24
Daily smoking	58.3
Heavy drinking	45.5
Non-drinking	49.8
25 to 44
Daily smoking	71.6
Heavy drinking	60.1
Non-drinking	18.7
45 and over
Daily smoking	59.8
Heavy drinking	33.7
Non-drinking	38.0
Note 1. Heavy drinking refers to the consumption of five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the 12 months preceding the survey. Return to table 6, note 1 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012.

This fact sheet was prepared by Kristina Smith and Shirley Li of the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division of Statistics Canada.

Notes

Footnote 1.

Inuit Nunangat is the homeland of Inuit of Canada and encompasses four regions. Nunavik is the Inuit region in northern Quebec. The other three regions are: Nunatsiavut (Northern coastal Labrador), the territory of Nunavut and the Inuvialuit region (northern Northwest Territories). These regions collectively encompass the area traditionally occupied by Inuit in Canada.

Return to note 1 referrer

Footnote 2.

While the National Household Survey (NHS) counts for the First Nations and Métis populations in Nunavik are provided here, data for other characteristics are not included because of the small numbers living in the region.

Return to note 2 referrer

Footnote 3.

A number of factors should be taken into account when comparing data on Aboriginal people over time. Please refer to the Aboriginal Peoples Reference Guide, National Household Survey, 2011, Catalogue no. 99-011-X2011006 and the Aboriginal Peoples Technical Report, Catalogue no. 99-011-X.

Return to note 3 referrer

Footnote 4.

Total income includes income from all sources, including employment income, income from government programs, pension income, investment income and any other money income. The calculation includes population with income and without income (with an income of zero).

Return to note 4 referrer

Footnote 5.

Questions on self-rated mental health were only asked of respondents who were providing answers to the survey directly, on their own behalf (i.e., data are not available when questionnaires were completed by proxy interview).

Return to note 5 referrer

Date modified:: 2016-03-29

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Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik

Archived Content

About the data sources

Aboriginal people account for the majority of the population in Nunavik

Inuit population younger than non-Aboriginal

Three in five Inuit children live with both parents

Almost half of Inuit live in crowded homes

Almost all Inuit report ability to speak an Aboriginal language

One Inuit in four has postsecondary qualifications

Employment rates and median total income increase with education

Four in ten Inuit rated their health as excellent or very good

Six in ten Inuit smoked daily

Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik Inuit: Fact Sheet for Nunavik

Archived Content

Aboriginal people account for the majority of the population in Nunavik

Inuit population younger than non-Aboriginal

Three in five Inuit children live with both parents

Almost half of Inuit live in crowded homes

Almost all Inuit report ability to speak an Aboriginal language

One Inuit in four has postsecondary qualifications

Employment rates and median total income increase with education

Four in ten Inuit rated their health as excellent or very good

Six in ten Inuit smoked daily

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