Ethnicity, Language and Immigration Thematic Series
Key facts on the French language in the Northwest Territories in 2021

This fact sheet gives an overview of the situation of French in the Northwest Territories^Note in 2021. It begins by providing information on the changes in the number and proportion of the population who can have a conversation in French, whose first official language spoken is French, whose mother tongue is French, and who speak French at home or use French at work. Next, it presents information on French-language instruction in primary and secondary schools, French spoken among recent and established immigrants, and the mobility and place of birth of individuals whose first official language spoken is French. Additional data on these topics can be found in the appendix.

The information in this fact sheet is taken from the Census of Population. To learn more about the census concepts and the historical comparability of data, please refer to the 2021 Census of Population Languages Reference Guide and the Instruction in the Minority Official Language Reference Guide.

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Highlights

• In the Northwest Territories, the number and proportion of residents who could have a conversation in French or who used French most often at work reached all-time highs in 2021.
• Just over 1 in 10 people (10.8%, or 4,395 people) could conduct a conversation in French in 2021.
• In 2021, 1,470 people (3.6% of the population) spoke French at least regularly at home. Among those with French as one of their mother tongues, two-thirds (67.0%) spoke French regularly at home.
• In 2021, 595 workers living in the territory (2.9%) spoke French at least regularly at work. Many of them worked in public administration (37.8%) or educational services (29.4%).
• Roughly 1 in 11 immigrants (8.7%) could have a conversation in French in 2021. This proportion was higher among immigrants admitted before 2016 (9.2%) than among immigrants admitted between 2016 and 2021 (6.2%).
• In 2021, more than 7 in 10 territory residents (71.3%) whose only first official language spoken was French were born in Canada, but outside the Northwest Territories.

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Ability to conduct a conversation in French

Data table for Chart 1



Data table for Chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1. The information is grouped by Knowledge of official languages (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Knowledge of official languages	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French and English	2,725	3,025	3,130	3,665	3,715	4,275	4,295
French only	35	30	40	55	50	65	100
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 4,395 residents of the Northwest Territories (10.8% of the population) could have a conversation in French. Almost all (97.7%, or 4,295 people) could also do so in English.
  • The number of people who could conduct a conversation in French was higher than in 1991 (+1,635) and 2016 (+55). The 2021 figure was the highest ever observed in a census.
• From 1991 to 2021, the proportion of the population who can conduct a conversation in French also increased (from 7.6% to 10.8%). In 2021, this was the highest percentage ever observed in a census.
  • This upward trend since 1991 is driven by the growth of the population with French as one of their mother tongues (+395) and by the increase in bilingualism among people who first learned English in childhood. Of these people, 2,750 (8.9%) could have a conversation in French in 2021, up from 1,565 (5.8%) in 1991.

Description for Map 1

This map shows the proportion of the population able to conduct a conversation in French in each census subdivision in Northwest Territories in 2021.

In this map we use 6 distinct colours to signify different values. Grey is used to represent areas for which no data are available. There are 8 census subdivisions in this group.

Teal is used to represent areas in which less than 1.5% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 15 census subdivisions in this group.

Green is used to represent areas in which 1.5% to less than 5% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 10 census subdivisions in this group.

Yellow is used to represent areas in which 5% to less than 10% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 6 census subdivisions in this group.

Orange is used to represent areas in which 10% to less than 15% of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There are 2 census subdivisions in this group.

Red is used to represent areas in which 15% or more of the population is able to conduct a conversation in French. There is 1 census subdivision in this group.

The boundaries of census subdivisions have been delimited by a gray or by circles for those with a smaller land area. Their colour was assigned according to the table below.



Map title
Table summary
This table displays the results of Map title. The information is grouped by Census Subdivision (appearing as row headers), Population knowing French, calculated using percentage units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Census Subdivision	Population knowing FrenchMap title Note 1
	percentage
Tsiigehtchic	0.0
Fort McPherson	0.0
Colville Lake	0.0
Gamètì	0.0
Nahanni Butte	0.0
Jean Marie River	0.0
Hay River Dene 1	0.0
Wrigley	0.0
Dettah	0.0
Aklavik	0.9
Whatì	0.9
Fort Resolution	1.2
Ulukhaktok	1.2
Tulita	1.3
Behchokò	1.4
Tuktoyaktuk	1.6
Paulatuk	1.7
Déline	1.8
Fort Liard	2.2
Fort Providence	2.4
Fort Good Hope	3.0
Fort Simpson	3.2
Wekweètì	4.5
Sachs Harbour	4.8
Sambaa K'e	5.3
Inuvik	6.0
Lutselk'e	6.1
Enterprise	6.7
Fort Smith	7.7
Norman Wells	8.1
Hay River	10.4
Region 6, Unorganized	14.8
Yellowknife	17.1
Note 1 Includes people knowing French only and people knowing French and English Return to note 1 referrer

• In 2021, in 24 of the Northwest Territories’ 33 municipalities,^Note less than 5% of the population could have a conversation in French.
• The municipalities with a population of more than 500 that had the highest proportion of people who spoke French were the capital, Yellowknife (17.1%), Hay River, located on the shore of Great Slave Lake (10.4%), and Norman Wells (8.1%).
• The municipalities with a population of more than 500 that had the highest number of French speakers were Yellowknife (3,430), Hay River (325) and Inuvik (185).

French as the first official language spoken

Data table for Chart 2



Data table for Chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 2. The information is grouped by First official language spoken (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

First official language spoken	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French only	925	920	875	950	1,030	1,165	1,135
French and English	65	65	80	110	100	150	155
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 1,135 Northwest Territories residents (2.8% of the population) had French as their only first official language spoken, and 155 residents (0.4%) had English and French as their first official languages spoken.
  • From 1991 to 2001, the number of residents with French as their only first official language spoken declined (-50), but rose from 2001 to 2016 (+270). This population remained fairly stable between 2016 and 2021 (-30).
  • The number of Northwest Territories residents with English and French as their first official languages spoken increased from 1991 to 2021 (+90).

French as a mother tongue

Data table for Chart 3



Data table for Chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 3. The information is grouped by Mother tongue (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Mother tongue	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French only	940	955	950	975	1,080	1,175	1,130
French in combination with other languages	135	100	105	60	85	185	345
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 1,470 Northwest Territories residents had French as one of their mother tongues, up from 1991 (+395) and 2016 (+105).
  • In 2021, 76.9% of these residents (1,130 people) had French as their only mother tongue, while 23.5% (345 people) had French as a mother tongue along with other languages (mainly English).
• From 1991 to 2006, the proportion of the population with French as one of their mother tongues edged down from 3.0% to 2.5%. It recovered thereafter, with the proportion rising to 3.6% in 2021.
• For roughly two in five (39.7%) people who had French as one of their mother tongues and who were married or in a common-law relationship, French was also the mother tongue of their spouse or partner.

French spoken at home

Data table for Chart 4



Data table for Chart 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 4. The information is grouped by Language spoken most often at home (appearing as row headers), 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Language spoken most often at home	1991	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French predominantly	340	335	360	445	550	630	615
French equally with other languages	95	75	60	30	55	165	205
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 1991 to 2021.

• In 2021, 1,470 Northwest Territories residents (3.6% of the population) spoke French at least regularly at home.
  • More than half of these residents (55.8%, or 820 people) spoke French most often at home, predominantly or equally with other languages. This was up from 1991 (+380), but remained fairly stable from 2016 to 2021 (+25).
  • Moreover, 650 people (44.2%) spoke French regularly at home in addition to their main language (usually English).
• Among people with French as their mother tongue, alone or with other languages:
  • Two-thirds (67.0%, or 985 people) spoke it at least regularly at home in 2021. However, this rate varied by age, ranging from 86.4% among those under age 15 to 47.9% among those aged 45 and older.
  • Half (49.7%, or 730 people) spoke French most often at home, predominantly or equally with other languages. This was up from 1991 (37.2%, or 400 people).
• Among residents of the Northwest Territories whose mother tongue is not French, 480 (1.2%) spoke French at least regularly at home.
  • The vast majority (81.3%, or 390 people) spoke French at home as a secondary language while speaking another language more often (usually English).

French used at work

Data table for Chart 5



Data table for Chart 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5. The information is grouped by Language used most often at work (appearing as row headers), 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using number units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Language used most often at work	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021
	number
French predominantly	105	170	200	175	165
French equally with other languages	25	30	15	60	90
Notes: Among workers who were employed during the census reference week. In 2021, changes were made to the census questions regarding languages used at work. Comparisons with previous cycles must therefore be made with caution. For more information, consult the Languages Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021. Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001, 2006, 2016 and 2021, and the National Household Survey of 2011.

• In 2021, 595 residents of the Northwest Territories used French at least regularly at work, accounting for 2.9% of the territory’s workers.^Note
• In the Northwest Territories, 260 people, or 1.2% of the territory’s workers, used French most often at work, predominantly or equally with other languages.
  • The number of people who used French most often at work increased from 130 in 2001 to 260 in 2021.
• In 2021, among workers who used French at least regularly at work, most worked in public administration (37.8%, or 225 people), educational services (175 people, or 29.4%) or retail trade (4.2%, or 25 people).^Note
• Among those who spoke French most often at home, predominantly or with other languages, 52.0% also used French regularly at work.
• Among workers who used French regularly at work, 8 in 10 (81.5%) lived in Yellowknife.

Instruction in French in primary and secondary schools

• In 2021, 1,110 (10.9%) of the 10,195 children under 18 living in the territory were eligible^Note for instruction in French.
  • More than 7 in 10 (73.0%, or 810 children) lived in Yellowknife.
• In the Northwest Territories, 1,775 people were attending or had already attended a regular French program in a French-language school in Canada, representing 4.7% of the population aged 5 and older.
  • Of those who had never attended a French-language school, 2,970 (7.9%) had actually attended a French immersion program in an English-language school.
  • Among school-aged children^Note who were eligible for instruction in French, 525 (66.9%) were attending or had already attended a regular French program in a French-language school in Canada.

French among immigrants

• In 2021, the proportions of recent^Note and established^Note immigrants living in the Northwest Territories who could conduct a conversation in French (6.2% and 9.2%, respectively) were lower than the proportion of the non-immigrant population (11.2%).
  • The proportions of immigrants and non-immigrants who spoke French at least regularly at home were similar (3.7% and 4.0%, respectively).
  • The proportion of immigrants with French as their only first official language spoken (2.5%) was lower than the proportion for the non-immigrant population (3.1%). However, the proportion of immigrants who had English and French as their first official languages spoken (1.4%) was higher than that of the non-immigrant population (0.4%).

Mobility and birthplace of the French-speaking population

Data table for Chart 6



Data table for Chart 6
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 6. The information is grouped by Place of birth (appearing as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).

Place of birth	Percent
Northwest Territories	18.4
Quebec	43.9
New Brunswick	7.0
Ontario	11.1
Elsewhere in Canada	9.4
Outside Canada	10.2
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.

• In 2021, among Northwest Territories residents whose only first official language spoken is French, nearly one in five (18.4%, or 225 people) were born in the territory.
  • More than 7 in 10 people (71.3%, or 870 people) were born in another province or territory, with large proportions coming from Quebec (43.9%, or 535 people), Ontario (11.1%, or 135 people) or New Brunswick (7.0%, or 85 people).
  • Roughly 1 in 10 (10.2%, or 125 people) were born abroad, mainly in metropolitan France (4.1%) or Africa (4.5%).
• From 2016 to 2021, the net interprovincial migration of the Northwest Territories population whose only first official language spoken is French was close to zero (-10 people).
  • While 390 people with French as their only first official language spoken settled in the Northwest Territories from another province or territory from 2016 to 2021, 400 people left the territory during the same period.

Appendix