Population of Nunavut Vs World

Canada’s territory of Nunavut is both Canada’s largest and least populated province or territory.

It covers and area of 1,877,778 km2 or nearly 8x the size of the UK or 2.5x the size of Texas.

It’s so big that makes up about one-fifth of Canada’s total land area.

But it has a population of just 36,858 people.

This is so few people that only 5 countries in the world have fewer people:

Why do so few people live in Nunavut despite is size?

Harsh Climate:

Nunavut lies well within the Arctic Circle.
Winters are extremely long, dark, and cold (temperatures can stay below -30°C/-22°F for months).
Permafrost prevents deep soil development and limits vegetation, which makes farming impossible.

Geographic Isolation:

There are no roads connecting most communities, they are only accessible by plane or boat (and some by snowmobile in winter).
This isolation makes transportation of food, fuel, and supplies expensive and difficult, which raises the cost of living.

Limited Economic Opportunities:

Outside of government jobs, mining, fishing, and tourism, there are few industries.
Jobs are concentrated in a few larger communities (like Iqaluit), so smaller communities remain tiny.

High Cost of Living:

Because almost everything has to be flown in or shipped during short ice-free seasons, prices for groceries, fuel, and goods are extremely high.
Housing is expensive and often in short supply.

Historical and Cultural Factors:

The population is mostly Inuit, who have historically lived in small, scattered communities that are spread out rather than concentrated.
European-style large cities never developed because of the geographic and economic challenges.

Lack of Agricultural and Industrial Development:

The land isn’t suitable for large-scale farming or traditional industry.
This limited the kind of settlement patterns that led to population growth in other parts of Canada.

In short, Nunavut is very big but very difficult to live in, which has kept its population small and spread out. You can see how it compares to Canada’s smallest province here.