Inuit: Fact Sheet for Inuit Nunangat

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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 Inuit Nunangat

Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal

Two-thirds of Inuit children live with both parents

Table 1
Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Table 1 Note 1 Inuit Nunangat, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
percent
Children of both parentsTable 1 Note 2 63.9 62.1 63.8 85.1
Stepchildren 5.7 5.2 5.7 2.5
Children of lone parent 25.1 29.3 25.1 12.4
Grandchildren in skip-generation family 2.3 3.4 2.3 0.0
Foster children 1.9 0.0 2.0 0.0
Children living with other relativesTable 1 Note 3 1.2 3.4 1.2 0.0

Inuit most likely to live in crowded homes and homes requiring major repairs

Table 2
Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Table 2 Note 1 Inuit Nunangat, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
percent
CrowdingTable 2 Note 2 37.9 14.8 38.7 4.2
Home in need of majorTable 2 Note 3 repairs 35.1 22.7 35.6 15.7

Majority of Inuit speak an Aboriginal language

 Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group and area of residence, British Columbia, 2011

Description for Chart 1

The title of the graph is "Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Chart 1 Note 1 Inuit Nunangat, 2011."
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 90 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 2 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Aboriginal identity groups."
The title of series 1 is "Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language."
The minimum value is 18.1 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."
The maximum value is 83.0 and it corresponds to "Inuit single identity."
The title of series 2 is "Aboriginal language as mother tongue."
The minimum value is 13.5 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."
The maximum value is 77.2 and it corresponds to "Inuit single identity."

Data table for Chart 1
Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Inuit Nunangat, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue (appearing as column headers).
  Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language Aboriginal language as mother tongue
Total Aboriginal identity population 80.9 75.1
First Nations single identity 18.1 13.5
Inuit single identity 83.0 77.2

Three in ten Inuit have postsecondary qualifications

Table 3
Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Table 3 Note 1 Inuit Nunangat, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
percent
No certificate, diploma or degree 56.4 24.0 57.8 5.7
High school diploma or equivalent 14.1 18.0 13.9 14.3
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree 29.5 58.0 28.2 80.1
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 12.5 15.0 12.3 8.4
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma 13.4 29.0 12.7 21.5
University certificate or diploma below bachelor levelTable 3 Note 2 1.4 2.0 1.3 4.1
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above 2.3 11.0 1.8 46.0

Employment rates and median total income increase with education

Table 4
Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64, by highest level of educational attainment and selected Aboriginal identity group,Table 4 Note 1 Inuit Nunangat, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using employment rate (percent) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
  employment rate (percent)
Total 56.9 69.0 56.2 91.8
No certificate, diploma or degree 46.1 48.0 46.0 72.6
High school diploma or equivalent 66.9 61.1 66.7 90.5
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree 72.5 79.3 71.7 93.4

Under half rated their health as excellent or very good

 Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group and area of residence, British Columbia, 2011

Description for Chart 2

The title of the graph is "Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Inuit Nunangat and outside Inuit Nunangat, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 2 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 80 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 4 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Area of residence."
The title of series 1 is "Total."
The minimum value is 43.5 and it corresponds to "Inuit Nunangat."
The maximum value is 57.6 and it corresponds to "Outside Inuit Nunangat."
The title of series 2 is "12 to 24 years."
The minimum value is 56.8 and it corresponds to "Inuit Nunangat."
The maximum value is 72.1 and it corresponds to "Outside Inuit Nunangat."
The title of series 3 is "25 to 44 years."
The minimum value is 40.9 and it corresponds to "Inuit Nunangat."
The maximum value is 62.6 and it corresponds to "Outside Inuit Nunangat."
The title of series 4 is "45 years and over."
The minimum value is 27.9 and it corresponds to "Inuit Nunangat."
The maximum value is 41.3 and it corresponds to "Outside Inuit Nunangat."

Data table for Chart 2
Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Inuit Nunangat and outside Inuit Nunangat, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of Inuit population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), 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 Nunangat 43.5 56.8 40.9 27.9
Outside Inuit Nunangat 57.6 72.1 62.6 41.3
Table 5
Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of Inuit population aged 18 and over, by age group, Inuit Nunangat and outside Inuit Nunangat, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of Inuit population aged 18 and over Inuit Nunangat and Outside Inuit Nunangat, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Inuit Nunangat Outside Inuit Nunangat
percent
Total 47.7 65.5
18 to 24 47.2 58.3
25 to 44 47.1 72.5
45 and over 49.0 61.8

Six in ten Inuit smoked daily

 Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group and area of residence, British Columbia, 2011

Description for Chart 3

The title of the graph is "Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, Inuit Nunangat and outside Inuit Nunangat, 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 2 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Health behaviours."
The title of series 1 is "Inuit Nunangat."
The minimum value is 43.7 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3 Note 1."
The maximum value is 58.5 and it corresponds to "Daily smoking."
The title of series 2 is "Outside Inuit Nunangat."
The minimum value is 22.6 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 30.2 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3 Note 1."

Data table for Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, Inuit Nunangat and outside Inuit Nunangat, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Inuit Nunangat and Outside Inuit Nunangat (appearing as column headers).
  Inuit Nunangat Outside Inuit Nunangat
Daily smoking 58.5 26.7
Heavy drinkingChart 3 Note 1 43.7 30.2
Non-drinking 44.2 22.6
Table 6
Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over, by age group, Inuit Nunangat, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Selected health behaviours of Inuit population aged 12 and over percent (appearing as column headers).
  percent
12 to 24
Daily smoking 51.0
Heavy drinkingTable 6 Note 1 39.7
Non-drinking 55.8
25 to 44
Daily smoking 69.6
Heavy drinking 48.2
Non-drinking 28.7
45 and over
Daily smoking 53.7
Heavy drinking 39.7
Non-drinking 49.1

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

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