The banners outside of the Yukon Visitor Information Centre in downtown Whitehorse. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Fast growth appears to be in the cards for the population numbers in the territory as seen in the latest Yukon Bureau of Statistics reports on population projections and the fourth quarter population report for 2023.
Population growth projections show that between 2024 and 2045 the most likely scenario would see the number grow to around 67,200. This would represent a compound annual growth rate of 2 percent between 2023 and 2030 before slowing to 1.7 percent between 2030 and 2045.
The population of those 65 and older is also projected to increase relative to the territory’s total population from 15 percent in 2023 to 21.2 percent in 2045.
According to most likely projections, Whitehorse’s population is set to increase by 25.4 percent to 49,920 in 2045, Dawson City will rise by 16 percent to 3,620, Watson Lake will grow by 15.7 percent and Haines Junction will increase by 54.9 percent.
In the fourth quarter report on the territory’s population, the estimated population as of December 31st, 2023 was 45,980, an increase of 3.3 percent from the same time in 2022. Since 2013, this was a 26.1 percent increase.
Over the past 10 years, the population in the Whitehorse area grew by 29.4 percent or 8,305 people, Dawson City grew by 20 percent or 396 people, Watson Lake rose by 3.7 percent or 54 people and Haines Junction increased by 25 percent or 211 people.
