List of municipalities in Nunavut

Nunavut is the second-least populous of Canada's three territories with 35,944 residents as of 2016, but the largest territory in land area[lower-alpha 1] at 1,877,779 km² (725,015 sq mi).[1] Nunavut's 25 municipalities cover only 0.2% of the territory's land mass[lower-alpha 2] but are home to 99.83% of its population.[lower-alpha 3][1][3][4]

Location of Nunavut in Canada

Distribution of Nunavut's 25 municipalities by type

Municipalities are created by the Government of Nunavut in accordance with the 2003 Cities, Towns and Villages Act (CTVA) and the 2003 Hamlets Act,[5][6] which are statutes of the neighbouring Northwest Territories.[lower-alpha 4] According to the CTVA, a municipality is an "area within the boundaries of a municipal corporation, as described in the order establishing or continuing the municipal corporation" where a municipal corporation is either a city, town or village.[5] According to the Hamlets Act, a municipality is similarly an "area within the boundaries of a hamlet, as described in the order establishing or continuing the hamlet". All of Nunavut's 25 municipalities are hamlets except for the City of Iqaluit,[4] which is the territory's capital.

The largest municipality by population in Nunavut is Iqaluit with 7,740 residents, home to 21.5% of the territory's population.[3] The smallest municipality by population is Grise Fiord with 129 residents.[3] The largest municipality by land area is Kugluktuk, which spans 549.65 km² (212.22 sq mi), while the smallest is Kimmirut at 2.27 km² (0.88 sq mi).[3]

Cities

An application can be submitted to incorporate a community as a city under the CTVA of the Northwest Territories[lower-alpha 4] at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[5] The proposed city must have a minimum assessed land value of $200 million or an exception made by the Minister.[5] Iqaluit is the only city in Nunavut, with 7,740 residents and a land area of 52.50 km² (20.27 sq mi) in 2011.[3] It incorporated as a city on April 19, 2001.[11]

Towns

Although Nunavut has no municipalities with town status, the CTVA provides opportunity to incorporate a town. A town can be incorporated at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[5] The proposed town must have a minimum assessed land value of $50 million or an exception made by the Minister.[5] Iqaluit held town status between 1980 and 2001.[12]

Villages

Nunavut has no villages, but like town status the CTVA provides opportunity to incorporate a village. A village can be incorporated at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[5] The proposed village must have a minimum assessed land value of $10 million or an exception made by the Minister.[5] Iqaluit held village status between 1974 and 1980.[12]

Hamlets

At the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, an application can be submitted to incorporate a community as a hamlet under the Hamlets Act of the Northwest Territories.[lower-alpha 4][6] Unlike cities, towns and villages, the incorporation of hamlets is not conditioned by a prescribed minimum assessed land value.[6]

Nunavut has 24 hamlets. The largest hamlet by population is Rankin Inlet, with 2,842 residents, and the smallest is Grise Fiord, with 129 residents.[3] The largest hamlet by land area is Kugluktuk, which spans 549.65 km² (212.22 sq mi), while the smallest is Kimmirut, at 2.27 km² (0.88 sq mi).[3]