Spectacular Nisga'a Museum near Laxgalts'ap (Greenville), BC - (21546837042)

Nisga'aBritish Columbia

Population 1,803: a town in British Columbia. Its census division is Kitimat-Stikine.

Photo: Murray Foubister · CC BY-SA 2.0

Population

1,803

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

39.2

years · British Columbia’s towns: 48

Postsecondary

39%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

28%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Nisga'a a good place to live?

Walking, cycling and public transport work well here (A−). Schools are its weak spot (D−). It lags on health as well (D−).

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Nisga'a has subject grades only.

No Safety Grade: no police service publishes a crime rate for this place on its own. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Schools D⁻Health

How Nisga'a grades

Each subject compares Nisga'a with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Nisga'a has subject grades only.

SchoolsSchools are among the weakest comparedD⁻Open →HealthAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD⁻Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carA⁻Open →Hazard riskLess exposed to natural hazards than mostB⁺Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentC⁺Open →

Cost of livingNot graded: not enough data–

SafetyNot graded: not enough data–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Nisga'a stand out

The 3 things Nisga'a does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

28% walk, cycle or take transit

For the middle of Canadian towns, 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Schools

Behind 99%

of Canadian towns on schools

Its schools grade: D−.

Health

Behind 98%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: D−.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Nisga'a.

SchoolsSchools D⁻

The 4 schools of Nisga'a: 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school

4schools within 3 kmD⁻Schools Grade

Young children have 6.8 km to the nearest elementary school, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (0.6 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km). Measured from the centre, the closest high school lies 16 km off, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

School	Level	Students	System
Alvin A McKay Elementary Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn Nisga'aElementary	Elementary	–	English public
Nisga'a Secondary School Bottom fifth in British ColumbiaIn Nisga'aSecondary	Secondary	–	English public

See all 4 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Nearest secondary school	16 km	1.8 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	6.8 km	0.6 km	0.5 km

16 km

to the nearest secondary school

6.8 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageNisga'a’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school4 schools within 3 km · 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in British Columbia Language0 of 4 teach in French · 2% of schools in British Columbia Questions“What schools are there in Nisga'a?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025/26

HealthHealth D⁻

Nisga'a is graded a D− for health

42%very good or excellent healthD⁻Health Grade

Shared with the rest of the Northwest Health Service Delivery Area: health survey and life expectancy

Lives here run to 77.0 years on average, below both British Columbia’s towns (81.0) and Canadian towns (81.5). Measured from where Nisga'a’s residents live, a hospital is 84 km away on average and 100% of them are over 30 km out. Adults here are less upbeat about their health than the province: 42% very good or excellent, against 50% in British Columbia. At 14%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Nisga'a42%

British Columbia’s towns50%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	42%	50%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	21%	15%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	77.0	81.0	81.5
Smokers	14%	9%	12%

77.0

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

84 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

14%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

83 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageNisga'a’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey42% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care84 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 83 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 79.2, men 75.0 Conditions and habits21% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Climate

Summers stay cool in Nisga'a: July afternoons reach 21.5°C, below British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

21.5°CJuly afternoons

Most of the snow comes in January, about 92 cm. Snow totals 328 cm over the year, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). Midwinter nights in Nisga'a bottom out at −5.3°C on average. The frost-free season runs from 25 April to 17 October, 174 days.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−0.1°C

Spring11.0°C

Summer20.7°C

Autumn9.4°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Snowfall a year	328 cm	51 cm	141 cm
July afternoon high	21.5°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,338 mm	1,152 mm	883 mm
January night low	−5.3°C	0.5°C	−13.5°C

328 cm

of snow a year

118

days with frost a year

174

frost-free days, 25 Apr to 17 Oct

161

days with precipitation a year

Full pageNisga'a’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 21.5°C, January lows −5.3°C Rain and snow1,338 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow328 cm of snow a year Weather station91 km to the station · Terrace

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Terrace)

Natural hazardsHazard risk B⁺

Flood mapping exists for Nisga'a: 1 on record, latest by Nisg?a’a Lisims Government

Lowwildfire bandB⁺Hazard risk Grade

Radon is about average around Nisga'a: 5.2% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Averaged over the years, quake damage costs $0.033 per $1,000 of buildings, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and near Canadian towns ($0.030). Behind radon tests sits data gathered across the Northwest health region, with Nisga'a one part of it.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Nisga'a5.2%

British Columbia’s towns1.8%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.033	$0.36	$0.030
Radon tests above the guideline	5.2%	1.8%	6.6%

$0.033

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

5.5 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageNisga'a’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 Earthquakes$0.033 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon5.2% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Who lives here

More of Nisga'a’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 93%

39.2median age

Children are just over a fifth of the town. Visible minorities make up 1.1% of the population, below both British Columbia’s towns (8.6%) and Canadian towns (15%). Those 65 and older account for 17% of residents.

Nisga'aBritish ColumbiaCanada

British ColumbiaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

22%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree30%

Postsecondary qualification39%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 46.5% of Nisga'a

In 2021 there were 835 women to 960 men; Canada as a whole is 50.9% women.

Who lives in Nisga'a
	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Under 15	22%	14%	16%
15 to 64	61%	64%	64%
65+	17%	21%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	30%	13%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	39%	56%	56%

Full pageNisga'a’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages39.2 median age · 17% are 65 or over Households575 households · 3.1 people per household English and French1% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; British Columbia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Trips to work from Nisga'a are shorter than from British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 18 min on average

28%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van70%

Walk24%

Public transit3%

Bicycle2%

Census 2021	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Average trip	18 min	26 min	26 min

$81,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

88%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageNisga'a’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment19% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work28% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to10 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Prince Rupert

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.

Weather

Nisga'a in November: highs near 3°C, lows near −1°C

3°Ca normal November afternoon

The year peaks in July (22°C) and bottoms out in January (−5°C). Next comes December, with normal highs of freezing and lows of −4°C. Expect around 55 cm of snow in November. In November, the normal is 190 mm of rain and snow.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November3°C

December0°C

January−1°C

February2°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	0°C	−4°C	459 mm
Spring	11°C	2°C	210 mm
Summer	21°C	11°C	177 mm
Autumn	9°C	4°C	492 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

190 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageNisga'a’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Terrace); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Skeena—Bulkley Valley, which takes in Nisga'a, is held by Ellis Ross (Conservative Party of Canada)

Skeena is the riding Nisga'a votes in for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and its MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly, the provincial or territorial legislature) isn’t named here because no open list records the members.

Full pageNisga'a’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itNisga'a Land

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A⁻

Nisga'a has no public library of its own; the nearest is Stewart Public Library, 33 km away

Its libraries report as part of a wider system, so there are no figures for Nisga'a in particular.

Full pageNisga'a’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Few places match Nisga'a for protected land nearby: more than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns

11%of the land within 10 km protected

The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Within 5 km lie 26 beaches, unnamed on the map.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Nisga'a11%

British Columbia’s towns6.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Nisga'a	British Columbia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	11%	6.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	10	14	4

At the edge

to Anhluut'ukwsim Lax̱Mihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisg̱A'a Park [A.K.A. Nisg̱A'a Memorial Lava Bed Park]

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageNisga'a’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas10 protected areas within 10 km · Khutzeymateen Park [A.K.A. Khutzeymateen/K'tzim-A-Deen Grizzly Sanctuary]National & provincial parksAt the edge to a provincial park · Anhluut'ukwsim Lax̱Mihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisg̱A'a Park [A.K.A. Nisg̱A'a Memorial Lava Bed Park]

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Nisga'a

15pages on Nisga'a

The big questions

SafetyHousing & costProperty pricesSchoolsD⁻4 schools within 3 km HealthD⁻Life expectancy 77 in its region Work & commuteC⁺44% of adults in work Natural hazardsB⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors11% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 22°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 39.2 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Nisga'a

3 notable people were born in Nisga'a.

See all 3 →

Larry GunoCanadian politician · 1940–2005

Norman TaitFirst Nations woodcarvers · 1941–2016

Roy Henry VickersFirst Nations artist, author, and philanthropist · born 1946

About Nisga'a

Town in British Columbia

TownRatings counts Nisga'a as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in British Columbia; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 1,803 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: British Columbia
Census division: Kitimat-Stikine
First Nation: Nisga'a Nation (Nisga'a Lisims Government)
Census subdivision: 5949035

Questions about Nisga'a

What kind of homes are in Nisga'a?

Single-detached houses make up 80% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 20% of households are one person, and the average is 3.1.

Is Nisga'a growing?

It went from 1,880 people in 2016 to 1,794 in 2021, down 4.6%, while the median of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. StatCan’s 2025 estimate is 1,803.

Is Nisga'a a young town or an old one?

Its median age is 39.2, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).