Baker LakeNunavut

Statistics Canada counts it in the Territories (outside CAs, Nvt.) / Territoires (à l'extérieur des AR, Nt) metro area. 2,250 people live in this town in Nunavut.

Photo: Ansgar Walk · CC BY-SA 2.5

Population

2,250

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

25.6

years · Canadian towns: 45.2

Postsecondary

21%

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

Walk, cycle, transit

33%

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

Is Baker Lake a good place to live?

Hazard risk is low (A+). Walkability is another plus (A+). Owners valued their homes at a median $300,000 in 2021, which is 2.9 years of the typical household’s pay. The weak point is health (D−). It lags on safety as well (D−).

Figures: home values and income: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Baker Lake is graded subject by subject, but Canadian towns need 2,500 residents for an overall grade.

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. No Cost Grade: fewer than 30% of households own their home here, so neither the home value nor the rent is a market price. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. No School Grade: this province doesn't publish comparable results school by school. 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⁺Hazard risk A⁺WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Health D⁻Safety

How Baker Lake grades

Each subject compares Baker Lake 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

Baker Lake is graded subject by subject, but Canadian towns need 2,500 residents for an overall grade.

Hazard riskBased on seismic risk and radon tests, lowered where wildfire runs highA⁺Open →HealthHealth outcomes are among the weakest comparedD⁻Open →SafetyIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD⁻Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carA⁺Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsB⁺Open →

Cost of livingNot graded: not enough data–

SchoolsNo schools grade in Nunavut: the province publishes no results school by school.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Baker Lake stand out

The 3 things Baker Lake does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

Only 4% are 65 or over

Next to 19%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree

Education

21% have a postsecondary qualification

Canadian towns centre on 56%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Households renting

Housing

83% rent their home

The median of Canadian towns: 25%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Baker Lake.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁺

Few places are as safe from hazards as Baker Lake: it beats almost every Canadian town

Lowwildfire bandA⁺Hazard risk Grade

Shaking is less of a worry than in most places, at $0.003 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). No flood study for Baker Lake is on the national inventory.

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

Baker Lake0%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	0%	–	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.003	–	$0.030

$0.003

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

Low

wildfire band

Full pageBaker Lake’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.003 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon0% 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

HealthHealth D⁻

On health, Baker Lake falls short of almost every Canadian town

39%very good or excellent healthD⁻Health Grade

Measured across the Nunavut health region: health survey and life expectancy

Arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure affect 20% of the region’s adults on average, above Canadian towns (17%); even so, about as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across Nunavut, 39% against 39%. Add to that, people in the region live to 70.9 on average: 72.4 for women and 69.4 for men in 2022/2024. Closer to home, a hospital is 257 km from the average resident of Baker Lake, and 100% live more than 30 km away.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Baker Lake39%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Very good or excellent health	39%	–	52%
Smokers	63%	–	12%
Life expectancy at birth	70.9	–	81.5
Chronic conditions (average share)	20%	–	17%

70.9

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

257 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

63%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

257 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageBaker Lake’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey39% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting careA pharmacy 257 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 72.4, men 69.4 Conditions and habits20% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

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

SafetySafety D⁻

The police who cover Baker Lake record more serious crime than Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 377

377Crime Severity Index

Violence across its police area runs at 113.7 per 1,000 residents a year. For violence alone, its police area’s index was 631, higher than Canadian towns (86). Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 229.8 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed. Baker Lake doesn’t get its own Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 figures; the ones here come from the Baker Lake detachment area.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

2023376

2024345

2025409

2023–2025	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Crime Severity Index	377	–	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	631	–	86
Violent crime	113.7	–	12
Property crime per 1,000	229.8	–	31.2

278

non-violent Crime Severity Index

41%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageBaker Lake’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety377 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Baker Lake’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Baker Lake safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Schools

No high school in or near Baker Lake: the closest is 608 km off

2schools within 3 km

School	Level	Students	System
Jonah Amitnaaq SchoolIn Baker LakeElementary	Elementary	–	English public

See all 2 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Nearest secondary school	608 km	–	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	608 km	–	0.5 km

608 km

to the nearest secondary school

608 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageBaker Lake’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school2 elementary schools Language0 of 2 teach in French · 2% of schools in Nunavut Questions“What schools are there in Baker Lake?”

Statistics Canada’s Open Database of Educational Facilities · The schools grade is given only where results are open; in Nunavut, the province publishes no results school by school.

Climate

Baker Lake has cooler summers than Canadian towns: July highs of 17.5°C

17.5°CJuly afternoons

The most precipitation falls in August: 49 mm in a normal year. The thermometer drops below freezing on 267 days a year, higher than Canadian towns (159). Baker Lake sees January nights of −34.0°C on average. A normal October brings 21 cm of snow, the most of any month.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−25.4°C

Spring−12.3°C

Summer14.2°C

Autumn−3.6°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
July afternoon high	17.5°C	–	25.5°C
January night low	−34.0°C	–	−13.5°C
Days with frost a year	267	–	159
Precipitation a year	258 mm	–	883 mm

113 cm

of snow a year

267

days with frost a year

days with precipitation a year

Full pageBaker Lake’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 17.5°C, January lows −34.0°C Rain and snow258 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow113 cm of snow a year Weather station3.3 km to the station · Baker Lake

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

Who lives here

More of Baker Lake’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Canadian towns: 93%

25.6median age

1.9% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, below Canadian towns (6.4%). Visible minorities make up 1.7% of the population, lower than Canadian towns (15%).

Baker LakeNunavutCanada

NunavutCanada

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

32%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree66%

Postsecondary qualification21%

Women and men · all residents

47.6% of Baker Lake’s residents are women

Women numbered 980 and men 1,080 in 2021, next to a 50.9% share of women for Canada.

Who lives in Baker Lake
	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Under 15	32%	–	16%
15 to 64	64%	–	64%
65+	4.4%	–	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	66%	–	16%
Postsecondary qualification	21%	–	56%

Full pageBaker Lake’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants2% belong to a visible minority Ages25.6 median age · 4% are 65 or over Households575 households · 3.6 people per household English and French2% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Housing

Renting in Baker Lake costs 3% of household income, less than in Canadian towns

$300,000median home value, 2021

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 8% of households, lower than Canadian towns (18%).

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Baker Lake$300,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Rent as a share of income	3%	–	20%
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	8%	–	18%
Median home value, 2021	$300,000	–	$406,000

$218

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,040

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageBaker Lake’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Renting$218 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Cost of living2.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $300,000, against the median household income Owners and renters17% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates.

Work & commuteJobs & income B⁺

Trips to work from Baker Lake are shorter than from Canadian towns: 12 min on average

33%walk, cycle or take transit

At the census, 53% of commuters went by car.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van53%

Walk31%

Public transit2%

Census 2021	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Car or van	53%	–	89%
Average trip	12 min	–	26 min

$105,000

median household income, 2020

worked from home, May 2021

93%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageBaker Lake’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment27% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work33% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to10 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Pond Inlet

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

Weather

In Baker Lake, November normally means −15°C afternoons and −22°C nights

−15°Ca normal November afternoon

December follows at −22°C by day and −30°C by night. In November, the normal is 16 mm of rain and snow. Snowfall in a normal November: 19 cm. ECCC’s forecast for Baker Lake is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

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

November−15°C

December−22°C

January−27°C

February−27°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−25°C	−33°C	25 mm
Spring	−12°C	−20°C	39 mm
Summer	14°C	5°C	106 mm
Autumn	−4°C	−10°C	88 mm

−22°C

a normal November night

16 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageBaker Lake’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 February

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

Town hall

Only 34% of electors voted in Nunavut in 2021, fewer than in 99% of Canada’s ridings

Without an open map of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut’s ridings, this page can’t say which one Baker Lake is in.

Full pageBaker Lake’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itHamlet Member of ParliamentLori Idlout

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic life

No public library is mapped in or near Baker Lake

Library statistics aren’t published openly in Nunavut, so there are no visit or loan figures for Baker Lake.

Full pageBaker Lake’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Places to belong0.4 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Protected land is absent from the 10 km around Baker Lake

0%of the land within 10 km protected

OpenStreetMap shows 6 unnamed beaches within 5 km. The nearest national park is more than 100 km away.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Baker Lake0%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Baker Lake	Nunavut	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0%	–	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	0	–	4

beaches within 5 km

Full pageBaker Lake’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas0 protected areas within 10 km

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Baker Lake

15pages on Baker Lake

The big questions

SafetyD⁻Crime Severity Index 377 Housing & costHomes 2.9 × income Property pricesSchools2 schools within 3 km HealthD⁻Life expectancy 70.9 in its region Work & commuteB⁺40% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 18°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 25.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Baker Lake

3 notable people were born in Baker Lake.

See all 3 →

Mumilaaq QaqqaqCanadian politician · born 1993

David SimailakCanadian politician

Myra KukiiyautArtist · 1929–2006

About Baker Lake

Town in Nunavut

Every figure TownRatings gives for Baker Lake covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Nunavut.

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

Population: 2,250 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Nunavut
Census division: Kivalliq
Metro area: Territories (outside CAs, Nvt.) / Territoires (à l'extérieur des AR, Nt)
Census subdivision: 6205023

Questions about Baker Lake

How old are the people of Baker Lake?

At 25.6, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 32% of the population and seniors 4%.

What kind of homes are in Baker Lake?

Single-detached houses make up 50% of the homes here, where Canadian towns sit at 64%; 0% are in high-rise apartments. 22% of households are one person, and the average is 3.6.

Is Baker Lake growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it fell from 2,069 to 2,061 residents (0.4% down; Canadian towns’ median grew 4.1%); Statistics Canada now estimates 2,250.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · 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).