City North America
Iqaluit
Iqaluit is a small city in the far north of Canada. It sits by a cold bay, and its winters are very long and very cold.
Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic, and the only city in that territory. It lies on a bay in the southeast of Baffin Island, Canada's largest island. Its name is Inuit and means 'place of many fish'. Canada's 2021 census counted 6,991 people in its built-up area.
Iqaluit, capital and only city of Nunavut, lies on a bay in southeastern Baffin Island, at the head of Frobisher Bay (Store norske leksikon; Larousse). Census of 11 May 2021: Iqaluit population center 6,991 (Statistics Canada, via City Population); City of Iqaluit 8,612 (Statistics Canada estimate, 1 July 2025); 7,740 at the 2016 census (Larousse).
Photo: Sebastian Kasten, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover Iqaluit
Iqaluit is a small city in the far north of Canada.
Its name means 'place of many fish'.
Iqaluit lies on a bay in the southeast of Baffin Island, in Canada's Arctic territory of Nunavut. Store norske leksikon, Norway's big encyclopedia, says it is Nunavut's capital and only city, and that its name is Inuit and means 'place of many fish'.
Canada's census of 11 May 2021 counted 6,991 people in Iqaluit's built-up area. Statistics Canada estimated 8,612 people in the whole City of Iqaluit on 1 July 2025.
Store norske leksikon ('Iqaluit', Nils Petter Thuesen): a town in Canada, in the territory of Nunavut, in a bay in southeastern Baffin Island; Nunavut's capital and only city, 7,740 inhabitants (2016); 61.2 percent of the population Inuit and 34.3 percent of European origin; city status in 2001; the name is Inuit and means 'place with many fish'. Larousse ('Iqaluit'): a city of Canada, capital of Nunavut, in an indentation of Baffin Island (Frobisher Bay); 7,740 inhabitants (2016 census). City Population (Statistics Canada): Iqaluit population center 4,796 (2006), 6,418 (2011), 7,323 (2016), 6,991 (census 11 May 2021), in the boundaries of 2021; City of Iqaluit official estimates 5,840 (2002), 6,656 (2007), 7,206 (2012), 8,118 (2017), 8,236 (2022), 8,612 (1 July 2025); Nunavut Territory 36,860 (census 2021).
- Where
- on a bay in the southeast of Baffin Island, in Nunavut (Store norske leksikon)
- People (census 2021, population center)
- 6,991
- Capital
- of Nunavut, and its only city (Store norske leksikon)
- Name
- Inuit, meaning 'place of many fish' (Store norske leksikon)
Boats, a rocky shore and colorful buildings
Look at the little boats on the calm water!
Behind them stand buildings in blue, red and white, and a brown hill.
Sebastian Kasten took this photo on 19 August 2011. In his own words, it shows the waterfront of Iqaluit, with fishing boats in front and the town behind. Small motorboats float on calm blue water, rocks line the shore at the right, low buildings in blue, red, white and beige stand along the shore, a few taller buildings rise behind them, and a brown hill sits under a deep blue sky.
On Wikidata, the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum is about 0.8 kilometers south-southeast of the city's point, and Koojesse Inlet about 3.8 kilometers south-southeast.
Commons: File:Iqlauit waterfront.JPG (the file name misspells the town), by Sebastian Kasten (uploaded as User:Melkom; own work, CC BY-SA 3.0), taken 19 August 2011, uploaded 19 July 2012; his English description: 'Waterfront of Iqaluit with fisher boats in the foreground and the cityscape of the town in the background'; he added the categories 'Frobisher Bay' and 'Fishery of Canada' himself; promoted to Quality Image on Commons on 22 July 2012; his camera point (63.74° N, 68.51° W) is 1.20 km SSE of the city point. Seen in the 1,280-pixel copy: small motorboats on calm blue water, a rocky shore at the right, low buildings in blue, red, white and beige, a few taller buildings behind, a brown hill at the right, a deep blue sky. Wikidata from the city point (Q2030): Nunavut Research Institute (Q30284023) 0.19 km N; Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum (Q105409707) 0.77 km SSE; Arctic Winter Games Arena (Q4787564) 1.52 km ESE; Apex Hill (Q4779424) 3.53 km ESE; Koojesse Inlet (Q116686039) 3.80 km SSE.
- In the photo
- the waterfront of Iqaluit, 19 August 2011 (Sebastian Kasten)
- Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum
- a museum about 0.8 km south-southeast of the city's point (Wikidata)
- Koojesse Inlet
- an inlet about 3.8 km south-southeast of the city's point (Wikidata)
A young city on Baffin Island
Iqaluit became a city in 2001.
Most of the people who live there are Inuit.
Store norske leksikon says Iqaluit got city status in 2001. Most of its people, 61.2 percent, are Inuit, and 34.3 percent are of European origin.
In 2007, most of Baffin Island's people lived in Iqaluit. The encyclopedia says the island had about 11,000 people that year, and two thirds of them lived in Iqaluit.
Store norske leksikon ('Iqaluit'): city status in 2001; 61.2 percent of the population Inuit and 34.3 percent of European origin. Store norske leksikon ('Baffinøya'): about 11,000 inhabitants (2007), two thirds of them in the administrative center Iqaluit; with the exception of a few coastal places the island is almost uninhabited; Iqaluit lies at the head of Frobisher Bay. City Population (Statistics Canada): population center 4,796 (2006), 6,418 (2011), 7,323 (2016), 6,991 (2021).
- 2001
- Iqaluit got city status (Store norske leksikon)
- People
- 61.2 percent Inuit and 34.3 percent of European origin (Store norske leksikon)
- Baffin Island
- about 11,000 people (2007), two thirds of them in Iqaluit (Store norske leksikon)
An airport by the town
Iqaluit has its own airport.
Baffin Island is huge, and very few people live on it.
On Wikidata, Iqaluit Airport is about 1.9 kilometers west-northwest of the city's point.
Baffin Island is about 1,500 kilometers long and 200 to 700 kilometers wide, says Store norske leksikon. Apart from a few places on the coast, it is almost uninhabited. Its east coast is deeply cut by fjords, with glaciers and peaks of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, while the southwest is low tundra, and the island has two national parks, Auyuittuq and Sirmilik.
Wikidata from the city point: Iqaluit Airport (Q2415100), a regional airport, 1.88 km WNW. Store norske leksikon ('Baffinøya'): about 1,500 km long and 200-700 km wide; Canada's largest and the world's fifth largest island, 507,451 km²; almost uninhabited except for a few coastal places; the east coast deeply cut by fjords, with glaciers and peaks of 1,500-2,000 m; the southwest low-lying tundra; Nettilling Lake (5,542 km²), the world's largest lake on an island, and Amadjuak Lake (3,155 km²); two national parks, Auyuittuq (about 21,500 km²) and Sirmilik (about 22,300 km²).
- Iqaluit Airport
- about 1.9 km west-northwest of the city's point (Wikidata)
- Baffin Island
- about 1,500 km long and 200 to 700 km wide (Store norske leksikon)
- Most of the island
- almost uninhabited, apart from a few places on the coast (Store norske leksikon)
Long, freezing winters and cool summers
Winters in Iqaluit are very, very cold.
Even in July, the warmest month, days are only cool.
The World Meteorological Organization's averages for Iqaluit, from Canada's weather service, cover 1971 to 2000. February is the coldest month: the average high is −23.8 °C and the average low −32.2 °C. July is the warmest, with an average high of 11.6 °C.
About 412 millimeters of rain and snow, measured as water, fall in a year. August is the wettest month, with 65.7 millimeters, and February the driest, with 15.0.
WMO World Weather Information Service, Iqaluit, Nunavut (Meteorological Service of Canada; period 1971-2000 as given in the data; precipitation (PPT) days at least 0.2 mm; station point 63.75° N, 68.53° W, 0.41 km W of the city point): mean daily maximum −23.8 °C (Feb) to 11.6 °C (Jul); mean daily minimum −32.2 °C (Feb) to 3.7 °C (Jul); months with an average high below 0 °C: October to May. Precipitation 15.0 mm (Feb) to 65.7 mm (Aug); sum 412.1 mm; 10.5 (Jun) to 15.4 (Oct) precipitation days, 154.7 a year.
- February, average daily high and low (WMO, Iqaluit, 1971–2000)
- −23.8 °C and −32.2 °C
- July, average daily high and low (same table)
- 11.6 °C and 3.7 °C
- Rain and snow in a year (twelve months added up, as water)
- about 412 mm
Research, schools and a museum
Iqaluit has schools, a museum and a research institute.
Small boats wait in its harbor.
On Wikidata, the Nunavut Research Institute is about 0.2 kilometers north of the city's point, the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum about 0.8 kilometers south-southeast, and the Arctic Winter Games Arena about 1.5 kilometers east-southeast. Wikidata also lists schools in the town, among them Inuksuk High School and a French-language school.
In Sebastian Kasten's photo, small motorboats rest in the harbor, and he filed it under 'Fishery of Canada' on Commons.
Wikidata from the city point: Nunavut Research Institute (Q30284023), a facility, 0.19 km N; Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (Q30263330) 0.24 km S; Inuksuk High School (Q6059290) 0.38 km E; Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum (Q105409707) 0.77 km SSE; Arctic Winter Games Arena (Q4787564) 1.52 km ESE; École des Trois-Soleils (Q8077975), a public French-language school, 2.29 km ESE. Commons: the photographer's own categories for his waterfront photo are 'Frobisher Bay' and 'Fishery of Canada'.
- Nunavut Research Institute
- about 0.2 km north of the city's point (Wikidata)
- Fishing
- the photographer filed his photo of the harbor's boats under 'Fishery of Canada' (Commons)
- Arctic Winter Games Arena
- about 1.5 km east-southeast of the city's point (Wikidata)
Iqaluit on the map
Find Canada on the globe. Look far to the north and east, on a big island. There is Iqaluit!
Iqaluit lies at about 63.75° north and 68.52° west, at the head of Frobisher Bay in the southeast of Baffin Island.
On Wikidata, the research institute is about 0.2 kilometers north of the city's point, the museum about 0.8 kilometers south-southeast, the airport about 1.9 kilometers west-northwest and Apex Hill about 3.5 kilometers east-southeast.
Iqaluit lies at about 63.75° N, 68.52° W (Wikidata point of Iqaluit, Q2030; the sheet point is 1.06 km E of it). Wikidata from the city point: Nunavut Research Institute 0.19 km N; Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum 0.77 km SSE; Iqaluit Airport 1.88 km WNW; Arctic Winter Games Arena 1.52 km ESE; Apex Hill 3.53 km ESE; Koojesse Inlet 3.80 km SSE.
- Latitude
- about 63.75° north
- Longitude
- about 68.52° west
- Bay
- at the head of Frobisher Bay, on Baffin Island (Store norske leksikon)
Amazing facts
-
The name Iqaluit means 'place of many fish'!
Store norske leksikon says the name Iqaluit is Inuit and means 'place of many fish'.
Store norske leksikon: 'Navnet er inuittisk og betyr sted med mange fisker' (the name is Inuit and means 'place with many fish').
-
Baffin Island, where Iqaluit is, is the biggest island in Canada!
Store norske leksikon says Baffin Island is Canada's largest island and the fifth largest in the world, with 507,451 square kilometers.
Store norske leksikon ('Baffinøya'): Canada's largest and the world's fifth largest island, 507,451 km²; Nettilling Lake on the island is the world's largest lake on an island (5,542 km²).
-
In Iqaluit, the average high stays below freezing from October to May!
In WMO's averages for Iqaluit, the average daily high is below 0 °C in every month from October to May.
WMO, Iqaluit, 1971-2000: mean daily maximum below 0 °C from October (−2.0 °C) to May (−0.9 °C).
Words to know
- Arctic
- the very cold region around the North Pole
- territory
- one of the large areas Canada is divided into, like Nunavut
- Inuit
- the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic in Canada, Greenland and Alaska
- census
- an official count of all the people living in a place
- population center
- Canada's name for a built-up area where people live close together
- bay
- a part of the sea that curves into the land
Discovery challenge
-
Iqaluit is a city in which country?
Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is in which country?
Iqaluit, on Baffin Island, is in which country?
- Canada
- China
- Argentina
Show the answer
Canada
Canada!
Canada.
Canada.
-
What does the name Iqaluit mean?
According to Store norske leksikon, what does the Inuit name Iqaluit mean?
Store norske leksikon translates the name Iqaluit as what?
- Place of many fish
- Land of tall trees
- Hot springs
Show the answer
Place of many fish
Place of many fish!
Place of many fish.
'Place with many fish'.
-
Iqaluit is on which big island?
On which island, Canada's largest, does Iqaluit lie?
Iqaluit lies at the head of Frobisher Bay on which island?
- Baffin Island
- Greenland
- Iceland
Show the answer
Baffin Island
Baffin Island!
Baffin Island.
Baffin Island.
-
Which is the warmest month in Iqaluit?
In WMO's 1971-2000 averages, which month has Iqaluit's highest average daily high?
Which month has the highest mean daily maximum in WMO's Iqaluit normals?
- July
- January
- April
Show the answer
July
July!
July, with 11.6 °C.
July, 11.6 °C.
Nearby places
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Natural wonder
Baffin Island
Baffin Island, in Nunavut, is Canada's largest island, covering 507,451 square kilometers. Ice caps, glaciers and deep fiords with walls hundreds of meters high shape its land, and polar bears, caribou, narwhals and seals live there.
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Nuuk
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Landmark
Aasivissuit–Nipisat
Aasivissuit–Nipisat is a World Heritage landscape in West Greenland, north of the Arctic Circle. It stretches from the sea to the ice sheet, and UNESCO says it holds evidence of 4,200 years of people hunting, fishing and moving with the seasons.
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Natural wonder
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay is a huge body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. During the last ice age a giant ice sheet pressed the land down here, and the land is still slowly rising today. Each winter the bay freezes, and about 1,700 polar bears use the ice to hunt seals.
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L'Anse aux Meadows
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Gros Morne National Park
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Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island, in Nunavut, covers 196,236 square kilometers in Canada's High Arctic. In Quttinirpaaq National Park, glaciers and ice caps cover about 36 percent of the land, and much of the land has cold polar-desert conditions, but the Lake Hazen Basin is a green oasis where Arctic animals thrive.
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Country
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Anchorage
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Calgary
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For parents & teachers
What children will learn
- Locate Iqaluit on Baffin Island in Canada's Arctic.
- Read a climate table and find the months when the average high stays below freezing.
- Explain the difference between a census count and an estimate.
- Learn that Iqaluit's name is Inuit and means 'place of many fish'.
Recommended ages: 3 to 17 · About 15 minutes
Talk about it
- How might people keep warm when the average February low is −32.2 °C?
- Why might two thirds of an island's people live in one town?
- Why might a census count and a later estimate give different numbers?
Try at home or in class
- Freezer check: put a thermometer in a home freezer (about −18 °C) and compare it with Iqaluit's February average low of −32.2 °C.
- Island map: draw Baffin Island about 1,500 kilometers long and mark Iqaluit near its southeast corner, at the head of Frobisher Bay.
- Temperature line: plot Iqaluit's twelve average highs, from −23.8 °C in February to 11.6 °C in July, and color the months below 0 °C blue.
Key vocabulary: Arctic, territory, Inuit, census, population center, bay
Where these facts come from
- Wikidata , Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
- Natural Earth vector data , Natural Earth (NACIS) (Public domain)
- Iqaluit , Store norske leksikon
- Baffinøya , Store norske leksikon
- Iqaluit , Larousse
- Nunavut (Canada): Urban Areas and Population Centers in Territory , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from Statistics Canada
- Canada: Nunavut (Regions and Municipal Units) , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from Statistics Canada
- Iqaluit, Nunavut: climatological information , World Meteorological Organization, World Weather Information Service
- File:Iqlauit waterfront.JPG , Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia Foundation (Per file (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); see each media record)
Checked, not yet human-reviewed. Last updated November 1, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.