Editing Arctic Archipelago

{{short description|Canadian islands in the Arctic Ocean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Arctic Archipelago<br /><small>{{native name|fr-CA|Archipel arctique canadien}}</small>
| image_name       = arcticisl.png
| image_caption    = Polar projection map of the Arctic Archipelago
| image_size       =
| map_image        = Canadian Arctic Archipelago.svg
| native_name      =
| native_name_link =
| nickname         =
| location         = [[Northern Canada]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|75|N|90|W|type:isle_scale:10000000_region:CA|display=inline,title|name=Arctic Archipelago}}
| archipelago      =
| total_islands    = 36,563
| major_islands    = [[Baffin Island]], [[Victoria Island]], [[Ellesmere Island]]
| area_km2         = 1407770 <ref name="Canada">{{cite web|url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/islands.html |title=Atlas of Canada – Sea Islands |publisher=Atlas.nrcan.gc.ca |date=12 August 2009|access-date=12 May 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122002132/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/islands.html | archive-date=22 January 2013}}</ref>
| highest_mount    =
| elevation_m      =
| country          = Canada
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Territories and province]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Nunavut]]<br />[[Northwest Territories]]<br />[[Yukon]]<br />[[Newfoundland and Labrador]]
| country_largest_city              = [[Iqaluit]], Nunavut
| country_largest_city_population   = 7,429<ref name=2021censusNU/>
| country_leader_title              =
| country_leader_name               =
| population       = 23,073
| population_as_of = 2021<ref name=2021censusNU/><ref name=2021censusNWT/>
| density_km2      = 0.0098
| ethnic_groups    =
| additional_info  =
}}

The '''Arctic Archipelago''', also known as the '''Canadian Arctic Archipelago''', is an [[archipelago]] lying to the north of the Canadian continental mainland, excluding [[Greenland]] (an autonomous territory of the [[Danish Realm]], which is, by itself, much larger than the combined area of the archipelago) and [[Iceland]] (an independent country).

Situated in the northern extremity of North America and covering about {{cvt|1424500|km2}}, this group of 36,563 islands, surrounded by the [[Arctic Ocean]], comprises much of [[Northern Canada]], predominately [[Nunavut]] and the [[Northwest Territories]].<ref>Marsh, James H., ed. 1988. "[https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/arctic-archipelago Arctic Archipelago]" ''[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]''. Toronto: Hurtig Publishers.</ref> The archipelago is showing some [[effects of climate change]],<ref>[http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/people/dezheng.sun/lectures/seaice/Rothrock-etal.1999-GRL.pdf Thinning of the Arctic Sea-Ice Cover]</ref><ref>[http://amper.ped.muni.cz/jenik/dirs/gw/dirs/diagnosis/fig_cz/.w/stroeve_sea_ice2007.pdf Arctic sea ice decline: Faster than forecast]</ref> with some computer estimates determining that melting there will contribute {{cvt|3.5|cm}} to the [[sea level rise|rise in sea levels]] by 2100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348880/description/News_in_Brief_Canadas_ice_shrinking_rapidly|title=Canada's ice shrinking rapidly|first=Erin|last=Wayman|work= [[Science News]]}}</ref>

==History==
Around 2500 BCE, the first humans, the [[Paleo-Eskimo]]s, arrived in the archipelago from the Canadian mainland. Between 1000 and 1500 CE, they were replaced by the [[Thule people]], who are the ancestors of today's [[Inuit]].

British claims on the islands, the [[British Arctic Territories]], were based on the explorations in the 1570s by [[Martin Frobisher]]. Canadian sovereignty was originally (1870–80) only over island portions that drained into [[Foxe Basin]], [[Hudson Bay]] and [[Hudson Strait]]. Canadian sovereignty over the islands was established by 1880 when Britain transferred them to Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Canada.html |title=Canada|publisher=World Statesmen|access-date=30 June 2016}}</ref> The [[District of Franklin]] – established in 1895 – comprised almost all of the archipelago. The district was dissolved upon the creation of Nunavut in 1999. Canada claims all the waterways of the [[Northwest Passage]] as [[Canadian Internal Waters]]; however, most maritime countries view these as [[international waters]].<ref name="dispute">{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=6d4815ac-4fdb-4cf3-a8a6-4225a8bd08df&k=73925|title=Northwest Passage gets political name change|newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]]|via=Canada.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121021541/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=6d4815ac-4fdb-4cf3-a8a6-4225a8bd08df&k=73925 |archive-date=21 January 2016}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2023}} Disagreement over the passages' status has raised Canadian concerns about environmental enforcement, national security, and general sovereignty. East of [[Ellesmere Island]], in the [[Nares Strait]], lies [[Hans Island]], ownership of which is now shared between Canada and Denmark, after a decades-long dispute.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/world/what-in-the-world/canada-denmark-hans-island-whisky-schnapps.html|title=Canada and Denmark Fight Over Island With Whisky and Schnapps|last=Levin|first=Dan|date=7 November 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=26 September 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/canada-and-denmark-whiskey-war-over-hans-island-2016-1|title=2 countries have been fighting over an uninhabited island by leaving each other bottles of alcohol for over 3 decades|last=Bender|first=Jeremy|website=Business Insider|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hopper |first=Tristin |date=13 June 2022|title=Canada to get new land border with Denmark as decades-long Hans Island dispute ends |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-to-get-new-land-border-with-denmark-as-decades-long-hans-island-dispute-ends |access-date=18 June 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Wfm baffin island.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of [[Baffin Island]], the largest island by total area of the Arctic Archipelago]]

The archipelago extends some {{cvt|2400|km}} longitudinally and {{cvt|1900|km}} from the mainland to [[Cape Columbia]], the northernmost point on Ellesmere Island. It is bounded on the west by the [[Beaufort Sea]]; on the northwest by the [[Arctic Ocean]]; on the east by Greenland, [[Baffin Bay]] and [[Davis Strait]]; and on the south by [[Hudson Bay]] and the Canadian mainland. The various islands are separated from each other and the continental mainland by a series of waterways collectively known as the [[Northwest Passage]]. Two large peninsulas, [[Boothia Peninsula|Boothia]] and [[Melville Peninsula|Melville]], extend northward from the mainland. The northernmost cluster of islands, including [[Ellesmere Island]], is known as the [[Queen Elizabeth Islands]] and was formerly the Parry Islands.

The archipelago consists of 36,563 islands, of which 94 are classified as major islands, being larger than {{cvt|130|km2}}, and cover a total area of {{cvt|1400000|km2}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arctic Archipelago |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/arctic-archipelago |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en}}</ref> The islands of the archipelago over {{cvt|10000|km2}}, in order of descending area, are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2"| Name !! rowspan="2"| Location<sup>*</sup> !! rowspan="2"|Area!! colspan="2"| Area rank !! rowspan="2" | Population<br />(2021)
|-
! World !! Canada
|-
| [[Baffin Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|507451|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 5 || style="text-align: right;" | 1 || style="text-align: right;" | 13,039<ref name=2021censusNU/>
|-
| [[Victoria Island]] || [[Northwest Territories|NT]], [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|217291|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 8 || style="text-align: right;" | 2 || style="text-align: right;" | 2,168<ref name=2021censusNU>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000262 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nunavut | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=9 February 2022 | accessdate=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=2021censusNWT>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000261 | title= Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=9 February 2022 | accessdate=18 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ellesmere Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|196236|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 10 || style="text-align: right;" | 3 || style="text-align: right;" | 144<ref name=2021censusNU/>
|-
| [[Banks Island]] || [[Northwest Territories|NT]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|70028|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 24 || style="text-align: right;" | 5 || style="text-align: right;" | 104<ref name=2021censusNWT/>
|-
| [[Devon Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|55247|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 27 || style="text-align: right;" | 6 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Axel Heiberg Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] ||style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|43178|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 32 || style="text-align: right;" | 7 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Melville Island (Northwest Territories and Nunavut)|Melville Island]] || [[Northwest Territories|NT]], [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|42149|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 33 || style="text-align: right;" | 8 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Southampton Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|41214|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 34 || style="text-align: right;" | 9 || style="text-align: right;" | 1,038<ref name=2021censusNU/>
|-
| [[Prince of Wales Island (Nunavut)|Prince of Wales Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|33339|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 40 || style="text-align: right;" | 10 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Somerset Island (Nunavut)|Somerset Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|24786|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 46 || style="text-align: right;" | 12 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Bathurst Island (Nunavut)|Bathurst Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|16042|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 54 || style="text-align: right;" | 13 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Prince Patrick Island]] || [[Northwest Territories|NT]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|15848|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 55 || style="text-align: right;" | 14 ||style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[King William Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|13111|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 61 || style="text-align: right;" | 15 || style="text-align: right;" | 1,349<ref name=2021censusNU/>
|-
| [[Ellef Ringnes Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|11295|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 69 || style="text-align: right;" | 16 || style="text-align: right;" | 0
|-
| [[Bylot Island]] || [[Nunavut|NU]] || style="text-align: right;" | {{cvt|11067|km2}} || style="text-align: right;" | 72 || style="text-align: right;" | 17 ||style="text-align: right;" | 0
|}<sup>*</sup>&nbsp;<small>NT = [[Northwest Territories]], NU = [[Nunavut]]</small>

After Greenland, the archipelago is the world's largest high-Arctic land area. The climate of the islands is [[Climate of the Arctic|Arctic]], and the terrain consists of [[tundra]] except in mountainous regions. Most of the islands are uninhabited; human settlement is extremely thin and scattered, being mainly coastal [[Inuit]] settlements on the southern islands.

==Map with links to islands==
[[File:Canadarcticislands.gif|upright=2.5|Reference map of Canadian Arctic Archipelago|center]]
{{div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes|gap=2em}}
* [[King Christian Island|King Christian]]{{Ref|1|map 1}}
* [[Borden Island|Borden]]{{Ref|2|map 2}}
* [[Lougheed Island|Lougheed]]{{Ref|3|map 3}}
* [[Brock Island|Brock]]{{Ref|4|map 4}}
* [[Mackenzie King Island|Mackenzie King]]{{Ref|5|map 5}}
* [[Helena Island|Helena]]{{Ref|6|map 6}}
* [[Cameron Island|Cameron]]{{Ref|7|map 7}}
* [[Emerald Isle (Northwest Territories)|Emerald]]{{Ref|8|map 8}}
* [[Prince Patrick Island|Prince Patrick]]{{Ref|9|map 9}}
* [[Île Vanier]]{{Ref|10|map 10}}
* [[Eglinton Island|Eglinton]]{{Ref|11|map 11}}
* [[Alexander Island (Nunavut)|Alexander]]{{Ref|12|map 12}}
* [[Bathurst Island (Nunavut)|Bathurst]]{{Ref|13|map 13}}
* [[Melville Island (Northwest Territories and Nunavut)|Melville]]{{Ref|14|map 14}}
* [[Byam Martin Island|Byam Martin]]{{Ref|15|map 15}}
* [[Banks Island|Banks]]{{Ref|16|map 16}}
* [[Stefansson Island|Stefansson]]{{Ref|17|map 17}}
* [[Russell Island (Nunavut)|Russell]]{{Ref|18|map 18}}
* [[Prince of Wales Island (Nunavut)|Prince of Wales]]{{Ref|19|map 19}}
* [[Prescott Island|Prescott]]{{Ref|20|map 20}}
* [[Somerset Island (Nunavut)|Somerset]]{{Ref|21|map 21}}
* [[Victoria Island|Victoria]]{{Ref|22|map 22}}
* [[King William Island|King William]]{{Ref|23|map 23}}
* [[Matty Island|Matty]]{{Ref|24|map 24}}
* [[Wales Island (Nunavut)|Wales]]{{Ref|25|map 25}}
* [[Belcher Islands|Belcher]]{{Ref|26|map 26}}
* [[Long Island (Hudson Bay, Nunavut)|Long]]{{Ref|27|map 27}}
* [[Akimiski Island|Akimiski]]{{Ref|28|map 28}}
* [[Charlton Island|Charlton]]{{Ref|29|map 29}}
* [[Ellesmere Island|Ellesmere]]{{Ref|30|map 30}}
* [[Meighen Island|Meighen]]{{Ref|31|map 31}}
* [[Axel Heiberg Island|Axel Heiberg]]{{Ref|32|map 32}}
* [[Ellef Ringnes Island|Ellef Ringnes]]{{Ref|33|map 33}}
* [[Amund Ringnes Island|Amund Ringnes]]{{Ref|34|map 34}}
* [[Cornwall Island (Nunavut)|Cornwall]]{{Ref|35|map 35}}
* [[Graham Island (Nunavut)|Graham]]{{Ref|36|map 36}}
* [[North Kent Island|North Kent]]{{Ref|37|map 37}}
* [[Baillie-Hamilton Island|Baillie-Hamilton]]{{Ref|38|map 38}}
* [[Little Cornwallis Island|Little Cornwallis]]{{Ref|39|map 39}}
* [[Cornwallis Island (Nunavut)|Cornwallis]]{{Ref|40|map 40}}&nbsp;{{ref|A|A}}
* [[Devon Island|Devon]]{{Ref|41|map 41}}
* [[Bylot Island|Bylot]]{{Ref|42|map 42}}
* [[Baffin Island|Baffin]]{{Ref|43|map 43}}
* [[Kapuiviit]]{{Ref|44|map 44}}&nbsp;{{ref|B|B}}
* [[Koch Island|Koch]]{{Ref|45|map 45}}
* [[Bray Island|Bray]]{{Ref|46|map 46}}
* [[Rowley Island|Rowley]]{{Ref|47|map 47}}
* [[Foley Island|Foley]]{{Ref|48|map 48}}
* [[Air Force Island|Air Force]]{{Ref|49|map 49}}
* [[Prince Charles Island|Prince Charles]]{{Ref|50|map 50}}
* [[Nagjuttuuq]]{{Ref|51|map 51}}&nbsp;{{ref|C|C}}
* [[Qikiqtaaluk (Foxe Basin)]]{{Ref|52|map 52}}&nbsp;{{ref|D|D}}
* [[Southampton Island|Southampton]]{{Ref|53|map 53}}
* [[Resolution Island (Nunavut)|Resolution]]{{Ref|54|map 54}}
* [[Loks Land Island|Loks]]{{Ref|55|map 55}}
* [[Akpatok Island|Akpatok]]{{Ref|56|map 56}}
* [[Qikiqtarjuaq (Hudson Strait)]]{{Ref|57|map 57}}&nbsp;{{ref|E|E}}
* [[Salisbury Island (Nunavut)|Salisbury]]{{Ref|58|map 58}}
* [[Nottingham Island|Nottingham]]{{Ref|59|map 59}}
* [[Mansel Island|Mansel]]{{Ref|60|map 60}}
* [[Coats Island|Coats]]{{Ref|61|map 61}}
{{div col end}}
;Islands not on map
{{div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes|gap=2em}}
* [[Beechey Island|Beechey]]{{ref|62|map 62}}
* [[Broughton Island (Nunavut)|Broughton]]{{ref|63|map 63}}&nbsp;{{ref|F|F}}
* [[Cape Chidley Islands|Cape Chidley]]{{ref|64|map 64}}
* [[Dorset Island|Dorset]]{{ref|65|map 65}}&nbsp;{{ref|G|G}}
* [[Duke of York Archipelago|Duke of York]]{{ref|66|map 66}}
* [[East Pen Island|East Pen]]{{ref|67|map 67}}
* [[Flaherty Island|Flaherty]]{{ref|68|map 68}}&nbsp;{{ref|H|H}}
* [[Haig-Thomas Island|Haig-Thomas]]{{ref|69|map 69}}
* [[Hans Island|Hans]]{{ref|70|map 70}}
* [[Herschel Island|Herschel]]{{ref|71|map 71}}
* [[Igloolik Island|Igloolik]]{{ref|72|map 72}}&nbsp;{{ref|I|I}}
* [[Killiniq Island|Killiniq]]{{ref|73|map 73}}
* [[Ottawa Islands|Ottawa]]{{ref|74|map 74}}
* [[Prince Leopold Island|Prince Leopold]]{{ref|75|map 75}}
* [[Qikiqtaryuaq]]{{ref|76|map 76}}&nbsp;{{ref|J|J}}
* [[Skraeling Island|Skraeling]]{{ref|77|map 77}}
* [[Trodely Island|Trodely]]{{ref|78|map 78}}
* [[Umingmalik]]{{ref|79|map 79}}&nbsp;{{ref|K|K}}
* [[Weston Island|Weston]]{{ref|80|map 80}}
{{div col end}}

===Notes===
{{div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes|gap=2em}}
*{{note|A|A}}Population: 183<ref name=2021censusNU/>
*{{note|B|B}}Formerly Jens Munk Island
*{{note|C|C}}Formerly Vansittart Island
*{{note|D|D}}Formerly White Island
*{{note|E|E}}Formerly Big Island
*{{note|F|F}}Population: 593<ref name=2021censusNU/>
*{{note|G|G}}Population: 1,396<ref name=2021censusNU/>
*{{note|H|H}}Population: 1,010<ref name=2021censusNU/>
*{{note|I|I}}Population: 2,049<ref name=2021censusNU/>
*{{note|J|J}}Formerly Jenny Lind Island
*{{note|K|K}}Formerly Gateshead Island
{{div col end}}

==Communities==
[[File:Bayview Iqaluit.JPG|thumb|[[Iqaluit]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Community
! Island
! Region, territory
! Population<ref name=2021censusNU/><ref name=2021censusNWT/>
|-
|[[Arctic Bay]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|944
|-
|[[Clyde River, Nunavut|Clyde River]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,181
|-
|[[Iqaluit]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|7,429
|-
|[[Kimmirut]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|426
|-
|[[Pangnirtung]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,504
|-
|[[Pond Inlet]]||[[Baffin Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,555
|-
|[[Sachs Harbour]]||[[Banks Island]]||[[Inuvik Region|Inuvik]], [[Northwest Territories|NT]]||align=right|104
|-
|[[Qikiqtarjuaq]]||[[Broughton Island (Nunavut)|Broughton Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|593
|-
|[[Resolute, Nunavut|Resolute]]||[[Cornwallis Island (Nunavut)|Cornwallis Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|183
|-
|[[Kinngait]]||[[Dorset Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,396
|-
|[[Grise Fiord]]||[[Ellesmere Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|144
|-
|[[Sanikiluaq]]||[[Flaherty Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,010
|-
|[[Igloolik]]||[[Igloolik Island]]||[[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|2,049
|-
|[[Gjoa Haven]]||[[King William Island]]||[[Kitikmeot Region|Kitikmeot]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,349
|-
|[[Coral Harbour]]||[[Southampton Island]]||[[Kivalliq Region|Kivalliq]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,038
|-
|[[Cambridge Bay]]||[[Victoria Island]]||[[Kitikmeot Region|Kitikmeot]], [[Nunavut|NU]]||align=right|1,760
|-
|[[Ulukhaktok]]||[[Victoria Island]]||[[Inuvik Region|Inuvik]], [[Northwest Territories|NT]]||align=right|408
|-
| || ||Total ||align=right|23,073
|}

==Populated islands==
Of the more than 36,000 islands, only 11 are populated. Baffin Island, the largest, also has the largest population of 13,309.<ref name=2021censusNU/> The population accounts for 67.37 per cent of the 19,355 people in the [[Qikiqtaaluk Region]], 56.51 per cent of the population of the Arctic Archipelago, and 35.38 per cent of the population of Nunavut.<ref name=2021censusNU/><ref name=2021censusNWT/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Island
! Population<ref name=2021censusNU/><ref name=2021censusNWT/>
! Area<ref name="Canada"/><ref name="size">{{cite web |url=http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm |title=Islands By Land Area |publisher=Islands.unep.ch |access-date=27 May 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220003634/http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm}}</ref><ref name="mil">{{cite web|url=http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub146/146sec13.pdf |title=Sector13.Hudson Strait |work=National Geospatial Intelligence Agency |publisher=pollux.nss.nima.mil |pages=14–15 |access-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024235001/http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub146/146sec13.pdf |archive-date= 24 October 2004}}</ref><br>(km2)
! Area<br>(sq mi)
! Density<br>(km2)
! Density<br>(sq mi)
|-
|[[Baffin Island]] || align=right| 13,039 || align=right| 507,451 || align=right| {{cvt|507451|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|13039|507451|km2|prec=3|disp=num}} || align=right| {{Pop density|13039|507451|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Banks Island]] || align=right| 104 || align=right| 70,028 || align=right| {{cvt|70028|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|104|70028|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|104|70028|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Broughton Island (Nunavut)|Broughton Island]] || align=right| 593 || align=right| 127.6 || align=right| {{cvt|127.6|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|593|127.6|km2|disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|593|127.6|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Cornwallis Island (Nunavut)|Cornwallis Island]] || align=right| 183 || align=right| 6,995 || align=right| {{cvt|6995|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|183|6995|km2|disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|183|6995|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Dorset Island]] || align=right| 1,396 || align=right| {{cvt|8|sqmi|disp=number}} || align=right| 8 || align=right| {{Pop density|1396|8|sqmi||disp=num|flip=on|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1396|8|sqmi|km2|flip=on|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Ellesmere Island]] || align=right| 144 || align=right| 196,236 || align=right| {{cvt|196236|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|144|196236|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|144|196236|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Flaherty Island]] || align=right| 1,010 || align=right| 1,585 || align=right| {{cvt|1585|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1010|1585|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1010|1585|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Igloolik Island]] || align=right| 2,049 || align=right| 114.5 || align=right| {{cvt|114.5|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|2049|114.5|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|2049|114.5|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[King William Island]] || align=right| 1,349 || align=right| 13,111 || align=right| {{cvt|13111|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1349|13111|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1349|13111|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Southampton Island]] || align=right| 1,038 || align=right| 41,214 || align=right| {{cvt|41214|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|1349|13111|km2||disp=num|prec=3}}|| align=right| {{Pop density|1349|13111|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|-
|[[Victoria Island]] || align=right| 2,168 || align=right| 217,291 || align=right| {{cvt|217291|km|disp=number}} || align=right| {{Pop density|2168|217291|km2||disp=num|prec=3}} || align=right| {{Pop density|2168|217291|km2|sqmi|prec=3|disp=num}}
|}

==Mapping==
{{div col|small=yes|colwidth=25em}}
* {{Note|1|map 1}}King Christian, {{Coord|77|45|N|102|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=King Christian Island, NU}}
* {{Note|2|map 2}}Borden, {{Coord|78|33|N|111|10|W|type:isle_region:CA_scale:500000|name=Borden Island, NT, NU}}
* {{Note|3|map 3}}Lougheed, {{Coord|77|24|N|105|15|W|type:isle_region:CA-NT_scale:500000|name=Lougheed Island, NT}}
* {{Note|4|map 4}}Brock, {{Coord|77|51|N|114|27|W|type:isle_region:CA-NT_scale:500000|name=Brock Island, NT}}
* {{Note|5|map 5}}Mackenzie King {{Coord|77|43|N|111|57|W|type:isle_region:CA_scale:700000|name=Mackenzie King Island, NT, NU}}
* {{Note|6|map 6}}Helena, {{Coord|76|40|N|101|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Helena Island, NU}}
* {{Note|7|map 7}}Cameron, {{Coord|77|48|N|101|51|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Cameron Island, NU}}
* {{Note|8|map 8}}Emerald Isle, {{Coord|76|48|N|114|07|W|type:isle_region:CA-NT_scale:500000|name=Emerald Isle, NT}}
* {{Note|9|map 9}}Prince Patrick, {{Coord|76|45|N|119|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NT_scale:1500000|name=Prince Patrick Island, NT}}
* {{Note|10|map 10}}Île Vanier, {{Coord|76|10|N|103|15|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Île Vanier, NU}}
* {{Note|11|map 11}}Eglinton, {{Coord|75|46|N|118|27|W|type:isle_region:CA-NT_scale:500000|name=Eglinton Island, NT}}
* {{Note|12|map 12}}Alexander, {{Coord|75|52|N|102|37|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Alexander Island, NU}}
* {{Note|13|map 13}}Bathurst, {{Coord|75|46|N|099|47|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1000000|name=Bathurst Island, NU}}
* {{Note|14|map 14}}Melville, {{Coord|75|30|N|111|30|W|type:isle_region:CA_scale:1500000|name=Melville Island, NT, NU}}
* {{Note|15|map 15}}Byam Martin, {{Coord|75|12|N|104|17|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Byam Martin Island, NU}}
* {{Note|16|map 16}}Banks, {{Coord|73|00|N|121|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:2000000|name=Banks Island, NU}}
* {{Note|17|map 17}}Stefansson, {{Coord|73|30|N|105|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Stefansson Island, NU}}
* {{Note|18|map 18}}Russell, {{Coord|74|00|N|098|25|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Russell Island, NU}}
* {{Note|19|map 19}}Prince of Wales, {{Coord|72|36|N|098|32|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:2000000|name=Prince of Wales Island, NU}}
* {{Note|20|map 20}}Prescott, {{Coord|73|03|N|096|49|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Prescott Island, NU}}
* {{Note|21|map 21}}Somerset, {{Coord|73|15|N|093|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1500000|name=Somerset Island, NU}}
* {{Note|22|map 22}}Victoria, {{Coord|71|00|N|110|00|W|type:isle_region:CA_scale:5000000|name=Victoria Island, NT, NU}}
* {{Note|23|map 23}}King William, {{Coord|68|58|N|097|14|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:2000000|name=King William Island, NU}}
* {{Note|24|map 24}}Matty, {{Coord|69|28|N|095|40|W|type:is00000014le_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Matty Island, NU}}
* {{Note|25|map 25}}Wales, {{Coord|68|01|N|086|40|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Wales Island, NU}}
* {{Note|26|map 26}}Belcher, {{Coord|56|20|N|079|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Belcher Islands, NU}}
* {{Note|27|map 27}}Long, {{Coord|54|52|N|079|25|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Long Island, NU}}
* {{Note|28|map 28}}Akimiski, {{Coord|53|00|N|081|20|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Akimiski Island, NU}}
* {{Note|29|map 29}}Charlton, {{Coord|52|00|N|079|26|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Charlton Island, NU}}
* {{Note|30|map 30}}Ellesmere, {{Coord|79|49|N|078|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:5000000|name=Ellesmere Island, NU}}
* {{Note|31|map 31}}Meighen, {{Coord|79|59|N|099|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Meighen Island, NU}}
* {{Note|32|map 32}}Axel Heiberg, {{Coord|79|26|N|090|46|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:2500000|name=Axel Heiberg Island, NU}}
* {{Note|33|map 33}}Ellef Ringnes, {{Coord|78|37|N|101|56|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1500000|name=Ellef Ringnes Island, NU}}
* {{Note|34|map 34}}Amund Ringnes, {{Coord|78|19|N|096|25|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1000000|name=Amund Ringnes Island, NU}}
* {{Note|35|map 35}}Cornwall, {{Coord|77|37|N|094|52|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Cornwall Island, NU}}
* {{Note|36|map 36}}Graham, {{Coord|77|26|N|090|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Graham Island, NU}}
* {{Note|37|map 37}}North Kent, {{Coord|76|40|N|090|15|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=North Kent Island, NU}}
* {{Note|38|map 38}}Baillie-Hamilton, {{Coord|75|53|N|094|35|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Baillie-Hamilton Island, NU}}
* {{Note|39|map 39}}Little Cornwallis, {{Coord|75|30|N|096|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Little Cornwallis Island, NU}}
* {{Note|40|map 40}}Cornwallis, {{Coord|75|05|N|095|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:700000|name=Cornwallis Island, NU}}
* {{Note|41|map 41}}Devon, {{Coord|75|15|N|088|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1500000|name=Devon Island, NU}}
* {{Note|42|map 42}}Bylot, {{Coord|73|13|N|078|34|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:700000|name=Bylot Island, NU}}
* {{Note|43|map 43}}Baffin, {{Coord|69|00|N|072|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:10000000|name=Baffin Island, NU}}
* {{Note|44|map 44}}Jens Munk, {{Coord|69|40|N|079|40|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Jens Munk Island, NU}}
* {{Note|45|map 45}}Koch, {{Coord|69|35|N|078|20|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Koch Island, NU}}
* {{Note|46|map 46}}Bray, {{Coord|69|20|N|077|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Bray Island, NU}}
* {{Note|47|map 47}}Rowley, {{Coord|69|05|N|078|52|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Rowley Island, NU}}
* {{Note|48|map 48}}Foley, {{Coord|68|30|N|075|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Foley Island, NU}}
* {{Note|49|map 49}}Air Force, {{Coord|67|58|N|074|05|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Air Force Island, NU}}
* {{Note|50|map 50}}Prince Charles, {{Coord|67|45|N|076|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:700000|name=Prince Charles Island, NU}}
* {{Note|51|map 51}}Vansittart, {{Coord|65|50|N|084|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Vansittart Island, NU}}
* {{Note|52|map 52}}White, {{Coord|65|46|N|084|53|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=White Island, NU}}
* {{Note|53|map 53}}Southampton, {{Coord|64|30|N|084|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:1500000|name=Southampton Island, NU}}
* {{Note|54|map 54}}Resolution, {{Coord|61|35|N|065|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Resolution Island, NU}}
* {{Note|55|map 55}}Loks Land, {{Coord|62|26|N|064|38|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Loks Land Island, NU}}
* {{Note|56|map 56}}Akpatok, {{Coord|60|25|N|068|08|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Akpatok Island, NU}}
* {{Note|57|map 57}}Big, {{Coord|62|43|N|070|43|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Big Island, NU}}
* {{Note|58|map 58}}Salisbury, {{Coord|63|35|N|077|00|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Salisbury Island, NU}}
* {{Note|59|map 59}}Nottingham, {{Coord|63|17|N|077|55|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Nottingham Island, NU}}
* {{Note|60|map 60}}Mansel, {{Coord|62|00|N|079|50|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Mansel Island, NU}}
* {{Note|61|map 61}}Coats, {{Coord|62|35|N|082|45|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Coats Island, NU}}
* {{Note|62|map 62}}Beechey, {{Coord|74|43|N|091|51|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Beechey Island, NU}}
* {{Note|63|map 63}}Broughton, {{coord|67|34|N|063|54|W|region:CA-NU_type:city_scale:20000|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|OACSS|Broughton Island}}</ref>|name=Broughton Island, NU}}
* {{Note|64|map 64}}Cape Chidley, {{coord|60|25|45|N|64|27|50|W|region:CA-NU_type:isle|notes=<ref name=CGNDB>{{cite cgndb|OADCZ|Cape Chidley Islands}}</ref>|name=Cape Chidley Islands, NU}}
* {{Note|65|map 65}}Dorset, {{coord|64|12|N|76|32|W|region:CA-NU_type:island|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|OAEOE|Dorset Island}}</ref>|name=Dorset Island, NU}}
* {{Note|66|map 66}}Duke of York, {{Coord|68|15|N|112|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Duke of York Archipelago, NU}}
* {{Note|67|map 67}}East Pen, {{Coord|56|45|N|088|40|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=East Pen Island, NU}}
* {{Note|68|map 68}}Flaherty, {{coord|56|14|N|079|17|W|region:CA-NU_type:isle_scale:1000000|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|OAFRY|Flaherty Island}}</ref>|name=Flaherty Island, NU}}
* {{Note|69|map 69}}Haig-Thomas, {{Coord|78|15|N|094|30|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Haig-Thomas Island, NU}}
* {{Note|70|map 70}}Hans, {{Coord|80|49|N|066|27|W|type:isle_scale:500000|name=Hans Island, Canada, Denmark}}
* {{Note|71|map 71}}Herschel, {{coord|69|35|N|139|04|W|scale:500000|name=Herschel Island}}
* {{Note|72|map 72}}Igloolik, {{coord|69|23|N|081|40|W|region:CA-NU_type:city_scale:20000|notes=<ref>{{Cite cgndb|OAHOZ|Igloolik Island}}</ref>|name=Igloolik Island, NU}}
* {{Note|73|map 73}}Killiniq, {{Coord|60|22|N|064|37|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Killiniq Island, NU}}
* {{Note|74|map 74}}Ottawa, {{Coord|59|34|N|080|16|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Ottawa Islands, NU}}
* {{Note|75|map 75}}Prince Leopold, {{Coord|74|01|N|090|04|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Prince Leopold Island, NU}}
* {{Note|76|map 76}}Jenny Lind, {{Coord|68|43|N|101|58|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Jenny Lind Island, NU}}
* {{Note|77|map 77}}Skraeling, {{Coord|78|55|N|075|40|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Skraeling Island, NU}}
* {{Note|78|map 78}}Trodely, {{Coord|52|14|N|079|26|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Trodely Island, NU}}
* {{Note|79|map 79}}Gateshead, {{Coord|70|35|N|100|25|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Gateshead Island, NU}}
* {{Note|80|map 80}}Weston, {{Coord|52|32|N|079|35|W|type:isle_region:CA-NU_scale:500000|name=Weston Island, NU}}
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{GeoGroup}}
* [[Last Ice Area]]
*[[List of Canadian islands by area]]
* [[List of islands of Canada]]
* [[Geography of Canada]]
{{Portalbar|Geography|Canada|Islands}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Aiken, S.G., M.J. Dallwitz, L.L. Consaul, et al. ''Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval''[CD]. Ottawa: NRC Research Press; Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-660-19727-2}}.
* Aiken, S. G., Laurie Lynn Consaul, and M. J. Dallwitz. ''Grasses of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Ottawa: Research Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, 1995.
*{{cite book |title=Arctic Geology and Geophysics: Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Arctic Geology
|first1=H.R. |last1=Balkwill |publisher=Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists |first2=Ashton F. |last2=Embry |year=1982 |type=Hardcover |isbn=0-920230-19-9}}
* Bouchard, Giselle. ''Freshwater Diatom Biogeography of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Ottawa: [[Library and Archives Canada]], 2005. {{ISBN|0-494-01424-5}}
* Brown, Roger James Evan. ''Permafrost in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. National Research Council of Canada, Division of Building Research, 1972.
* Cota GF, LW Cooper, DA Darby, and IL Larsen. 2006. "Unexpectedly High Radioactivity Burdens in [[ice rafting|Ice-Rafted]] Sediments from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago". ''The Science of the Total Environment''. 366, no. 1: 253–61.
* Dunphy, Michael. ''Validation of a modelling system for tides in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Canadian technical report of hydrography and ocean sciences, 243. Dartmouth, N.S.: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2005.
*{{cite book |title=Devonian of the World: Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on the Devonian System |location=Calgary, Canada
|publisher=Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists |first1=Donald J. |last1=Glass |first2=Ashton F. |author-link2=Ashton F. Embry|last2=Embry|first3=N. J. |last3=McMillan |date=26 February 1988
|type=Hardcover |isbn=0-920230-47-4}}
* Hamilton, Paul B., Konrad Gajewski, David E. Atkinson, and David R.S. Lean. 2001. "Physical and Chemical Limnology of 204 Lakes from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago". ''Hydrobiologia''. 457, no. 1/3: 133–148.
* Mi︠a︡rss, Tiĭu, Mark V. H. Wilson, and R. Thorsteinsson. ''Silurian and Lower Devonian Thelodonts and Putative Chondrichthyans from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Special papers in palaeontology, no. 75. London: Palaeontological Association, 2006. {{ISBN|0-901702-99-4}}
* Michel, C Ingram, R G, and L R Harris. 2006. "Variability in Oceanographic and Ecological Processes in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago". ''Progress in Oceanography''. 71, no. 2: 379.
* [[Erling Porsild|Porsild, A.E.]] ''The Vascular Plants of the Western Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Ottawa: E. Cloutier, Queen's printer, 1955.
* Rae, R. W. ''Climate of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Toronto: Canada Dept. of Transport, 1951.
* Thorsteinsson, R., and Ulrich Mayr. ''The Sedimentary Rocks of Devon Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Ottawa, Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, 1987. {{ISBN|0-660-12319-3}}
* Van der Baaren, Augustine, and S. J. Prinsenberg. ''Geostrophic transport estimates from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago''. Dartmouth, N.S.: Ocean Sciences Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 2002.
{{refend}}

{{Canada Geography}}
{{Arctic topics}}
{{Polar regions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Canadian Arctic Archipelago| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Canada]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Northern Canada]]
[[Category:Regions of the Arctic]]