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Northern Market Basket Measure


Statistics Canada has produced poverty estimates for the Northwest Territories using a proposed Northern Market Basket Measure (MBM-N). Conceptually, these estimates are similar to what is produced for the provinces; however, adjustments were made to address various aspects of Northern living.

The MBM-N is based on the cost of a basket of goods (threshold) that represents a modest, basic standard of living. Anyone with a disposable income below this threshold is considered to be in poverty. Since the income needed to calculate poverty estimates is based on survey data, it is subject to sample variability. The upper and lower bounds provide a measure of the sample variability.

Number and Percentage of People in Poverty
Based on Northern Market Basket Measure
Northwest Territories, 2019 and 2021

     
    2020 2021
     
# of Persons in Poverty   4,300 6,400
     
Lower Bound*   1,700 3,300
Upper Bound*   6,900 9,500
     
     
% of Persons in Poverty   10.2 15.0
     
Lower Bound*   4.1 7.7
Upper Bound*   16.3 22.3
     

*Note: These bounds are based on a 95% confidence interval, meaning the true poverty value would be between
the upper and lower bound 19 out of 20 times.

% of NWT Population in Poverty
2018 to 2021


Northern Market Basket Measures Publications

Northern Market Basket Measure - NWT Results

Downloadable Data

  • Poverty Estimates by Region
  • Poverty Estimates
  • MBM-N Thresholds by Component
  • MBM-N Thresholds by Family Size
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