What are the territories of Northern Canada and their capital cities?
Quick answer: Yukon Territory (Whitehorse), Northwest Territories (Yellowknife), and Nunavut (Iqaluit). In our practice tests 98% of 90 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Alaska (Juneau) and Yukon Territory ( Whitehorse)”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The three northern territories are Yukon (Whitehorse), Northwest Territories (Yellowknife), and Nunavut (Iqaluit). Together they make up about 40% of Canada's land area but have a small population.
Study Tip
The territories of Northern Canada include three regions, each with its own capital city. One of the territories is located east of the Yukon.
What should you know about this topic?
Northern Canada is made up of three territories: Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Together they cover about one third of Canada's land mass but have a small population. Discover Canada lists their capitals: Whitehorse (Yukon), Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) and Iqaluit (Nunavut). The North is known for its long, cold winters, short summers, the midnight sun, and rich natural resources such as minerals, oil and gas.
Each territory has its own history. Thousands of miners came to Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. The Northwest Territories, whose capital Yellowknife is sometimes called the "diamond capital of North America", has a population that is about half Aboriginal. Nunavut, which means "our land" in Inuktitut, was created in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, and its population is mostly Inuit.
This question connects to other test topics, such as Canada's regions, the role of Inuit and First Nations in the North, the Canadian Rangers who patrol the Arctic, and the difference between provinces and territories. Territories have powers given to them by Parliament, while provinces have powers set out in the Constitution. Alaska is a U.S. state that borders Yukon; it is not part of Canada, so any answer including Alaska is wrong. The territories are much larger than most provinces, yet together they have only a small share of Canada's people. Life in the North often depends on air travel, as many communities have no road connection.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Northwest Territories (Yellowknife): This is a real territory and capital, but Canada has three territories, not one.
- Alaska (Juneau) and Yukon Territory ( Whitehorse): Alaska is a state of the United States, not a Canadian territory, and this answer leaves out two territories.
- Northwest Territories (Yellowknife) and Alaska (Juneau): Alaska belongs to the United States, and this option misses Yukon and Nunavut.
What is the most common mistake?
Many learners forget Nunavut because it is the newest territory, created in 1999. Always list all three: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
How can you remember the answer?
"White, Yellow, Iqaluit": Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit, the three northern capitals going west to east.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
98% of 90 practice answers from about 64 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Alaska (Juneau) and Yukon Territory ( Whitehorse)", chosen 1% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 4th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's Regions chapter is 78% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's Regions questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's Regions. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's Regions section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 35 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.