The Yukon's population went up in the past three months from a year earlier but the average for 2003 was still down from the year before.

According to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, the territory's monthly population figures rose for October, November and December of 2003 from the same three months in 2002.

In October, the population estimate was 30,087, which was up by one from 30,086 in October 2002.

By November, the increase was more substantive, up 0.9 per cent to 30,302 from 30,017 in November, 2002.

Last month saw the biggest upward leap, one per cent, from 29,960 in December 2002 to 30,255.

These three months mark the first increase in the Yukon's population from one year earlier since July 1997. In July 1997, the population went up to 33,523 from 33,008 in July 1996.

While these monthly increases are a first in more than six years, the annual estimate from the bureau of the Yukon's population shows a continued drop from the year before.

The annual population estimate for 2003 was 29,967, the first to drop below 30,000 in more than a decade.

The annual population figure is down 0.3 per cent from 2002, when it was at 30,063.

The Yukon's annual population estimate has been steadily dropping since 1998.

That year, the population fell off for the first time in four years when it dropped by 3.9 per cent to 32,216. In 1997, the figure was at 33,519.

Since then, the population estimate has dropped each year. The decline has slowed down over the past couple of years.

Besides this year's drop of 0.3 per cent, it fell 0.7 in 2002. In 2001, the number slumped 1.6 per cent after decreasing 1.3 per cent in 2000. In 1999, the population fell off by 3.3 per cent.

From 1992 to 2002, the population ranged between a low of 30,063 in 2002 and a high of 33,519 in 1997. The last time the annual average dropped below 30,000 was in 1991, when it hit 29,954.

While the Yukon Bureau of Statistics shows the population dipping below 30,000, Statistics Canada released figures in December putting the territory's population at more than 31,000.

According to Statistics Canada, the Yukon's population hit 31,371 as of Oct. 1, 2003 an increase of almost 1,000 from October 2002, which was 30,423.

Scott Gilbreath of the statistics bureau said the difference comes from how the two organizations calculate population figures.

Gilbreath said Statistics Canada uses models to calculate population across the country. Those models are better at calculating population in larger centres, said Gilbreath.

The Yukon bureau bases its figures on health care card numbers. Gilbreath said the bureau doesn't use the exact numbers supplied by the Department of Health and Social Services. Instead, it comes out with an estimate that is adjusted for people moving in and out of the territory.

'Our main focus of our adjustment process is to identify people who have left the territory,' said Gilbreath.

He noted that the Yukon bureau's method is based more on local information.

'That's not saying it's perfect but we're a lot more comfortable using (our) methodology.'

The Yukon bureau's estimates also show how many men live in the territory versus women.

The bureau's report states there were 15,179 women in the Yukon as of last month, while there were 15,076 men.

This marks the second straight December where the women outnumbered the men after a number of years of male domination.

In December 2002, there were 14,927 men and 15,033 women.

From December 2001 back to at least December 1998, the men had outnumbered the women in the Yukon by as many as 550 and as few as 140.

As for age groups, the Yukon's most dominant range is 45 to 49, which is at 3,063. The other ranges at the top include 40-44 (3,001), 50-54 (2,580), 35-39 (2,370) and 15-19 (2,334).

The smallest group was 60-64 (1,202). Everybody older than 65 was lumped into one group that was at 2,029.

The largest age range has been rising over the past few years. In 1998, it was the 35-39 range. One year later, it was the 40-44 range, which stayed on top until this year.

Whitehorse's population in December was at 22,425. The population for the capital city was up almost 300 from 22,131 in December 2002.

Dawson City's population fell by 30 to 1,788. Watson Lake's figure dropped by four to 1,551 and the population of Haines Junction fell 15 to 790.

The other communities that witnessed a drop from one year earlier were:

• Faro (down 30);

• Carmacks (down 15);

• Mayo (down 23).

Those communities who saw their populations grow, like Whitehorse, were:

• Burwash Landing (up four);

• Destruction Bay (up three);

• Marsh Lake (up 57);

• Old Crow (up six);

• Pelly Crossing (up four);

• Ross River (up six);

• Tagish (up six);

• Teslin (up 16);

• Carcross (up 20).

Beaver Creek's population stayed the same at 109.