The Yukon's population has risen by almost 12 per cent in the last decade, with males continuing to account for slightly over half of the count.

The most recent report from the territorial Bureau of Statistics puts the Yukon's population in December at 34,157 – the highest on record in recent history.

The previous high of 33,911 was recorded in 1996, when the Faro lead-zinc mine was still operating and the town's population was at a relatively robust 1,292, compared to the 402 who live there now.

With the outward migration of Yukoners in the late 1990s, fuelled by the collapse in the mineral markets, the Yukon's population plummeted to 30,553 by December 2000 – a full 3,358 shy of the '96 record. It bottomed out in 2003 at 29,967.

But all that and a little bit more has been returned over the last six years, almost exclusively by growth in the territory's capital.

Whitehorse's population reached a record high of 25,690 last month, up 287 residents from a year ago, according to the population report.

Ten years ago, the capital's population was sitting at 22,649, or 3,041 shy of what is today.

Gary Brown, a senior information officer with the statistics bureau, pointed out Friday the population increase over the last year has flattened out somewhat, to less than one-per-cent growth.

By comparison, he explained, in 2008 it jumped 3.4 per cent, or by just over 1,000 residents in one year.

"In '08, we had a really good year,” said Brown. "Our unemployment rate, up until the downturn in the economy in December, was really low, and there was lots of big projects on the go.”

As a percentage, the Yukon's growth has almost mirrored the 10-per-cent increase in population across Canada over the last decade, Brown pointed out.

In December 2000, he said, there were 30.7 million Canadians. Last month, there were 33.7 million.

The annual growth nationally is almost dead-on at 300,000 a year, every year, Brown said.

He said of the three-million increase since 2000, 2.5 million come from immigration.

"Our increase is dependent on interprovincial immigration, whereas Canada is more international,” he said.

Almost dead-on every year in the Yukon is the number of babies born, he pointed out, noting that typically it's in the mid-300s. And 2009 was no different.

Up until the end of November last year, there were 347 newborns, compared to 361 in all of 2008, 358 in 2007 and 368 in 2006. There were 349 babies born in both 2001 and 2002, he noted.

Also a solid constant is the percentage of public service employees – territorial, municipal, first nation and federal – in the Yukon's labour force.

Back in 2000, for instance, 6,300 civil servants accounted for 42.3 per cent of the average labour force of 14,900.

Last year, the labour force averaged 16,500, with 7,000 public service employees accounting for 42.4 per cent.

Last month, there were 15,349 males in the Yukon, compared to 15,204 females.

The 45-49 age category was the largest, with 2,919 Yukoners fitting in. The 35-39 category was next, with 2,855. The 60-64 age bracket was the lowest, with 1,003.

Ten communities shrunk in population last year, albeit some by as few as just one, as was the case with Haines Junction, which had 847 residents last month, compared to 848 in December 2008.

On the other hand, Haines Junction has seen the largest overall growth in the last decade, with an additional 86 residents compared to 10 years ago, while Carmacks and Tagish each grew by 70 in the last decade. Carmacks is now at 481, and Tagish 232.

Seven communities grew in 2009, and Teslin was the hot spot with 20 new residents, bumping the community's population up to 478.

There was a bit of a exodus from Dawson City, with 50 residents leaving town, dropping the community's population to 1,873. Watson Lake lost 39 residents, with its total population now sitting at 1,555.

All told, Watson has lost the most residents in the last decade – 58.

As a percentage, however, Old Crow has taken the biggest hit. In December 2000, there were 278 residents. Last month, there were 240, a loss of almost 14 per cent.

Mayo's population has been the most constant, sitting now at 453. While it lost 13 residents last year, over the last decade, the community's overall population has dropped by just one.