The world's largest second-level administrative division is a vast, icy expanse in northern Canada.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning over 970,000 square kilometers, the Qikiqtaaluk Region is a massive administrative territory in Nunavut. While its name is traditional Inuktitut for Baffin Island, this region encompasses a sprawling archipelago of islands and peninsulas, serving as home to nearly 20,000 people living in thirteen distinct communities across the Arctic.

The Qikiqtaaluk Region, also historically known as the Baffin Region, stands as the largest second-level administrative division globally. Its geography is immense, covering an area slightly smaller than Egypt. The region is defined by its vast collection of islands, including Baffin, Ellesmere, Devon, and the Belcher Islands, alongside parts of the Melville Peninsula. This administrative structure, which existed within the Northwest Territories before 1999, now forms the eastern, northern, and southern reaches of Nunavut. Its capital, Iqaluit, serves as the primary hub, housing nearly half of the region's total population.

The human history of the area is deeply rooted in the migration of the Thule people, who replaced the earlier Dorset culture. By 1300, these ancestors of the modern Inuit had established trade networks with southern cultures. Centuries later, the landscape of Inuit life shifted dramatically due to external economic pressures. Around 1910, the rising European demand for white fox pelts forced many Inuit to alter their traditional hunting and fishing routes. This shift was heavily influenced by the Hudson's Bay Company, which had been operating since its 1670 charter and eventually dominated the northern trade, making its imported goods central to Inuit life by 1922.

Today, the region remains a place of stark contrasts, where modern administrative life meets traditional subsistence practices. While residents rely on staples like seal, walrus, and caribou, the region also manages complex infrastructure, including airports and legislative buildings. The population is sparse, with a density of 0.0 per square kilometer recorded in the 2021 census. Despite its size, the region's communities are exclusively located on tidal water, reflecting a long-standing connection to the sea that persists even as the region navigates the challenges of modern governance and shifting economic realities.

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