Demographics of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia (Latin for New Scotland; French: Nouvelle-Écosse; Scottish Gaelic: Alba Nuadh) is a Canadian province located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in the Atlantic Canada, and its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of 55,284 km². Its population of 1,072,545 (as of 2024)[1] makes it the fourth least populous province of the country.

Population

Nova Scotia is the seventh most populous province in Canada with an estimated 1,079,627 residents as of 2025. It accounts for 2.6 percent of the population of Canada.[2] The population density is approximately 20.4 persons/km². Roughly 60% of the population live in rural parts of the province.

Regional municipalities

Nova Scotia has four regional municipalities.

Name Population
(2021)[3] 		Population
(2016)[3] 		Change
(%)[3] 		Area
(km²)[3] 		Population
density[3]
Cape Breton 93,694 94,285 −0.6% 2,419.70 38.7
Halifax 439,819 403,131 +9.1% 5,475.57 80.3
Queens 10,422 10,302 +1.2% 2,387.52 4.4
West Hants 19,509 19,016 +2.6% 1,250.5 15.6
Total regional municipalities 563,444 526,734 +7.0% 11,533.29 48.85

Towns

Main article: List of towns in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has 25 towns.

Towns of Nova Scotia
Name 2021 Census of Population[3]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change
 Land area
(km²) 		Population
density
Amherst 9,404 9,413 −0.1% 12.07 779.1/km2
Annapolis Royal 530 491 +7.9% 1.98 267.7/km2
Antigonish 4,656 4,364 +6.7% 4.98 934.9/km2
Berwick 2,455 2,509 −2.2% 6.53 376.0/km2
Bridgewater 8,790 8,532 +3.0% 13.63 644.9/km2
Clark's Harbour 725 758 −4.4% 2.82 257.1/km2
Digby 2,001 2,060 −2.9% 3.16 633.2/km2
Kentville 6,630 6,271 +5.7% 17.08 388.2/km2
Lockeport 476 531 −10.4% 2.32 205.2/km2
Lunenburg 2,396 2,263 +5.9% 4.04 593.1/km2
Mahone Bay 1,064 1,036 +2.7% 3.12 341.0/km2
Middleton 1,873 1,832 +2.2% 5.55 337.5/km2
Mulgrave 627 722 −13.2% 17.83 35.2/km2
New Glasgow 9,471 9,075 +4.4% 9.96 950.9/km2
Oxford 1,170 1,190 −1.7% 10.68 109.6/km2
Pictou 3,107 3,186 −2.5% 7.99 388.9/km2
Port Hawkesbury 3,210 3,214 −0.1% 8.1 396.3/km2
Shelburne 1,644 1,743 −5.7% 8.75 187.9/km2
Stellarton 4,007 4,208 −4.8% 8.99 445.7/km2
Stewiacke 1,557 1,373 +13.4% 17.62 88.4/km2
Trenton 2,407 2,474 −2.7% 6.07 396.5/km2
Truro 12,954 12,261 +5.7% 37.52 345.3/km2
Westville 3,540 3,628 −2.4% 14.24 248.6/km2
Wolfville 5,057 4,195 +20.5% 6.46 782.8/km2
Yarmouth 6,829 6,518 +4.8% 10.57 646.1/km2
Total 96,580 93,847 +2.9% 242.06 399.0/km2
Province of Nova Scotia 969,383 923,598 +5.0% 52,824.71 18.35/km2

Population centres

Main article: List of population centres in Nova Scotia

The Halifax population centre is the largest urban area in Nova Scotia. Statistics Canada recognizes a total of 37 population centres in the province.


The below table is a list of population centres in Nova Scotia from the 2021 Census of Population.[4]

Rank Population centre[4] Size group[4] Population (2021)[4] Population (2016)[4] Change[4] Land area[4] Population density[4]
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
1 Halifax Large urban 348,634 317,334 +9.9% 238.29 92.00 1,463.1 3,789
2 Cape Breton - Sydney Medium 30,960 30,170 +2.6% 30.91 11.93 1,001.6 2,594
3 Truro Small 23,583 23,205 +1.6% 31.52 12.17 748.2 1,938
4 New Glasgow Small 19,316 19,137 +0.9% 29.82 11.51 647.8 1,678
5 Glace Bay Small 16,915 17,604 −3.9% 31.19 12.04 542.3 1,405
6 Kentville Small 14,905 14,449 +3.2% 27.98 10.80 532.7 1,380
7 Sydney Mines Small 12,353 12,823 −3.7% 18.11 6.99 682.1 1,767
8 Amherst Small 9,548 9,550 0.0% 12.38 4.78 771.2 1,997
9 Bridgewater Small 8,790 8,532 +3.0% 13.63 5.26 644.9 1,670
10 Yarmouth Small 7,848 7,527 +4.3% 16.81 6.49 466.9 1,209
11 Kingston - Greenwood Small 7,118 6,879 +3.5% 17.22 6.65 413.4 1,071
12 New Waterford Small 6,723 7,416 −9.3% 9.23 3.56 728.4 1,887
13 Enfield - Lantz Small 6,583 6,807 −3.3% 11.67 4.51 564.1 1,461
14 Antigonish Small 5,620 5,079 +10.7% 5.88 2.27 955.8 2,476
15 Windsor Small 5,514 5,248 +5.1% 10.56 4.08 522.2 1,352
16 Wolfville Small 5,057 4,195 +20.5% 6.46 2.49 782.8 2,027
17 Still Water Lake Small 3,379 3,447 −2.0% 8.23 3.18 410.6 1,063
18 Port Hawkesbury Small 2,998 3,004 −0.2% 5 1.9 599.6 1,553
19 Springhill Small 2,654 2,743 −3.2% 4.84 1.87 548.3 1,420
20 Pictou Small 2,643 2,711 −2.5% 4.35 1.68 607.6 1,574
21 Eskasoni 3 Small 2,575 2,352 +9.5% 5.7 2.2 451.8 1,170
22 Liverpool Small 2,546 2,549 −0.1% 3.59 1.39 709.2 1,837
23 Berwick Small 2,455 2,517 −2.5% 4.31 1.66 569.6 1,475
24 Lunenburg Small 2,405 2,262 +6.3% 3.35 1.29 717.9 1,859
25 Lake Echo Small 2,365 2,515 −6.0% 4.76 1.84 496.8 1,287
26 Indian Brook 14 Small 2,332 655 +256.0% 3.89 1.50 599.5 1,553
27 Digby Small 2,001 2,060 −2.9% 3.16 1.22 633.2 1,640
28 Hantsport Small 1,542 1,560 −1.2% 2.89 1.12 533.6 1,382
29 Brookside Small 1,439 1,441 −0.1% 2.81 1.08 512.1 1,326
30 Shelburne Small 1,439 1,483 −3.0% 2.6 1.0 553.5 1,434
31 Middleton Small 1,429 1,391 +2.7% 2.72 1.05 525.4 1,361
32 Chester Small 1,371 1,362 +0.7% 3.23 1.25 424.5 1,099
33 Inverness Small 1,228 1,248 −1.6% 2.73 1.05 449.8 1,165
34 Centreville Small 1,159 1,129 +2.7% 2.36 0.91 491.1 1,272
35 Howie Centre Small 1,106 1,157 −4.4% 1.67 0.64 662.3 1,715
36 Hayes Subdivision Small 1,044 1,121 −6.9% 1.1 0.42 949.1 2,458
37 Port Williams Small 1,030 1,120 −8.0% 1.92 0.74 536.5 1,390

Population of Nova Scotia since 1851

Year Population % change Rank*
5-year 10-year
1851 276,854 – – 3
1861 330,857 – 19.5
1871 387,800 – 17.2
1881 440,572 – 13.6
1891 450,396 – 2.2
1901 459,574 – 2.0
1911 492,338 – 7.1 4
1921 523,837 – 6.4 7
1931 512,846 – - 2.1
1941 577,962 – 12.7
1951 642,584 – 11.2
1956 694,717 8.1 –
1961 737,007 6.1 14.7
Year Population % change Rank*
5-year 10-year
1966 756,039 2.6 8.8 7
1971 788,965 4.4 7.0
1976 828,570 5.0 9.6
1981 847,442 2.3 7.4
1986 873,175 3.0 5.4
1991 899,942 3.1 6.2
1996 909,282 1.0 4.1
2001 908,007 - 0.1 0.9
2006 913,462 0.6 0.5
2011 921,727 0.9 1.5
2016 923,598 0.2 1.1
2021 969,383 5.0 5.2

Visible minorities and Indigenous people

Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)[5]
Population group Population %
European[a] 809,995 84.7%
Visible minority group
 South Asian 21,655 2.3%
Chinese 11,600 1.2%
Black 28,220 3.0%
Filipino 6,615 0.7%
Arab 10,610 1.1%
Latin American 2,915 0.3%
Southeast Asian 2,400 0.3%
West Asian 1,875 0.2%
Korean 2,845 0.3%
Japanese 985 0.1%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 970 0.1%
Multiple visible minorities 2,750 0.3%
Total visible minority population 93,430 9.8%
Indigenous group
 First Nations (North American Indian) 28,050 2.9%
Métis 21,090 2.2%
Inuk (Inuit) 1,100 0.1%
Multiple Indigenous responses 885 0.1%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 1,300 0.1%
Total Indigenous population 52,430 5.5%
Total population 955,855 100.0%

Languages

The 2021 Canadian census showed a population of 969,383.
Of the 941,105 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue the most commonly reported languages were:[6]

Ranking Language Population Percentage
1. English 851,545 90.48%
2. French 27,340 2.91%
3. Arabic 7,960 0.85%
4. Mandarin 6,730 0.72%
5. Punjabi 4,550 0.48%
6. Tagalog 3,240 0.34%
7. Mi'kmaq 3,145 0.33%
8. German 3,050 0.32%
9. Spanish 2,680 0.28%
10. Korean 2,340 0.25%
11. Hindi 2,035 0.22%
12. Malayalam 1,975 0.21%
13. Russian 1,735 0.18%
14. Persian 1,435 0.15%
15. Dutch 1,395 0.15%
16. Portuguese 1,305 0.14%
17. Yue (Cantonese) 1,250 0.13%
18. Gujarati 1,160 0.12%
19. Urdu 965 0.10%
20. Vietnamese 950 0.10%
21. Bengali 890 0.09%
22. Polish 870 0.09%
23. Telugu 750 0.08%
24. Italian 730 0.08%
25. Greek 710 0.08%
26. Serbo-Croatian 580 0.06%
27. Tamil 555 0.06%

Migration

Immigration

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 71,570 immigrants living in Nova Scotia. They are 7.5 percent of the total population of Nova Scotia.[7] The most commonly reported origins for these immigrants were:

Immigrants in Nova Scotia by country of birth
Country of Birth 2021[8][7] 2016[9] 2011[10][11] 2006[12][13] 2001[14][15]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
United Kingdom 11,930 16.7% 11,270 20.2% 11,000 22.8% 11,660 25.8% 10,800 26.1%
United States 7,570 10.6% 7,375 13.2% 8,275 17.1% 7,960 17.6% 8,065 19.5%
India 5,605 7.8% 2,225 4% 1,415 2.9% 1,440 3.2% 1,140 2.8%
Philippines 4,755 6.6% 2,575 4.6% 1,325 2.7% 420 0.9% 495 1.2%
China 4,320 6% 2,830 5.1% 1,710 3.5% 1,740 3.9% 1,025 2.5%
Syria 2,420 3.4% 1,150 2.1% 185 0.4% 135 0.3% 180 0.4%
Germany 2,375 3.3% 2,600 4.7% 2,385 4.9% 2,850 6.3% 2,455 5.9%
Nigeria 1,745 2.4% 350 0.6% 215 0.4% 165 0.4% 105 0.3%
Lebanon 1,565 2.2% 1,365 2.5% 1,590 3.3% 1,265 2.8% 1,460 3.5%
Netherlands 1,465 2% 1,645 3% 1,530 3.2% 1,830 4% 1,975 4.8%
Total immigrants 71,570 7.5% 55,680 6.1% 48,275 5.3% 45,190 5% 41,315 4.6%
Total responses 955,855 98.6% 908,340 98.3% 906,175 98.3% 903,090 98.9% 897,570 98.9%
Total population 969,383 100% 923,598 100% 921,727 100% 913,462 100% 908,007 100%

Internal migration

A total of 101,035 people moved to Nova Scotia from other parts of Canada between 1996 and 2006 while 110,335 people moved in the opposite direction. These movements resulted in a net outmigration of 11,925 people to Alberta and 4,120 to Ontario; as well as a net influx of 4,690 people from Newfoundland and Labrador and 2,930 from New Brunswick. During this period there was a net outmigration of 835 francophones to Quebec and 340 to Alberta; and a net influx of 575 anglophones from Quebec and 145 francophones from New Brunswick. (All net inter-provincial movements of more than 500 persons and official minority movements of more than 100 persons are given.)[16][17]

Religion

Religious groups in Nova Scotia (1981−2021)
Religious group 2021[18] 2011[19] 2001[20] 1991[21] 1981[22]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Christianity 556,115 58.18% 690,460 76.19% 780,530 86.96% 815,815 91.57% 800,325 95.3%
No religion 359,395 37.6% 197,665 21.81% 106,405 11.85% 68,010 7.63% 34,335 4.09%
Islam 14,715 1.54% 8,505 0.94% 3,545 0.39% 1,435 0.16% 790 0.09%
Hinduism 8,460 0.89% 1,850 0.2% 1,235 0.14% 970 0.11% 1,025 0.12%
Sikhism 4,735 0.5% 390 0.04% 270 0.03% 330 0.04% 275 0.03%
Buddhism 2,955 0.31% 2,205 0.24% 1,735 0.19% 1,485 0.17% 420 0.05%
Judaism 2,195 0.23% 1,805 0.2% 2,120 0.24% 1,950 0.22% 2,010 0.24%
Indigenous spirituality 1,090 0.11% 570 0.06% — — — — — —
Other 6,195 0.65% 2,720 0.3% 1,720 0.19% 960 0.11% 525 0.06%
Total responses 955,855 98.6% 906,175 98.31% 897,570 98.85% 890,950 99% 839,800 99.1%
Total population 969,383 100% 921,727 100% 908,007 100% 899,942 100% 847,442 100%

Employment

As of February 2019, the unemployment rate for the province is 6.4 percent. Halifax Regional Municipality 4.9 percent [23]

Income

Median Household Income
By County By Community
Rank County 2011[24]
1 Halifax County $62,049
2 Hants County $60,186
3 Antigonish County $57,577
Nova Scotia $53,606
4 Inverness County $53,194
5 Kings County $51,850
6 Richmond County $50,745
7 Colchester County $50,568
8 Pictou County $50,417
9 Lunenburg County $48,154
10 Yarmouth County $47,676
11 Victoria County $47,413
12 Cape Breton County $47,224
13 Queens County $45,050
14 Shelburne County $44,267
15 Cumberland County $43,385
17 Annapolis County $43,522
17 Digby County $42,293
18 Guysborough County $42,063
Rank Community 2011[24]
1 Halifax Regional Municipality $62,069
2 Port Hawkesbury $61,013
Nova Scotia $53,606
3 Stewiacke $52,118
4 Mahone Bay $49,158
5 Wolfville $48,671
6 Hantsport $48,584
7 Clark's Harbour $48,102
8 Cape Breton Regional Municipality $47,830
9 Stellarton $46,307
10 Antigonish $45,538
11 Kentville $45,098
12 New Glasgow $44,942
13 Westville $44,647
14 Middleton $44,048
15 Annapolis Royal $43,956
16 Trenton $42,535
17 Pictou $41,905[b]
18 Truro $41,878
19 Windsor $41,859
20 Amherst $41,027
21 Bridgewater $40,049
22 Berwick $39,674
23 Lunenburg $39,529
24 Bridgetown $38,248[b]
25 Oxford $37,734[b]
26 Springhill $36,995[b]
27 Mulgrave $36,200
28 Canso $35,574
29 Shelburne $35,526
30 Yarmouth $34,572
31 Lockeport $33,854[b]
32 Digby $33,437
33 Parrsboro $27,472[b]

Notes

  1. ↑ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an Indigenous identity.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2011 Census data unavailable, data taken from the 2006 Census.

References

  1. ↑ "Nova Scotia Quarterly Population Estimates as of April 1, 2024, Nova Scotia Finance and Treasury Board". Government of Nova Scotia. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Population estimates, quarterly". Statistics Canada. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2021 and 2016 censuses (Nova Scotia)". Statistics Canada. July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and population centres". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  6. ↑ "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Nova Scotia [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  8. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-06-21). "Place of birth and period of immigration by gender and age: Province or territory". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  9. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-17). "Data tables, 2016 Census Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Place of Birth (272), Age (7A) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  10. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Profile - Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, and Aboriginal Peoples for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, National Household Survey, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Citizenship (5), Place of Birth (236), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  12. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2009-03-23). "Place of birth for the immigrant population by period of immigration, 2006 counts and percentage distribution, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  13. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (8) and Place of Birth (261) for the Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  14. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (10A) and Place of Birth of Respondent (260) for Immigrants and Non-permanent Residents, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  15. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Places of Birth (85) for the Immigrant Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  16. ↑ Province or Territory of Residence 5 Years Ago (14), Mother Tongue (8), Age Groups (16) and Sex (3) (2006 Census) Archived February 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "2001 Census". www12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11.
  18. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  19. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  20. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  21. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-03-29). "Data tables, 1991 Census R9101 - Population by Religion (29), Showing Age Groups (13) Education (20% Data) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  22. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1981 Census of Canada 20 per cent data base : highlight information on ethnicity, place of birth, citizenship, income, language, immigration, religion, shelter costs". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  23. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-03-11). "Labour force characteristics by province, monthly, seasonally adjusted". www150.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 National Household Survey (NHS) Profile - Select from a List Archived 2014-05-12 at the Wayback Machine Statistics Canada
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