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 Breton93,69494,285−0.6%2,419.7038.7
Halifax439,819403,131+9.1%5,475.5780.3
Queens10,42210,302+1.2%2,387.524.4
West Hants19,50919,016+2.6%1,250.515.6
Total regional municipalities 563,444 526,734 +7.0% 11,533.29 48.85

Towns

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
Amherst9,404 9,413 −0.1%12.07779.1/km2
Annapolis Royal530 491 +7.9%1.98267.7/km2
Antigonish4,656 4,364 +6.7%4.98934.9/km2
Berwick2,455 2,509 −2.2%6.53376.0/km2
Bridgewater8,790 8,532 +3.0%13.63644.9/km2
Clark's Harbour725 758 −4.4%2.82257.1/km2
Digby2,001 2,060 −2.9%3.16633.2/km2
Kentville6,630 6,271 +5.7%17.08388.2/km2
Lockeport476 531 −10.4%2.32205.2/km2
Lunenburg2,396 2,263 +5.9%4.04593.1/km2
Mahone Bay1,064 1,036 +2.7%3.12341.0/km2
Middleton1,873 1,832 +2.2%5.55337.5/km2
Mulgrave627 722 −13.2%17.8335.2/km2
New Glasgow9,471 9,075 +4.4%9.96950.9/km2
Oxford1,170 1,190 −1.7%10.68109.6/km2
Pictou3,107 3,186 −2.5%7.99388.9/km2
Port Hawkesbury3,210 3,214 −0.1%8.1396.3/km2
Shelburne1,644 1,743 −5.7%8.75187.9/km2
Stellarton4,007 4,208 −4.8%8.99445.7/km2
Stewiacke1,557 1,373 +13.4%17.6288.4/km2
Trenton2,407 2,474 −2.7%6.07396.5/km2
Truro12,954 12,261 +5.7%37.52345.3/km2
Westville3,540 3,628 −2.4%14.24248.6/km2
Wolfville5,057 4,195 +20.5%6.46782.8/km2
Yarmouth6,829 6,518 +4.8%10.57646.1/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

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
1HalifaxLarge urban348,634 317,334 +9.9%238.29 92.001,463.1 3,789
2Cape Breton - SydneyMedium30,960 30,170 +2.6%30.91 11.931,001.6 2,594
3TruroSmall23,583 23,205 +1.6%31.52 12.17748.2 1,938
4New GlasgowSmall19,316 19,137 +0.9%29.82 11.51647.8 1,678
5Glace BaySmall16,915 17,604 −3.9%31.19 12.04542.3 1,405
6KentvilleSmall14,905 14,449 +3.2%27.98 10.80532.7 1,380
7Sydney MinesSmall12,353 12,823 −3.7%18.11 6.99682.1 1,767
8AmherstSmall9,548 9,550 0.0%12.38 4.78771.2 1,997
9BridgewaterSmall8,790 8,532 +3.0%13.63 5.26644.9 1,670
10YarmouthSmall7,848 7,527 +4.3%16.81 6.49466.9 1,209
11Kingston - GreenwoodSmall7,118 6,879 +3.5%17.22 6.65413.4 1,071
12New WaterfordSmall6,723 7,416 −9.3%9.23 3.56728.4 1,887
13Enfield - LantzSmall6,583 6,807 −3.3%11.67 4.51564.1 1,461
14AntigonishSmall5,620 5,079 +10.7%5.88 2.27955.8 2,476
15WindsorSmall5,514 5,248 +5.1%10.56 4.08522.2 1,352
16WolfvilleSmall5,057 4,195 +20.5%6.46 2.49782.8 2,027
17Still Water LakeSmall3,379 3,447 −2.0%8.23 3.18410.6 1,063
18Port HawkesburySmall2,998 3,004 −0.2%5 1.9599.6 1,553
19SpringhillSmall2,654 2,743 −3.2%4.84 1.87548.3 1,420
20PictouSmall2,643 2,711 −2.5%4.35 1.68607.6 1,574
21Eskasoni 3Small2,575 2,352 +9.5%5.7 2.2451.8 1,170
22LiverpoolSmall2,546 2,549 −0.1%3.59 1.39709.2 1,837
23BerwickSmall2,455 2,517 −2.5%4.31 1.66569.6 1,475
24LunenburgSmall2,405 2,262 +6.3%3.35 1.29717.9 1,859
25Lake EchoSmall2,365 2,515 −6.0%4.76 1.84496.8 1,287
26Indian Brook 14Small2,332 655 +256.0%3.89 1.50599.5 1,553
27DigbySmall2,001 2,060 −2.9%3.16 1.22633.2 1,640
28HantsportSmall1,542 1,560 −1.2%2.89 1.12533.6 1,382
29BrooksideSmall1,439 1,441 −0.1%2.81 1.08512.1 1,326
30ShelburneSmall1,439 1,483 −3.0%2.6 1.0553.5 1,434
31MiddletonSmall1,429 1,391 +2.7%2.72 1.05525.4 1,361
32ChesterSmall1,371 1,362 +0.7%3.23 1.25424.5 1,099
33InvernessSmall1,228 1,248 −1.6%2.73 1.05449.8 1,165
34CentrevilleSmall1,159 1,129 +2.7%2.36 0.91491.1 1,272
35Howie CentreSmall1,106 1,157 −4.4%1.67 0.64662.3 1,715
36Hayes SubdivisionSmall1,044 1,121 −6.9%1.1 0.42949.1 2,458
37Port WilliamsSmall1,030 1,120 −8.0%1.92 0.74536.5 1,390

Population of Nova Scotia since 1851

YearPopulation% changeRank*
5-year10-year
1851276,854––3
1861330,857–19.5
1871387,800–17.2
1881440,572–13.6
1891450,396–2.2
1901459,574–2.0
1911492,338–7.14
1921523,837–6.47
1931512,846–- 2.1
1941577,962–12.7
1951642,584–11.2
1956694,7178.1–
1961737,0076.114.7
YearPopulation% changeRank*
5-year10-year
1966756,0392.68.87
1971788,9654.47.0
1976828,5705.09.6
1981847,4422.37.4
1986873,1753.05.4
1991899,9423.16.2
1996909,2821.04.1
2001908,007- 0.10.9
2006913,4620.60.5
2011921,7270.91.5
2016923,5980.21.1
2021969,3835.05.2

Visible minorities and Indigenous people

Visible minority and Indigenous population (Canada 2021 Census)[5]
Population groupPopulation%
European[a]809,99584.7%
Visible minority group
South Asian21,6552.3%
Chinese11,6001.2%
Black28,2203.0%
Filipino6,6150.7%
Arab10,6101.1%
Latin American2,9150.3%
Southeast Asian2,4000.3%
West Asian1,8750.2%
Korean2,8450.3%
Japanese9850.1%
Visible minority, n.i.e.9700.1%
Multiple visible minorities2,7500.3%
Total visible minority population93,4309.8%
Indigenous group
First Nations (North American Indian)28,0502.9%
Métis21,0902.2%
Inuk (Inuit)1,1000.1%
Multiple Indigenous responses8850.1%
Indigenous responses n.i.e.1,3000.1%
Total Indigenous population52,4305.5%
Total population955,855100.0%

Languages

Mother tongue in Nova Scotia: Red – majority anglophone, Orange – mixed, Blue – majority francophone.

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

Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces

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

Majority religion in Nova Scotia by county
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% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
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
RankCounty2011[24]
1Halifax County$62,049
2Hants County$60,186
3Antigonish County$57,577
Nova Scotia$53,606
4Inverness County$53,194
5Kings County$51,850
6Richmond County$50,745
7Colchester County$50,568
8Pictou County$50,417
9Lunenburg County$48,154
10Yarmouth County$47,676
11Victoria County$47,413
12Cape Breton County$47,224
13Queens County$45,050
14Shelburne County$44,267
15Cumberland County$43,385
17Annapolis County$43,522
17Digby County$42,293
18Guysborough County$42,063
RankCommunity2011[24]
1Halifax Regional Municipality$62,069
2Port Hawkesbury$61,013
Nova Scotia$53,606
3Stewiacke$52,118
4Mahone Bay$49,158
5Wolfville$48,671
6Hantsport$48,584
7Clark's Harbour$48,102
8Cape Breton Regional Municipality$47,830
9Stellarton$46,307
10Antigonish$45,538
11Kentville$45,098
12New Glasgow$44,942
13Westville$44,647
14Middleton$44,048
15Annapolis Royal$43,956
16Trenton$42,535
17Pictou$41,905[b]
18Truro$41,878
19Windsor$41,859
20Amherst$41,027
21Bridgewater$40,049
22Berwick$39,674
23Lunenburg$39,529
24Bridgetown$38,248[b]
25Oxford$37,734[b]
26Springhill$36,995[b]
27Mulgrave$36,200
28Canso$35,574
29Shelburne$35,526
30Yarmouth$34,572
31Lockeport$33,854[b]
32Digby$33,437
33Parrsboro$27,472[b]

Notes

  1. ↑ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an Indigenous identity.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "2021StatCanNS" defined multiple times with different content.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 National Household Survey (NHS) Profile - Select from a List Archived 2014-05-12 at the Wayback Machine Statistics Canada
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