Nova Scotia population estimates by county and census subdivision — July 1, 2023
The following information was released on May 22, 2024. Relevant portions have been highlighted below, and for full details from this dataset, please click here.
- Between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023 Nova Scotia’s population increased by 3.24% or 33,249 persons, reaching 1,058,694 as of July 1, 2023.
- Across Nova Scotia, all 18 counties reported population growth from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023.
- Cape Breton county had the fastest growth at 6.62%, followed by Halifax county at 4.07%.
- Of the 33,249 persons added to Nova Scotia’s population from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, Halifax accounted for the largest portion at 19,237.
- Cape Breton county accounted for the next largest amount of population increase after adding 6,823 to the population.
- Halifax’s population has risen to 492,199 or 46.5% of the provincial population as of July 1, 2023.
- Immigration added 12,303 to Nova Scotia’s population between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023.
- Immigration was concentrated in Halifax with 9,791 immigrants added to the population.
- The next highest numbers of immigrants added were in Cape Breton (568), Colchester (426) and Kings (409) counties.
- The flow of non-permanent residents (such as temporary foreign workers and international students) accelerated sharply in the most recent year, adding 15,518 to the population between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023.
- Cape Breton county added the most non-permanent residents with a net change of 7,251.
- Halifax had the next largest net increase in non-permanent residents at 6,307.
Age Cohorts
- Nova Scotia’s overall median age declined from 44.5 years on July 1, 2022 to 43.8 years on July 1, 2022.
- Median age declined for most counties, but the decline in Cape Breton county’s median age was particularly sharp, falling from 47.9 on July 1, 2022 to 44.8 on July 1, 2023.
- Only Queens, Lunenburg, Guysborough and Victoria counties reported rising median age.