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Who lives in Nova Scotia.
969,383 people lived in Nova Scotia in 2021. 7.5% were immigrants (Canada: 23.0%) and 2.2% had arrived from 2016 to 2021.
Data 2021 CensusNext update Census 2026 (from Feb. 2027)
Nova Scotia, region by region.
18 census divisions (counties, regional districts and similar areas) cover the whole province. Switch to City neighbourhoods for census-tract maps of Halifax. Click an area for its profile.
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Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population; boundaries: Statistics Canada 2021 boundary files. Adapted from Statistics Canada. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Who lives in Nova Scotia, in charts.
Visible minority groups
Share of the population in private households. Statistics Canada term, defined in the Employment Equity Act.
| Group | Share | People |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 3.0% | 28,220 |
| South Asian | 2.3% | 21,655 |
| Chinese | 1.2% | 11,600 |
| Arab | 1.1% | 10,610 |
| Filipino | 0.7% | 6,615 |
| Latin American | 0.3% | 2,915 |
| Korean | 0.3% | 2,845 |
| Multiple visible minorities | 0.3% | 2,750 |
| Southeast Asian | 0.3% | 2,400 |
| West Asian | 0.2% | 1,875 |
| Japanese | 0.1% | 985 |
| Visible minority, n.i.e. | 0.1% | 970 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Languages spoken most often at home
Non-official languages, single responses.
| Group | Share | People |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin | 0.5% | 5,185 |
| Arabic | 0.5% | 4,940 |
| Punjabi (Panjabi) | 0.4% | 3,510 |
| Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) | 0.2% | 1,845 |
| Korean | 0.2% | 1,810 |
| Spanish | 0.1% | 1,305 |
| Hindi | 0.1% | 1,210 |
| Russian | 0.1% | 1,060 |
| German | 0.1% | 970 |
| Iranian Persian | 0.1% | 790 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Top 15 ethnic or cultural origins
People can report more than one origin, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Group | Share | People |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish | 26.9% | 257,205 |
| English | 22.8% | 217,910 |
| Irish | 20.5% | 195,665 |
| Canadian | 15.8% | 151,300 |
| French | 11.9% | 113,635 |
| German | 9.1% | 86,860 |
| Caucasian (White) | 6.0% | 57,655 |
| Acadian | 5.1% | 49,205 |
| European | 4.7% | 45,180 |
| British Isles | 3.4% | 32,185 |
| Dutch | 2.9% | 27,375 |
| Nova Scotian | 2.7% | 25,505 |
| Mi'kmaq | 2.2% | 21,305 |
| Métis | 1.9% | 18,310 |
| Welsh | 1.9% | 18,140 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Immigrants: top places of birth
Share of all residents born in each place (immigrants only).
| Group | Share | People |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 16.7% | 11,935 |
| United States of America | 10.6% | 7,570 |
| India | 7.8% | 5,605 |
| Philippines | 6.7% | 4,760 |
| China | 6.0% | 4,320 |
| Syria | 3.4% | 2,415 |
| Germany | 3.3% | 2,370 |
| Nigeria | 2.4% | 1,745 |
| Lebanon | 2.2% | 1,565 |
| Netherlands | 2.0% | 1,465 |
| Korea, South | 1.7% | 1,220 |
| Iran | 1.5% | 1,045 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Recent immigrants (2016 to 2021): top places of birth
Share of all residents.
| Group | Share | People |
|---|---|---|
| India | 17.1% | 3,665 |
| Philippines | 10.9% | 2,325 |
| Syria | 10.0% | 2,140 |
| China | 9.6% | 2,045 |
| Nigeria | 6.7% | 1,440 |
| United States of America | 4.1% | 880 |
| United Kingdom | 3.4% | 735 |
| Korea, South | 2.7% | 580 |
| Egypt | 1.8% | 375 |
| Pakistan | 1.7% | 370 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Immigrants by period of arrival
| Category | Share of residents |
|---|---|
| Before 1980 | 1.8% |
| 1980 to 1990 | 0.6% |
| 1991 to 2000 | 0.7% |
| 2001 to 2010 | 1.3% |
| 2011 to 2015 | 0.9% |
| 2016 to 2021 | 2.2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.
Immigrants admitted 1980 to 2021, by category
Share of residents.
| Category | Share of residents |
|---|---|
| Economic immigrants | 63.2% |
| Immigrants sponsored by family | 23.2% |
| Refugees | 12.8% |
| Other immigrants | 0.7% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population.