Nova Scotia Population Overview (2026)
Nova Scotia is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada, located on the Atlantic coast in Eastern Canada. The province’s mainland forms the Nova Scotia peninsula, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and characterized by numerous bays, harbours, and estuaries.
Nova Scotia is Canada’s seventh-most populous province and the second-smallest province by land area. According to Statistics Canada, the population of Nova Scotia was 969,383 in the 2021 Census, and its estimated population in Q4 2025 reached 1,091,857 (about 1.1 million).
👉 Projected Population of Nova Scotia (2026): ~1.1 million
Source: Statistics Canada
Nova Scotia Population Growth (2021–2026)
Nova Scotia has a population growth rate of 12.63% during 2021-2026. It has population increase of 122,474 since 2021.
Nova Scotia Census Q4 2025 Snapshot
| Indicator | Data |
| Total Population | 1,091,857 |
| Percentage Change since 2021 | 12.63% |
| Population Rank | 7th |
| Total Land Area | 52,942 km2 (20,441 sq mi) |
| Area Rank | 12th |
| Population Density | 20.6/km2 (53.4/sq mi) |
| Capital City | Halifax |
| Largest City | Halifax |
Nova Scotia Future Population Projection
Nova Scotia is projected to continue its population growth over the coming decades, supported by immigration, interprovincial migration, and urban concentration around Halifax. Between 2021 and 2026, the province recorded a strong population growth rate of 12.63%, adding approximately 122,474 people. While growth is expected to moderate after 2030, Nova Scotia’s population is likely to rise steadily through mid-century.
Nova Scotia Population Projection Table
| Year | Population (Projected) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 969,383 |
| 2026 | 1.09 million |
| 2030 | 1.12 million |
| 2040 | 1.17 million |
| 2050 | 1.20 million |
| 2060 | 1.23 million |
| 2070 | 1.25 million |
| 2080 | 1.27 million |
| 2090 | 1.29 million |
| 2100 | 1.30 million |
Projected Population of Nova Scotia (2100): ~1.3 million
Nova Scotia Historical Population
Nova Scotia’s population has shown long-term growth with periods of both stability and modest decline. Starting at 276,854 in 1851, the population increased steadily through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, crossing 500,000 by 1921. Growth slowed and fluctuated mid-century, with occasional declines, particularly during the 1930s and early 2000s. From 2011 to 2016, population growth was minimal; however, a strong rebound followed, with the population rising to 969,383 in 2021, reflecting a 5% increase over the previous census, driven largely by migration and renewed demographic momentum.
Nova Scotia Population by Year (1851–2021)
| Year | Population | Actual Change | Percentage Change |
| 1851 | 276,854 | – | – |
| 1861 | 330,857 | 54,003 | 19.51% |
| 1871 | 387,800 | 56,943 | 17.21% |
| 1881 | 440,572 | 52,772 | 13.61% |
| 1891 | 450,396 | 9,824 | 2.23% |
| 1901 | 459,574 | 9,178 | 2.04% |
| 1911 | 492,338 | 32,764 | 7.13% |
| 1921 | 523,837 | 31,499 | 6.40% |
| 1931 | 512,846 | -10,991 | -2.10% |
| 1941 | 577,962 | 65,116 | 12.70% |
| 1951 | 642,584 | 64,622 | 11.18% |
| 1956 | 694,717 | 52,133 | 8.11% |
| 1961 | 737,007 | 42,290 | 6.09% |
| 1966 | 756,039 | 19,032 | 2.58% |
| 1971 | 788,965 | 32,926 | 4.36% |
| 1976 | 828,570 | 39,605 | 5.02% |
| 1981 | 847,442 | 18,872 | 2.28% |
| 1986 | 873,175 | 25,733 | 3.04% |
| 1991 | 899,942 | 26,767 | 3.07% |
| 1996 | 909,282 | 9,340 | 1.04% |
| 2001 | 908,007 | -1,275 | -0.14% |
| 2006 | 913,462 | 5,455 | 0.60% |
| 2011 | 921,727 | 8,265 | 0.90% |
| 2016 | 923,598 | 1,871 | 0.20% |
| 2021 | 969,383 | 45,785 | 5% |
Source: Statistics Canada
Nova Scotia Population by Ethnicity
Nova Scotia’s population is predominantly of European origin (84.7%), with Canadian, Scottish, English, Irish, French, and German being the most commonly reported ancestries. Indigenous peoples make up about 5.5% of the population, primarily First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Visible minorities account for roughly 9.8%, with the largest groups including Black, South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, Latino, and Arab communities.
Top cities in Nova Scotia by population
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of Nova Scotia, as well as the largest urban center in Atlantic Canada, with a population of 439,819 as of 2021. Cape Breton is the province’s second-largest municipality and the economic hub of Cape Breton Island, with a population of 93,694. Other major municipalities include Kings (47,918), Colchester (36,044), and Lunenburg (25,545).
| # | City/Town | Pop 2021 |
| 1 | Halifax | 439,819 |
| 2 | Cape Breton | 93,694 |
| 3 | Kings | 47,918 |
| 4 | Colchester | 36,044 |
| 5 | Lunenburg | 25,545 |
| 6 | East Hants | 22,892 |
| 7 | Pictou | 20,676 |
| 8 | Cumberland | 19,964 |
| 9 | West Hants | 19,509 |
| 10 | Annapolis | 18,834 |
| 11 | Antigonish | 15,101 |
| 12 | Inverness | 13,239 |
| 13 | Truro | 12,954 |
| 14 | Chester | 10,693 |
| 15 | Queens | 10,422 |
| 16 | Yarmouth | 10,067 |
| 17 | New Glasgow | 9,471 |
| 18 | Amherst | 9,404 |
| 19 | Bridgewater | 8,790 |
| 20 | Richmond | 8,509 |
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Sources
All population data is sourced from official Canadian and international statistical agencies:
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