Nova Scotia Demographics
What is the population of Nova Scotia?
Population by gender
| % of Total | ||
| Total Population | 969,380 | |
| Male Population | 471,730 | 48.7% |
| Female Population | 497,650 | 51.3% |
| Average Age | 44.2 |
Male Population 48.7%
Female Population 51.3%
Population by age group
| % of Total | ||
| Under 14 | 136,710 | 14.1% |
| 15 to 24 | 106,185 | 11.0% |
| 25 to 34 | 120,005 | 12.4% |
| 35 to 44 | 114,175 | 11.8% |
| 45 to 54 | 122,975 | 12.7% |
| 55 to 64 | 154,015 | 15.9% |
| Over 65 | 215,325 | 22.2% |
Under 14 14.1%
15 to 24 11%
25 to 34 12.4%
35 to 44 11.8%
45 to 54 12.7%
55 to 64 15.9%
Over 65 22.2%
There are 969,380 residents in Nova Scotia, with an average age of 44.2. Males make up 48.7% of the population, while females account for 51.3%. Locals over 65 years old represent the largest age group in Nova Scotia (215,325 individuals), followed by those aged 55 to 64 (154,015 people).
What is the marital status of Nova Scotia residents?
| % of Total | ||
| Married | 372,690 | 44.8% |
| Common Law | 98,885 | 11.9% |
| Single | 230,425 | 27.7% |
| Separated | 25,025 | 3.0% |
| Divorced | 52,000 | 6.2% |
| Widowed | 53,655 | 6.4% |
Married 44.8%
Common Law 11.9%
Single 27.7%
Separated 3%
Divorced 6.2%
Widowed 6.4%
A total of 230,425 people in Nova Scotia have never been married (which represents 27.7% of the population). Wedded people in Nova Scotia (372,690 locals) account for 44.8% of the resident pool. Meanwhile, approximately 11.9% of locals live common law (that’s a total of 98,885 people).
What are the employment statistics in Nova Scotia?
| Unemployment rate | 12.7% | |
| % of Total | ||
| Management | 5,065 | 1.1% |
| Business, finance and administration | 73,305 | 15.4% |
| Natural and applied sciences | 32,455 | 6.8% |
| Health | 45,420 | 9.5% |
| Education, law, community and government services | 66,135 | 13.9% |
| Art, culture, recreation and sport | 13,070 | 2.7% |
| Sales and service | 123,130 | 25.8% |
| Trades and transport | 80,775 | 17.0% |
| Natural resources and agriculture | 17,745 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing and utilities | 19,200 | 4.0% |
Management 1.1%
Business, finance and administration 15.4%
Natural and applied sciences 6.8%
Health 9.5%
Education, law, community and government services 13.9%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 2.7%
Sales and service 25.8%
Trades and transport 17%
Natural resources and agriculture 3.7%
Manufacturing and utilities 4%
Nova Scotia has an unemployment rate of 12.7%. Regarding the most common jobs in Nova Scotia, people working in Sales and service account for the largest share of the local workforce (123,130 individuals), followed by those in Trades and transport (80,775 individuals) and Business, finance and administration (73,305 individuals).
What language is most spoken in Nova Scotia?
| % of Total | ||
| English | 926,860 | 96.6% |
| French | 26,775 | 2.8% |
| English and French | 2,320 | 0.2% |
| Neither English nor French | 3,030 | 0.3% |
The majority of Nova Scotia residents (that’s 96.6%) speak English.
What is the median household income in Nova Scotia?
| Median household income | $71,500 | |
| Median after-tax household income | $62,400 |
The median household income in Nova Scotia is $71,500, while the median after-tax household income sits at $62,400 per year.
How many households are there in Nova Scotia?
Homeownership
| % of Total | ||
| Total households | 428,230 | |
| Owned households | 285,995 | 66.8% |
| Rented households | 139,415 | 32.6% |
| Other households | 2,820 | 0.7% |
Owned households 66.8%
Rented households 32.6%
Other households 0.7%
Household size
| Average household size | 2.2 | |
| % of Total | ||
| 1 person | 131,850 | 30.8% |
| 2 person | 166,475 | 38.9% |
| 3 person | 61,700 | 14.4% |
| 4 person | 45,700 | 10.7% |
| 5 person | 22,500 | 5.2% |
1 person 30.8%
2 person 38.9%
3 person 14.4%
4 person 10.7%
5 person 5.2%
Households by age of primary maintainer
| % of Total | ||
| Under 34 | 70,595 | 16.5% |
| 35 to 44 | 62,340 | 14.6% |
| 45 to 54 | 70,065 | 16.4% |
| 55 to 64 | 89,710 | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 135,530 | 31.6% |
Under 34 16.5%
35 to 44 14.6%
45 to 54 16.4%
55 to 64 21%
Over 65 31.6%
There is a total of 428,230 households in Nova Scotia, 66.8% of which are owner-occupied and 32.6% of which have renters living in them. Meanwhile, the average household size in Nova Scotia is 2.2 people. Of the total households here, those with 2 people living in them account for the largest share of the market (166,475 households), followed by establishments occupied by 1 person (131,850 households). Moreover, families whose primary maintainer is over 65 years old represent the largest percentage of the total households in Nova Scotia, at 31.6%.
What are the housing characteristics of Nova Scotia?
Year built
| % of Total | ||
| Before 1945 | 64,775 | 15.1% |
| Between 1946 and 1960 | 46,070 | 10.8% |
| Between 1961 and 1970 | 46,215 | 10.8% |
| Between 1971 and 1980 | 70,540 | 16.5% |
| Between 1981 and 1990 | 59,840 | 14.0% |
| Between 1991 and 2000 | 52,820 | 12.3% |
| Between 2001 and 2010 | 46,025 | 10.8% |
| After 2011 | 41,940 | 9.8% |
Before 1945 15.1%
Between 1946 and 1960 10.8%
Between 1961 and 1970 10.8%
Between 1971 and 1980 16.5%
Between 1981 and 1990 14%
Between 1991 and 2000 12.3%
Between 2001 and 2010 10.8%
After 2011 9.8%
No. of bedrooms
| % of Total | ||
| No bedrooms | 2,070 | 0.5% |
| 1 bedroom | 52,160 | 12.2% |
| 2 bedrooms | 117,275 | 27.4% |
| 3 bedrooms | 162,095 | 37.8% |
| 4 or more bedrooms | 94,630 | 22.1% |
No bedrooms 0.5%
1 bedroom 12.2%
2 bedrooms 27.4%
3 bedrooms 37.8%
4 or more bedrooms 22.1%
Property type
| % of Total | ||
| Single-detached homes | 272,980 | 63.7% |
| Apartments | 28,650 | 6.7% |
| Attached homes | 111,265 | 26.0% |
| Movable homes | 15,345 | 3.6% |
Single-detached homes 63.7%
Apartments 6.7%
Attached homes 26%
Movable homes 3.6%
| Median home value | $250,000 | |
| Average home value | $295,600 |
Home improvement needed
| % of Total | ||
| Regular maintenance | 268,970 | 62.8% |
| Major repairs | 35,215 | 8.2% |
| Minor repairs | 124,040 | 29.0% |
Regular maintenance 62.8%
Major repairs 8.2%
Minor repairs 29%
Single-detached houses account for 63.7% of the residential buildings in Nova Scotia. Apartments make up 6.7% of the Nova Scotia housing market. Meanwhile, the median home value here is $250,000 and the average figure sits at $295,600. Of all the properties in Nova Scotia, 3 bedrooms units include 162,095 (the highest share) and 2 bedrooms units have 117,275 (second-highest share). Regarding year of construction, properties built between 1971 and 1980 and before 1945 hold the highest counts, at 70,540 and 64,775, respectively. Notably, when it comes to the condition of these homes, most of them require regular maintenance (62.8%) and minor repairs (29%).
What is the education level in Nova Scotia?
| % of Total | ||
| No diploma | 137,525 | 16.8% |
| High school diploma | 220,205 | 26.9% |
| Apprenticeship diploma | 70,140 | 8.6% |
| College diploma | 173,685 | 21.2% |
| University diploma (below bachelor level) | 19,035 | 2.3% |
| University degree | 198,725 | 24.3% |
No diploma 16.8%
High school diploma 26.9%
Apprenticeship diploma 8.6%
College diploma 21.2%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 2.3%
University degree 24.3%
Approximately 26.9% of the population in Nova Scotia has a high school diploma (that’s 220,205 residents). Nova Scotia locals holding a college diploma (173,685 people) account for 21.2% of the resident pool. Additionally, 24.3% of them hold a university degree (198,725 people).
What is the average commute time in Nova Scotia?
| Average commute time | 21min | |
Commuting mode
| % of Total | ||
| By car, truck or van | 293,665 | 87.4% |
| By public transit | 13,895 | 4.1% |
| By bicycle/by walking | 20,580 | 6.1% |
| By other methods | 7,870 | 2.3% |
By car, truck or van 87.4%
By public transit 4.1%
By bicycle/by walking 6.1%
By other methods 2.3%
Commuting destinations
| % of Total | ||
| Commute within the same municipality | 201,500 | 72.3% |
| Commute to another municipality within the same province | 72,770 | 26.1% |
| Commute to a different province | 4,435 | 1.6% |
Commute within the same municipality 72.3%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 26.1%
Commute to a different province 1.6%
Commuting duration
| % of Total | ||
| Less than 15 minutes | 128,935 | 38.4% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 123,315 | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 51,690 | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 15,840 | 4.7% |
| More than 60 minutes | 16,230 | 4.8% |
Less than 15 minutes 38.4%
15 to 29 minutes 36.7%
30 to 44 minutes 15.4%
45 to 59 minutes 4.7%
More than 60 minutes 4.8%
Most employed people in Nova Scotia (128,935 individuals) travel less than 15 min to get to work, followed by those who commute 15 to 29 min (123,315 individuals). All in all, the average commute time in Nova Scotia is 21 min. The preferred commuting mode here is by car, truck or van and most employed Nova Scotia locals commute within the same municipality to get to work.
Methodology & Disclaimers
Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest census data from Statistics Canada (2021).
Census aggregated data represented here is extracted from Data Tables, by topic, at census subdivision area level. Differences may be found between the totals of the various categories due to multiple variables.
The information is updated as soon as new data is made available. No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information.