Demographics in Halifax, NS

Population Marital Status Employment Spoken Language Median Income Households Housing Education Commute Time

What is the population of Halifax?

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Population by gender

% of Total
Total population 2021 439,820
Male population 214,300 48.7%
Female population 225,520 51.3%
Average age 41.3
Male population 48.7%
Female population 51.3%

Population by age group

% of Total
Under 14 65,025 14.8%
15 to 24 54,005 12.3%
25 to 34 67,955 15.4%
35 to 44 59,095 13.4%
45 to 54 55,855 12.7%
55 to 64 61,720 14.0%
Over 65 76,150 17.3%
Under 14 14.8%
15 to 24 12.3%
25 to 34 15.4%
35 to 44 13.4%
45 to 54 12.7%
55 to 64 14.0%
Over 65 17.3%
There are 439,820 residents in Halifax, with an average age of 41.3. 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 Halifax (76,150 individuals), followed by those aged 25 to 34 (67,955 people).

What is the marital status of Halifax residents?

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% of Total
Married 163,010 43.5%
Common law 46,895 12.5%
Single 114,600 30.6%
Separated 10,230 2.7%
Divorced 21,895 5.8%
Widowed 18,160 4.8%
Married 43.5%
Common law 12.5%
Single 30.6%
Separated 2.7%
Divorced 5.8%
Widowed 4.8%
A total of 114,600 people in Halifax have never been married (which represents 30.6% of the population). Wedded people in Halifax (163,010 locals) account for 43.5% of the resident pool. Meanwhile, approximately 12.5% of locals live common law (that’s a total of 46,895 people).

What are the employment statistics in Halifax?

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Unemployment rate 11.4%
% of Total
Management 3,240 1.4%
Business, finance and administration 43,080 18.1%
Natural and applied sciences 22,235 9.4%
Health 21,510 9.0%
Education, law, community and government services 35,685 15.0%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 8,275 3.5%
Sales and service 61,755 26.0%
Trades and transport 34,695 14.6%
Natural resources and agriculture 2,730 1.2%
Manufacturing and utilities 4,635 2.0%
Management 1.4%
Business, finance and administration 18.1%
Natural and applied sciences 9.4%
Health 9.0%
Education, law, community and government services 15.0%
Art, culture, recreation and sport 3.5%
Sales and service 26.0%
Trades and transport 14.6%
Natural resources and agriculture 1.2%
Manufacturing and utilities 2.0%
Halifax has an unemployment rate of 11.4%. Regarding the most common jobs in Halifax, people working in Sales and service account for the largest share of the local workforce (61,755 individuals), followed by those in Business, finance and administration (43,080 individuals) and Education, law, community and government services (35,685 individuals).

What language is most spoken in Halifax?

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% of Total
English 422,550 96.8%
French 9,925 2.3%
English and French 1,635 0.4%
Neither English nor French 2,400 0.6%
The majority of Halifax residents (that’s 96.8%) speak English.

What is the median household income in Halifax?

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Median household income $81,000
Median after-tax household income $69,500
The median household income in Halifax is $81,000, while the median after-tax household income sits at $69,500 per year.

How many households are there in Halifax?

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Homeownership

% of Total
Total households 190,505
Owned households 109,540 57.5%
Rented households 80,965 42.5%
Owned households 57.5%
Rented households 42.5%

Household size

Average household size 2.3
% of Total
1 person 56,935 29.9%
2 person 71,090 37.3%
3 person 29,105 15.3%
4 person 22,770 12.0%
5 person 10,615 5.6%
1 person 29.9%
2 person 37.3%
3 person 15.3%
4 person 12.0%
5 person 5.6%

Households by age of primary maintainer

% of Total
Under 34 41,595 21.8%
35 to 44 32,490 17.0%
45 to 54 32,220 16.9%
55 to 64 36,580 19.2%
Over 65 47,625 25.0%
Under 34 21.8%
35 to 44 17.0%
45 to 54 16.9%
55 to 64 19.2%
Over 65 25.0%
There is a total of 190,505 households in Halifax, 57.5% of which are owner-occupied and 42.5% of which have renters living in them. Meanwhile, the average household size in Halifax is 2.3 people. Of the total households here, those with 2 people living in them account for the largest share of the market (71,090 households), followed by establishments occupied by 1 person (56,935 households). Moreover, families whose primary maintainer is over 65 years old represent the largest percentage of the total households in Halifax, at 25%.

What are the housing characteristics in Halifax?

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Year built

% of Total
Before 1945 15,745 8.3%
Between 1946 and 1960 18,920 9.9%
Between 1961 and 1970 21,355 11.2%
Between 1971 and 1980 29,620 15.6%
Between 1981 and 1990 27,710 14.6%
Between 1991 and 2000 26,560 13.9%
Between 2001 and 2010 25,550 13.4%
After 2011 25,040 13.1%
Before 1945 8.3%
Between 1946 and 1960 9.9%
Between 1961 and 1970 11.2%
Between 1971 and 1980 15.6%
Between 1981 and 1990 14.6%
Between 1991 and 2000 13.9%
Between 2001 and 2010 13.4%
After 2011 13.1%

No. of bedrooms

% of Total
No bedrooms 1,470 0.8%
1 bedroom 29,525 15.5%
2 bedrooms 52,005 27.3%
3 bedrooms 65,015 34.1%
4 or more bedroom 42,490 22.3%
No bedrooms 0.8%
1 bedroom 15.5%
2 bedrooms 27.3%
2 bedrooms 34.1%
4 or more bedroom 22.3%

Property type

% of Total
Single-detached homes 90,825 47.7%
Apartments 28,320 14.9%
Attached homes 67,085 35.2%
Movable homes 4,270 2.2%
Single-detached homes 47.7%
Apartments 14.9%
Attached homes 35.2%
Movable homes 2.2%
Median home value $348,000
Average home value $403,600

Home improvement needed

% of Total
Regular maintenance 126,060 66.2%
Major repairs 12,115 6.4%
Minor repairs 52,330 27.5%
Regular maintenance 66.2%
Minor repairs 27.5%
Major repairs 6.4%
Single-detached houses account for 47.7% of the residential buildings in Halifax. Apartments make up 14.9% of the Halifax housing market. Meanwhile, the median home value here is $348,000 and the average figure sits at $403,600. Of all the properties in Halifax, 3 bedrooms units include 65,015 (the highest share) and 2 bedrooms units have 52,005 (second-highest share). Notably, when it comes to the condition of these homes, most of them require regular maintenance (66.2%) and minor repairs (27.5%).

What is the education level in Halifax?

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% of Total
No diploma 44,735 12.1%
High school diploma 93,630 25.3%
Apprenticeship diploma 24,760 6.7%
College diploma 73,220 19.8%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 9,310 2.5%
University degree 124,695 33.7%
No diploma 12.1%
High school diploma 25.3%
Apprenticeship diploma 6.7%
College diploma 19.8%
University diploma (below bachelor level) 2.5%
University degree 33.7%
Approximately 25.3% of the population in Halifax has a high school diploma (that’s 93,630 residents). Halifax locals holding a college diploma (73,220 people) account for 19.8% of the resident pool. Additionally, 33.7% of them hold a university degree (124,695 people).

What is the average commute time in Halifax?

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Average commute time 21 min

Commuting mode

% of Total
By car, truck or van 126,110 81.5%
By public transit 12,540 8.1%
By bicycle/by walking 12,395 8.0%
By other methods 3,735 2.4%
By car, truck or van 81.5%
By public transit 8.1%
By bicycle/by walking 8.0%
By other methods 2.4%

Commuting destinations

% of Total
Commute within the same municipality 125,585 96.6%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 3,345 2.6%
Commute to a different province 1,140 0.9%
Commute within the same municipality 96.6%
Commute to another municipality within the same province 2.6%
Commute to a different province 0.9%

Commuting duration

% of Total
Less than 15 minutes 47,095 30.4%
15 to 29 minutes 67,245 43.4%
30 to 44 minutes 27,645 17.9%
45 to 59 minutes 6,715 4.3%
More than 60 minutes 6,080 3.9%
Less than 15 minutes 30.4%
15 to 29 minutes 43.4%
30 to 44 minutes 17.9%
45 to 59 minutes 4.3%
More than 60 minutes 3.9%
Most employed people in Halifax (67,245 individuals) travel 15 to 29 min to get to work, followed by those who commute less than 15 min (47,095 individuals). All in all, the average commute time in Halifax is 21 min. The preferred commuting mode here is by car, truck or van and most employed Halifax 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.