News release

Immigration at 10-Year High

Immigration (Jan. 2005 - Feb. 2021)

More immigrants made Nova Scotia their home in the first six months of 2016 than in all of last year or in any of the past 10 years.

The total of 3,418 newcomers who arrived in Nova Scotia between January and June of this year is already slightly more than the 3,403 who arrived in Nova Scotia in all of 2015, a previous record year.

"Immigration is a government priority and our hard work is producing results," said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. "In order to grow our economy we must grow our population. Today's numbers are excellent news."

Arrival, or landing, numbers include individuals nominated as immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program and federal programs as well as their families, spouses and children.

Refugee landings are up significantly. There were 1,079 in the first six months of 2016 compared to 365 for all of 2015. Landings under the Provincial Nominee Program also increased with 1,459 so far in 2016 compared to 1,394 for all of last year.

Since December Nova Scotia has welcomed more than 1,000 Syrian refugees through private, blended and government-assisted sponsorships with more expected to arrive before the end of the year.