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June 18, 2025NOVA SCOTIA QUARTERLY POPULATION ESTIMATES AS OF APRIL 1, 2025 
Nova Scotia's population was 1,080,418 as of April 1, 2025, an increase of 791 (+0.073%) from January 1, 2025.
From January 1 to March 31, 2025 natural population change continues to be negative as deaths (3,136) outnumber births (1,892). Natural population change has been negative for every quarter since 2016.
The number of immigrants (2,905) substantially outnumbered net emigrants (182) while the number of non-permanent residents leaving Nova Scotia (4,099) exceeded the number entering the province (2,980) by 1,119.
The number people moving into from Nova Scotia to another province or territory (4,508) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (4,077). The net interprovincial inflow of 431 was an improvement after a net interprovincial outflow during the same period in 2024.
Nova Scotia's population growth of 791 (+0.073%) from January 1 to March 31, 2025 more than offset the small population decline (-49) reported from October 1 to December 31, 2024. In the last year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025), Nova Scotia's population has grown by 8,920.
From January 1 to March 31, 2025 Nova Scotia’s population grew 0.073%. This outpaced the national population growth of 0.05%, which reflected population declines in each of the three most populous provinces (Ontario, Québec and British Columbia) along with Newfoundland and Labrador. Prince Edward Island and Alberta reported the fastest growing populations in Canada.
Nova Scotia's population increased by 0.83% (+8,920) from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. This was the second slowest year-over-year population gain among provinces (ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador). Nationally, the population grew by 1.24% in the last year, with notably faster growth in Alberta.
Nova Scotia's year-over-year population growth has slowed considerably from the pace reported in the previous two years. Outside of the pandemic, Nova Scotia's year-over-year population growth was slower than in any period since 2016.
From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, international sources added to the population as immigration (+13,140) combined with non-permanent resident entries (+16,701) were substantially higher than net emigration (498) plus exit of non-permanent residents (-18,495).
Natural change reduced Nova Scotia's population by 4,328 as deaths (-11,989) exceeded births (+7,661).
The number people moving into Nova Scotia from another province or territory (+18,825) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (-16,425) by 2,400.
Nova Scotia’s natural population change (the number of births less the number of deaths) has been negative in every quarter since 2016. Between January 1 and March 31, 2025 there were 1,892 births and 3,136 deaths, amounting to a natural population decline of 1,244. The decline in the January-March period 2025 was of similar magnitude to same periods in 2023 and 2024.
From April 1 to March 31, 2024, there were 7,661 births, which were outnumbered by 11,989 deaths, resulting in a natural population decline of 4,328.
Immigration from other countries continued to be a strong contributor to population growth in Nova Scotia. For the period January 1 to March 31, 2025 an additional 2,905 immigrants came to the province, a deceleration from the same period in 2024. Over the past year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) 13,140 immigrants have arrived in Nova Scotia.
The net change in non-permanent residents in the province was 1,119 persons leaving Nova Scotia's population between January 1 and March 31, 2025. The number of non-permanent residents arriving in Nova Scotia was 2,980 while 4,099 non-permanent residents left the province over the same time. The net outflow of non-permanent residents was the strongest January-March outflow on record (data series started in 1971).
In the period April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 there was a net decrease of 1,794 non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia with 16,701 non-permanent resident entries and 18,495 non-permanent resident exits.
A total of 4,508 new Nova Scotians arrived in the province from other parts of Canada between January 1 to March 31, 2025. This was the slowest pace of in-migration for the same period since 2018. From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, 18,825 interprovincial migrants arrived in Nova Scotia.
A total of 4,077 Nova Scotians left the province bound for other parts of Canada between January 1 and March 31, 2025 - a pace that has slowed since the same periods in 2023 and 2024. Over the past year (April 1, 202t to March 31, 2025), Nova Scotia has seen 16,425 interprovincial outmigrants.
From January 1 to March 31, 2025 Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration generated a net inflow of +431, improving from a small net outflow in the same period last year.. From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration was positive (+2,400). With slowing in-migration, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration flows have decelerated in the last two years.
For January 1 to March 31, 2025 Ontario continued to account for the largest number of in-migrants to Nova Scotia, however this pace slowed substantially from the pace observed in the same periods from the previous 5 years.
Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick were the largest destinations for those leaving Nova Scotia between January 1 and March 31 of 2025. Out-migration was down to every province and territory except Québec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut compared to the same months in 2024.
From January 1 to March 31, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial population gain reflected net inflows from Ontario (+424), with smaller net inflows from New Brunswick (+190), Newfoundland and Labrador (+152), British Columbia (+58) and the Northwest Territories (+16) offset by outflows to Alberta (-161), Québec (-77), Nunavut (-49), Manitoba (-43), Saskatchewan (-43) and Prince Edward Island (-36)
From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, the largest source of interprovincial in-migration was from Ontario (8,635), which was lower than in any of the previous three years. In-migration was slower from all provinces and territories compared to the previous year except for Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
From April 1 to March 31, 2024, the primary destinations for outmigration from Nova Scotia were Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. Compared to the previous year, Nova Scotia out-migration decreased for nine of the provinces and territories, while out-migration increased to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Nunavut.
Ontario contributed the most substantial positive net interprovincial migration From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025(+2,247), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (+531), Prince Edward Island (+302), British Columbia (+230) and New Brunswick (+214) along with small inflows from each of the territories. There were net outflows to Québec (-155), Manitoba (-61), Saskatchewan (-39) and Alberta (-986).
Non-permanent residents
The number of non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia has increased from 27,967 as of April 1, 2022 to 53,479 as of April 1, 2025. Non-permanent residents most often hold work permits (28,142), study permits (12,684), or both work and study permits (8,357).
Asylum claimants, both with and without study/work permits, were 947 as of April 1, 2025.
There were 3,349 other non-permanent residents who are typically family members living with permit holders or persons with temporary resident permits.
Non-permanent residents accounted for 4.9% of Nova Scotia's population as of April 1, 2025. Nationally, non-permanent residents make up 7.1% of the population with the highest shares in British Columbia (9.1%) and Ontario (8.1%) and lowest shares in Newfoundland and Labrador (3.1%) and Saskatchewan (3.5%).
For the period January 1 to March 31, 2025 the non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia fell 2.0%. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population was also down 2.0% with declines in every province. Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan reported the steepest declines in non-permanent residents. Alberta and Québec reported the smallest declines.
The non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia has declined 3.2% from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population increased 2.6% with notably faster growth in Alberta and Québec. Prince Edward Island (-6.3%) reported the steepest year-over-year decline in non-permanent residents (followed by Nova Scotia).
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterly; Table 17-10-0020-01 Estimates of the components of interprovincial migration, quarterly; Table 17-10-0040-01 Estimates of the components of international migration, quarterly; Table 17-10-0045-01 Estimates of interprovincial migrants by province or territory of origin and destination, quarterly; Table 17-10-0121-01 Estimates of the number of non-permanent residents by type, quarterly
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