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September 24, 2025NOVA SCOTIA QUARTERLY POPULATION ESTIMATES AS OF JULY 1, 2025 
Nova Scotia's population was 1,093,245 as of July 1, 2025, an increase of 2,208 (+0.20%) from April 1, 2025.
From April 1 to June 30, 2025 natural population change continues to be negative as deaths (2,673) outnumber births (1,949). Natural population change has been negative for every quarter since 2016.
The number of immigrants (2,208) substantially outnumbered net emigrants (316) while the number of non-permanent residents leaving Nova Scotia (3,979) exceeded the number entering the province (3,738) by 241.
The number people moving into from Nova Scotia to another province or territory (6,110) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (4,829). The net interprovincial inflow of 1,281 was an improvement after a net interprovincial inflow of 724 people during the previous quarter.
Nova Scotia's population growth of 2,208 (+0.20%) from April 1 to June 30, 2025 was slower than in the same period in the previous nine years. In the last year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), Nova Scotia's population has grown by 10,476.
From April 1 to June 30, 2025 Nova Scotia’s population grew 0.20%. This outpaced the national population growth of 0.11%. All provinces reported increasing populations except British Columbia. Prince Edward Island and Alberta reported the fastest growing populations in Canada.
Nova Scotia's population increased by 0.97% (10,476) from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Nationally, the population grew by 0.94% in the last year, with growth in all provinces. Alberta reported the fastest growth while the slowest growth was in British Columbia.
Nova Scotia's year-over-year population growth has slowed considerably from the pace reported in the previous three years. Outside of the pandemic, Nova Scotia's year-over-year population growth was slower than in any period since 2016.
From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, international sources added to the population as immigration (10,984) combined with non-permanent resident entries (15,658) were substantially higher than net emigration (316) plus exit of non-permanent residents (14,817).
Natural change reduced Nova Scotia's population by 3,327 as deaths (11,262) exceeded births (7,935).
The number people moving into Nova Scotia from another province or territory (18,469) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (15,243) by 3,226.
Nova Scotia’s natural population change (the number of births less the number of deaths) has been negative in every quarter since 2016. Between April 1 and June 30, 2025 there were 1,949 births and 2,673 deaths, amounting to a natural population decline of 724. The decline in the April-June period 2025 was of similar magnitude to same periods in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, there were 7,935 births, which were outnumbered by 11,262 deaths, resulting in a natural population decline of 3,327.
Immigration from other countries continued to be a strong contributor to population growth in Nova Scotia. For the period April 1 to June 30, 2025 an additional 2,208 immigrants came to the province, a deceleration from the same period in 2024. Over the past year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) 10,984 immigrants have arrived in Nova Scotia.
The net change in non-permanent residents in the province was 241 persons leaving Nova Scotia's population between April 1 and June 30, 2025. The number of non-permanent residents arriving in Nova Scotia was 3,738 while 3,979 non-permanent residents left the province over the same time.
In the period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 there was a net increase of 841 non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia with 15,658 non-permanent resident entries and 14,817 non-permanent resident exits.
A total of 6,110 new Nova Scotians arrived in the province from other parts of Canada between April 1 to June 30, 2025. This was the slowest pace of in-migration for the same period since 2020. From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, 18,469 interprovincial migrants arrived in Nova Scotia.
A total of 4,829 Nova Scotians left the province bound for other parts of Canada between April 1 and June 30, 2025 - a pace that has slowed since the same periods in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Over the past year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), Nova Scotia has seen 15,243 interprovincial outmigrants.
From April 1 to June 30, 2025 Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration generated a net inflow of +1,281. From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration was positive (+3,226). With slowing in-migration, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration flows have decelerated in the last two years.
For April 1 to June 30, 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 4 years.
Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick were the largest destinations for those leaving Nova Scotia between April 1 and June 30 of 2025. Out-migration was down to every province and territory except Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut compared to the previous quarter.
From April 1 to June 30, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial population gain reflected net inflows from Ontario (+961), with smaller net inflows from Québec (+197), Alberta (+90), Prince Edward Island (+74), Newfoundland and Labrador (+19), British Columbia (+15), and Saskatchewan (+10) offset by outflows to New Brunswick (-23), Manitoba (-5), the Northwest Territories (-25), Nunavut (-23), and Yukon (-9).
From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the largest source of interprovincial in-migration was from Ontario (8,812), which was lower than in any of the previous six years. In-migration was slower from all provinces and territories compared to the previous year.
From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, 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 all of the provinces and territories.
Ontario contributed the most substantial positive net interprovincial migration from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025(+2,625), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (+368), New Brunswick (+300), Prince Edward Island (+181), British Columbia (+374) and Québec (+117) along with small inflows from each of the territories (except Yukon). There were net outflows to Alberta (-579), Saskatchewan (-101), and Manitoba (-95).
Non-permanent residents
The number of non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia has increased from 30,078 as of April 1, 2022 to 59,197 as of July 1, 2025. Non-permanent residents most often hold work permits (34,208), study permits (12,402), or both work and study permits (8,084).
Asylum claimants, both with and without study/work permits, were 1,085 as of July 1, 2025.
There were 3,418 other non-permanent residents who are typically family members living with permit holders or persons with temporary resident permits.
Non-permanent residents accounted for 5.4% of Nova Scotia's population as of July 1, 2025. Nationally, non-permanent residents make up 7.3% of the population with the highest shares in British Columbia (8.9%) and Ontario (8.6%) and lowest shares in Newfoundland and Labrador (3.4%) and Saskatchewan (4.0%).
For the period April 1 to June 30, 2025 the non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia fell 0.4%. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population was down 1.9% with declines in seven provinces. Manitoba, British Columbia, and Ontario reported the steepest declines in non-permanent residents. Québec reported the fastest gain.
The non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia grew 1.4% from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population decreased 0.5% with notably faster growth in Alberta. Prince Edward Island (-4.6%) reported the steepest year-over-year decline in non-permanent residents.
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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