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June 14, 2018NOVA SCOTIA QUARTERLY POPULATION ESTIMATES AS OF APRIL 1, 2018 
Nova Scotia’s population increased by 930 between January 1 and April 1, 2018. The population as of April 1, 2018 was 958,400. This is the highest population estimate for Nova Scotia, surpassing the previous high of 957,600 as of October 1, 2017. Since April 1, 2015 Nova Scotia's population has increased by 17,355. This quarter's increase reflects an increase in immigrants and net interprovincial migration offsetting the natural population change.
There are seasonal patterns in quarterly population changes, particularly evident in births and international migration. Despite the first quarter generally showing modest increases or declines, over the last few years first quarter results have deviated from this trend.
Population growth in Nova Scotia is typically slower than the national average pace. In the last quarter, Nova Scotia’s population increased by 0.1 per cent compared to the January 1 estimate. The national population grew by 0.28 per cent over this period. Compared with April 1, 2017 Nova Scotia’s population has increased by 0.67 per cent, or 6,384, while the national population grew by 1.38 per cent.
In recent quarters, immigration from other countries has been a strong contributor to population growth in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia received 1,338 immigrants during the first quarter of 2018. This is the highest number of immigrants since the second quarter of 2016.
Nova Scotia’s natural population change (the number of births, less the number of deaths) has been negative for several years, with the exception of the third quarter increase in births. Between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2018, there were 2,114 births and 2,669 deaths, amounting to a natural population decline of 555.
Interprovincial migration has historically been a drain on Nova Scotia’s population. However, this was the fifth consecutive quarter with positive gains. From January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 there was a net inflow of 90 interprovincial migrants to Nova Scotia.
Outmigrants from Nova Scotia to other provinces increased compared to the first quarter of 2017. Out-migration to Prince Edward Island and the prairie provinces slowed, while there were increases in the number of Nova Scotians leaving for Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec compared to previous years. There was an increase in the number of Nova Scotians leaving for British Columbia, although it was similar to levels seen in recent years.
In-migrants to Nova Scotia were once again largest from Ontario, New Brunswick, and Alberta. In-migrants from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador have been increasing in the first quarter for the last several years.
This quarter, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration with British Columbia has switched back to an outflow (the first quarter of 2017 deviated from consistent outflows), while similarly Ontario's inflow from Q1 2017 switched back to an outflow. The net inflow from Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador showed increases this quarter compared to the first quarter of 2017.
The number of non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia from January 1 to March 31 increased to 20,075, the second highest number on record for Nova Scotia.
Statistics Canada Cat. No. 91-215
Source:
Quarterly Demographic Estimates, Statistics Canada. Pub 91-002-X (free)
Statistics Canada CANSIM tables: 17-10-0009-01 (Population estimates), 17-10-0020-01 and 17-10-0045-01 (Interprovincial Migrants), 17-10-0059-01 (Births and Deaths), 17-10-0040-01 (International Migrants)
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