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December 17, 2024NOVA SCOTIA QUARTERLY POPULATION ESTIMATES AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2024 
Nova Scotia's population was 1,079,676 as of October 1, 2024. Nova Scotia's population increased by 3,302 (+0.31%) from July 1, 2024.
From July 1 to September 30, there were positive contributions to population growth from international sources as immigration (+3,645) was substantially higher than net emigration (-59) and the number of non-permanent residents entering Nova Scotia (+6,028) exceeded the number leaving the province (-5,775) by 253.
Natural change continues to put downward pressure (-896) on Nova Scotia's population as deaths (-2,912) outpace births (+2,016).
The number people moving into from Nova Scotia to another province or territory (+4,582) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (-4,223). The net interprovincial inflow of 359 was stronger than reported in the same quarter of 2023.

Nova Scotia's population growth from July 1 to September 30 was slower than in the same period in the previous three years, and was also slower than in pre-pandemic growth for the same quarters in 2016-2019.


From July 1 to September 30, 2024 Nova Scotia’s population increased 0.31%, while the national population grew 0.43%. All provinces reported increasing populations. Alberta reported the fastest population growth this quarter while Newfoundland and Labrador had the slowest growth (followed by Ontario and Nova Scotia).

Nova Scotia's population increased by 1.44% from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. This was the second slowest year-over-year population gain among provinces (ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador). Nationally, the population grew by 2.35% 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.


From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 international sources added to the population as immigration (+14,766) was substantially higher than net emigration (-492) while the number of non-permanent residents entering Nova Scotia (+20,288) exceeded the number leaving the province (-17,363) by 2,925.
Natural change reduced Nova Scotia's population by 4,347 as deaths (-11,918) exceeded births (+7,571).
The number people moving into Nova Scotia from another province or territory (+19,371) exceeded the number of Nova Scotia moving away to another province (-16,844) by 2,527.

Nova Scotia’s natural population change (the number of births less the number of deaths) has been negative for several years. Between July 1 and September 30 there were 2,016 births and 2,912 deaths, amounting to a natural population decline of 896. Natural population decline typically abates in the July 1-September 30 period when births increase compared with other quarters of the year.
From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 there were 7,571 births, which were outnumbered by 11,918 deaths, resulting in a natural population decline of 4,347.

Immigration from other countries continued to be a strong contributor to population growth in Nova Scotia. For the period July 1 to September 30, an additional 3,645 immigrants came to the province. Over the past year (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024) 14,766 immigrants have arrived in Nova Scotia.

The net change in non-permanent residents in the province was added 253 persons to Nova Scotia's population between July 1 and September 30. The number of non-permanent residents arriving in Nova Scotia was 6,028 while 5,775 non-permanent residents left the province over the same time.
In the period October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 there was a net increase of 2,925 non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia with 20,288 non-permanent resident entries and 17,363 non-permanent resident exits.



A total of 4,582 new Nova Scotians arrived in the province from other parts of Canada between July 1 and September 30. This was a slower pace of in-migration than observed during the same months of 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 19,371 interprovincial migrants arrived in Nova Scotia.

A total of 4,223 Nova Scotians left the province bound for other parts of Canada between July 1 and September 30. This was slightly slower than the pace observed in the same months of 2023 and 2022, but elevated from out-migration reported in the same months of 2017-2021. Over the past year, Nova Scotia has seen 16,844 interprovincial outmigrants.

From July 1 to September 30, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration generated a net inflow of +359. From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration was positive (+2,527). With slowing in-migration, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial migration flows have decelerated in the last two years.

Ontario continues to account for the largest number of in-migrants to Nova Scotia, however this pace slowed substantially in the last two years.

Ontario and Alberta were the largest destinations for those leaving Nova Scotia between July 1 and September 30 of 2024. Out-migration was up to Alberta, but down to Ontario, compared to the same months in 2023.

From July 1-September 30, Nova Scotia's net interprovincial population gain reflected net inflows from Ontario (+341), Prince Edward Island (+167), Newfoundland and Labrador (+178), British Columbia (+91), New Brunswick (+85) and the Territories (+79) offset by outflows to Québec (-12), Manitoba (-53), Saskatchewan (-10) and Alberta (-507).

From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 the largest source of interprovincial in-migration was from Ontario (8,917), lower than in any of the the previous five years. In-migration was lower from all provinces and territories compared to the previous year except for Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 the primary destinations for outmigration from Nova Scotia were Ontario and Alberta, followed by New Brunswick and British Columbia. Compared to the previous year, Nova Scotia out-migration decreased for all provinces and territories except Alberta, Manitoba and Nunavut.

Ontario contributed the most substantial positive net interprovincial migration From October 1, 2023 to September 30 2024 (+2,568), followed by Prince Edward Island (+529), Newfoundland and Labrador (+426), British Columbia (+266) and Québec (+151). There were smaller net inflows from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and each of the territories. Alberta (-1,563) and New Brunswick (-101) were the only destinations for net population loss among provinces and territories over this period.

Non-permanent residents
The number of non-permanent residents in Nova Scotia has increased from 29,168 as of October 1, 2021 to 56,078 as of October 1, 2024. Non-permanent residents most often hold work permits (28,698), study permits (13,898), or both work and study permits (9,030).
Asylum claimants, both with and without study/work permits, were 828 as of October 1, 2024.
There were 3,624 other non-permanent residents who are typically family members living with permit holders or persons with temporary resident permits.

Non-permanent residents accounted for 5.2% of Nova Scotia's population as of October 1, 2024. Nationally, non-permanent residents make up 7.4% of the population with the highest shares in British Columbia (9.4%) and Ontario (8.5%) and lowest shares in Newfoundland and Labrador (3.3%) and Saskatchewan (3.6%).

For the period July 1 to September 30, 2024 the non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia grew 0.5%. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population was up 1.6% with the fastest growth in Québec and Alberta. Ontario and Manitoba reported the only declines in non-permanent residents during this period.

The non-permanent resident population in Nova Scotia has increased 5.5% from October 1, 2023 to October 1, 2024. Nationally, the non-permanent resident population increased 19.8% with the fastest growth in Alberta (+37.8%). Prince Edward Island (-3.3%) was the only province to report a decline while Nova Scotia reported the slowest growth among provinces with rising 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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