Halifax, Nova Scotia · City reference

Population and growth

How many people live in Halifax, how fast that is changing, and how much of the city is built up. All figures are from Statistics Canada.

Last checked 2026-01-14 · Times shown in Atlantic Time

Statistics Canada publishes two different population numbers for a city, and they measure different things. The census is a full count taken every five years, most recently in May 2021. The annual estimates are produced every year in between, using births, deaths, immigration and migration records; they are the better guide to what the population is today.

Census of Population, 2021

Population (2021)

439,819

Rank 13 in Canada by population

Change since 2016

+9.1%

From 403,131 in 2016

Private dwellings

200,473

Total dwellings, occupied or not

Land area

5,476 km²

Census subdivision boundary

Population density

80 / km²

Residents per square kilometre

Occupied dwellings

190,512

Usual residents, excludes vacant and seasonal

“Land area” and “density” use the census subdivision boundary, which is the legal municipal boundary rather than the built-up area. A city that has annexed a large rural fringe will show a low density for that reason alone.

Population estimates since 2001

These are Statistics Canada’s July 1 estimates on 2021 boundaries, so the whole series is comparable like for like. The most recent estimate is for 2025: 516,822 people. That is a compound annual growth rate of 2.87% over the previous five years.

Population estimates for Halifax, July 1 of each year (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0155)
Year	Population	Change from previous year	Five-year growth rate
2025	516,822	+7,831	+2.87%
2024	508,991	+20,396	+3.04%
2023	488,595	+16,621	+2.65%
2022	471,974	+15,733	+2.30%
2021	456,241	+7,523	+1.95%
2020	448,718	+10,498	+1.87%
2019	438,220	+9,439	+1.49%
2018	428,781	+7,500	+1.12%
2017	421,281	+7,113	+0.82%
2016	414,168	+5,097	+0.58%
2015	409,071	+2,175	+0.52%
2014	406,896	+1,385	+0.64%
2013	405,511	+1,140	+0.76%
2012	404,371	+2,083	+0.89%
2011	402,288	+3,595	+0.88%
2010	398,693	—	+0.84%

Where this sits

Halifax is the anchor of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). For how the city compares with its neighbours and how the wider region is growing, Statistics Canada publishes census metropolitan area tables alongside the municipal ones linked below.

Official sources

Details such as fares, fees, hours and program rules change. Always confirm against the official source before acting on anything time-sensitive.