Current Situation
The number of immigrants arriving in Nova Scotia was significantly impacted by eased COVID-19 restrictions and increased from 3,540 between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021, to 13,816 between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022. Nova Scotia reported the strongest annual immigration between July 1, 2021 and July 1,2022 since after the second World War. Immigration was elevated in 2016 by a one-time influx of Syrian refugees and has continued to surpass previous immigration records as the number of economic immigrants to Nova Scotia increases. New immigration streams and pilot programs are expected to continue the trend of rising immigration.
| Year | Population Share | Immigration Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 3.61% | 1.46% |
| 1973 | 3.61% | 1.39% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 1.41% |
| 1975 | 3.57% | 1.12% |
| 1976 | 3.56% | 1.18% |
| 1977 | 3.54% | 1.42% |
| 1978 | 3.52% | 1.21% |
| 1979 | 3.51% | 1.14% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 1.31% |
| 1981 | 3.44% | 1.00% |
| 1982 | 3.42% | 1.09% |
| 1983 | 3.42% | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 3.43% | 1.06% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 1.25% |
| 1986 | 3.41% | 1.10% |
| 1987 | 3.38% | 0.89% |
| 1988 | 3.35% | 0.80% |
| 1989 | 3.31% | 0.82% |
| 1990 | 3.29% | 0.71% |
| 1991 | 3.26% | 0.70% |
| 1992 | 3.24% | 0.79% |
| 1993 | 3.22% | 0.97% |
| 1994 | 3.20% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 3.17% | 1.69% |
| 1996 | 3.15% | 1.56% |
| 1997 | 3.12% | 1.38% |
| 1998 | 3.09% | 1.33% |
| 1999 | 3.07% | 0.94% |
| 2000 | 3.04% | 0.81% |
| 2001 | 3.01% | 0.69% |
| 2002 | 2.98% | 0.63% |
| 2003 | 2.96% | 0.63% |
| 2004 | 2.94% | 0.71% |
| 2005 | 2.91% | 0.70% |
| 2006 | 2.88% | 0.86% |
| 2007 | 2.84% | 1.14% |
| 2008 | 2.81% | 1.07% |
| 2009 | 2.79% | 1.00% |
| 2010 | 2.77% | 0.89% |
| 2011 | 2.75% | 0.88% |
| 2012 | 2.72% | 0.91% |
| 2013 | 2.68% | 0.85% |
| 2014 | 2.65% | 1.04% |
| 2015 | 2.62% | 1.12% |
| 2016 | 2.61% | 1.68% |
| 2017 | 2.60% | 1.60% |
| 2018 | 2.59% | 1.69% |
| 2019 | 2.58% | 2.04% |
| 2020 | 2.58% | 2.19% |
| 2021 | 2.58% | 1.56% |
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Note: Data represents population as of July 1. Immigration share as of July 1 2022 compared to the population share in 2021.
What This Means
This reflects a general trend of greater immigration to Nova Scotia over the past six years.
Deep Dive
Read more detailed information about this goal by clicking 'Deep Dive'
