Cape Breton Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Cape Breton. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:64 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Cape Breton Population

Total Population (2021)

93,694

Total Population (2016)

94,285

Population Growth

-0.6% (-591)

Growth Rank

#599 of 688Same geo level

Male

47.9%44,885

Female

52.1%48,810

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.920

Average Age

46.9

Median Age

50.4

Age Rank

#562 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

3,385(3.6%)

5–9

3,960(4.2%)

10–14

4,400(4.7%)

15–19

4,490(4.8%)

20–24

5,090(5.4%)

25–29

5,310(5.7%)

30–34

4,790(5.1%)

35–39

4,660(5.0%)

40–44

4,785(5.1%)

45–49

5,385(5.7%)

50–54

6,035(6.4%)

55–59

7,775(8.3%)

60–64

8,605(9.2%)

65–69

8,095(8.6%)

70–74

6,645(7.1%)

75–79

4,430(4.7%)

80–84

2,995(3.2%)

85+

2,860(3.1%)

Cape Breton Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.2

Total Private Dwellings

46,471

Occupied Private Dwellings

42,316

Size Distribution

1 Person

14,055 (33.2%)

2 Persons

15,795 (37.3%)

3 Persons

6,430 (15.2%)

4 Persons

4,025 (9.5%)

5+ Persons

2,015 (4.8%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

7,390(17.5%)

Couples without children

11,015(26.0%)

One-parent families

5,490(13.0%)

One-person households

14,050(33.2%)

Multigenerational

1,135(2.7%)

Multiple-family

115(0.3%)

Cape Breton Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$65,800After tax

Median Household Income

$55,600After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$35,840After tax

Median Individual Income

$31,400After tax

Income Rank

#625 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

69.2%

Employment Income

54.8%

Government Transfers

30.9%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

6,045(7.8%)

$10k–$20k

10,725(13.8%)

$20k–$30k

16,380(21.1%)

$30k–$40k

12,025(15.5%)

$40k–$50k

9,770(12.6%)

$50k–$60k

6,930(8.9%)

$60k–$70k

4,645(6.0%)

$70k–$80k

3,135(4.0%)

$80k–$90k

2,335(3.0%)

$90k–$100k

1,925(2.5%)

$100k+

3,650(4.7%)

Cape Breton Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

41.7%

Unemployment Rate

19.5%

Total Labour Force

41,585

Employed

33,470

Unemployed

8,115

Not in Labour Force

38,675

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

17.4%

Children (0–17)

21.9%

Adults (18–64)

14.4%

Seniors (65+)

21.3%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3150 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.273

Cape Breton Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

88,160 (95.5%)

French Only

25 (0.0%)

English & French

3,995 (4.3%)

Neither

100 (0.1%)

Mother Tongue

English

87,805 (95.2%)

French

710 (0.8%)

Non-official languages

2,920 (3.2%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

87,805(95.2%)

French

710(0.8%)

Punjabi

635(0.7%)

Mandarin

375(0.4%)

Tagalog

175(0.2%)

Hindi

165(0.2%)

Arabic

85(0.1%)

Vietnamese

85(0.1%)

Gujarati

80(0.1%)

Urdu

65(0.1%)

Cape Breton Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

31,105(73.5%)

Semi-detached

2,815(6.7%)

Row house

705(1.7%)

Duplex

1,800(4.3%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

4,455(10.5%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

215(0.5%)

Other attached

65(0.2%)

Movable

1,155(2.7%)

Community snapshot

About Cape Breton

Cape Breton Regional Municipality covers the industrial east end of Cape Breton Island, around Sydney Harbour. It was formed by amalgamating Sydney, Glace Bay, New Waterford, North Sydney, Louisbourg, and surrounding districts. Former steel and coal towns sit beside a working harbour and the restored Fortress of Louisbourg on the Atlantic shore. About 94,000 people live in the regional municipality.

Known for

Sydney Harbour and a former steel-and-coal industrial base
Amalgamated towns including Glace Bay and North Sydney
Fortress of Louisbourg on the Atlantic shore
Cape Breton fiddle and Gaelic cultural life
Marine Atlantic ferry terminal at North Sydney

See & do

Fortress of Louisbourg
Reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town.
Sydney boardwalk
Harbourfront promenade and cruise pavilion in downtown Sydney.
Cape Breton Miners Museum
Coal-mining museum and underground tour in Glace Bay.
Membertou Heritage Park
Mi’kmaw cultural interpretation in Membertou, adjoining Sydney.
Two Rivers Wildlife Park
Wildlife park in the Mira River area of the municipality.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution