Halifax Profile

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

National Rank:13 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Halifax Population

Total Population (2021)

439,819

Total Population (2016)

403,131

Population Growth

+9.1% (+36,688)

Growth Rank

#167 of 688Same geo level

Male

48.7%214,300

Female

51.3%225,520

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.950

Average Age

41.3

Median Age

40.4

Age Rank

#237 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

19,795(4.5%)

5–9

22,630(5.1%)

10–14

22,600(5.1%)

15–19

21,880(5.0%)

20–24

32,125(7.3%)

25–29

34,775(7.9%)

30–34

33,180(7.5%)

35–39

30,795(7.0%)

40–44

28,300(6.4%)

45–49

27,735(6.3%)

50–54

28,120(6.4%)

55–59

32,055(7.3%)

60–64

29,665(6.7%)

65–69

24,835(5.6%)

70–74

21,030(4.8%)

75–79

13,835(3.1%)

80–84

8,565(1.9%)

85+

7,885(1.8%)

Halifax Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.3

Total Private Dwellings

200,473

Occupied Private Dwellings

190,512

Size Distribution

1 Person

56,935 (29.9%)

2 Persons

71,090 (37.3%)

3 Persons

29,105 (15.3%)

4 Persons

22,770 (12.0%)

5+ Persons

10,615 (5.6%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

43,080(22.6%)

Couples without children

51,505(27.0%)

One-parent families

15,650(8.2%)

One-person households

56,940(29.9%)

Multigenerational

3,820(2.0%)

Multiple-family

800(0.4%)

Halifax Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$80,300After tax

Median Household Income

$69,500After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$42,800After tax

Median Individual Income

$36,800After tax

Income Rank

#403 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

84.2%

Employment Income

67.6%

Government Transfers

15.8%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

28,820(8.1%)

$10k–$20k

39,640(11.1%)

$20k–$30k

54,510(15.3%)

$30k–$40k

47,000(13.1%)

$40k–$50k

41,710(11.7%)

$50k–$60k

33,315(9.3%)

$60k–$70k

26,330(7.4%)

$70k–$80k

20,805(5.8%)

$80k–$90k

17,685(4.9%)

$90k–$100k

13,150(3.7%)

$100k+

34,455(9.6%)

Halifax Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

58.1%

Unemployment Rate

11.4%

Total Labour Force

242,690

Employed

215,070

Unemployed

27,620

Not in Labour Force

127,665

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

12.0%

Children (0–17)

14.7%

Adults (18–64)

11.0%

Seniors (65+)

13.2%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3300 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.286

Halifax Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

380,205 (87.1%)

French Only

295 (0.1%)

English & French

53,460 (12.2%)

Neither

2,555 (0.6%)

Mother Tongue

English

369,130 (84.6%)

French

9,985 (2.3%)

Non-official languages

45,820 (10.5%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

369,130(84.6%)

French

9,985(2.3%)

Arabic

7,135(1.6%)

Mandarin

5,970(1.4%)

Punjabi

3,160(0.7%)

Tagalog

2,210(0.5%)

Spanish

2,005(0.5%)

Korean

2,005(0.5%)

Hindi

1,660(0.4%)

Russian

1,525(0.3%)

Halifax Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

90,825(47.7%)

Semi-detached

12,485(6.6%)

Row house

7,390(3.9%)

Duplex

6,540(3.4%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

40,470(21.2%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

28,320(14.9%)

Other attached

200(0.1%)

Movable

4,270(2.2%)

Community snapshot

About Halifax

Halifax Regional Municipality covers a large area of central Nova Scotia, from an Atlantic harbour city to surrounding suburbs and coastline. Downtown Halifax sits on a peninsula opposite Dartmouth, with a major port and naval base. The regional municipality was formed by amalgamating several former cities and counties. About 440,000 people live in the municipality.

Known for

Ice-free Atlantic port and naval base
Citadel Hill and a historic downtown
Universities including Dalhousie
Maritime museums and the waterfront boardwalk
Amalgamated urban, suburban, and coastal communities

See & do

Halifax Citadel
Hilltop fort overlooking the harbour.
Halifax Waterfront
Boardwalk, piers, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
Point Pleasant Park
Wooded park at the south end of the peninsula.
Pier 21
Canadian Museum of Immigration in a historic ocean-liner terminal.
Halifax Public Gardens
Victorian garden downtown.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution