Location and Demographics

Halifax is home to 385,000, the largest population east of Québec City and north of Boston. It ranks thirteenth among all metropolitan areas in Canada and analysts predict strong population growth in coming years. A recent study by The Conference Board of Canada predicts the population of Halifax will reach 450,000 by the year 2020. Almost 40 per cent of Nova Scotians live in Halifax.

Halifax’s residents are young and well-educated. The city has six degree-granting universities and three campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College, and over half of residents are less than 40 years of age.

At $55,885 average household income, Halifax is above the national average. Current household spending is in the mainstream of mid-sized Canadian cities at just above $52,200.

Halifax is Nova Scotia’s capital and the centre for business in Atlantic Canada. It is also home to over 100 Government of Canada departmental offices or agencies and Halifax Harbour, the second largest natural ice-free harbour in the world. It is the east coast base for the Canadian Navy and one of the country’s busiest ports.