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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Cape Breton, RGM - Nova Scotia

Map of Cape Breton, RGM (shaded in green), Nova Scotia

Map of Cape Breton, RGM

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Cape Breton, RGM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A description: Cape Breton, RGM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Prov. rank
2
Nat. rank
53

In 2011, Cape Breton (Regional municipality) had a population of 97,398, representing a percentage change of -4.7% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 2,433.35 square kilometres with a population density of 40.0 persons per square kilometre. This compares to the provincial land area of 52,939.44 square kilometres with a population density of 17.4 persons per square kilometre.

In 2011, Cape Breton (Regional municipality) had 41,122 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was -2.2%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Cape Breton (Regional municipality) is part of the census agglomeration of Cape Breton.

Population and dwelling counts

Cape Breton (Regional municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Cape Breton (Regional municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Richmond, Subd. A, N.S. SC 3,953 4,072 -2.9
Richmond, Subd. B, N.S. SC 1,573 1,769 -11.1
Membertou 28B, N.S. IRI 912 726 25.6
Eskasoni 3, N.S. IRI 3,309 2,952 12.1
Victoria, Subd. B, N.S. SC 3,828 4,140 -7.5

Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Table 2 Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Antigonish, Subd. A SC 8,253 7,730 6.8
Kentville T 6,094 5,815 4.8
Halifax RGM 390,096 372,679 4.7
Bridgewater T 8,241 7,944 3.7
East Hants MD 22,111 21,397 A 3.3

Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Table 3 Nova Scotia – Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Inverness, Subd. A SC 5,280 5,859 -9.9
Digby MD 7,463 7,986 -6.5
Yarmouth T 6,761 7,162 -5.6
Clare MD 8,319 8,813 -5.6
Kings, Subd. D SC 5,201 5,499 -5.4

Age and sex

Cape Breton, RGM – Age distribution

Chart C: Cape Breton, RGM - Population by broad age groups

Chart C description: Cape Breton, RGM - Population by broad age groups

Table 4 Cape Breton, RGM – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 13.7% 14.8% 12.7%
15 to 64 66.3% 67.2% 65.5%
65 and over 20.0% 18.1% 21.8%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Cape Breton, RGM was 20.0%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 66.3% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 13.7%. In comparison, the national percentages were 68.5% for the population aged 15 to 64 and 16.7% for the population aged 0 to 14.

Cape Breton, RGM – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Cape Breton, RGM – Population by broad age groups, sex and population change between 2006 and 2011, 2006 to 2011 censuses
Broad age groups by sex Population
2011 2006 change % change
Both sexes
Total 97,395 102,250 -4,855 -4.7
0 to 14 13,325 15,340 -2,015 -13.1
15 to 64 64,575 68,245 -3,670 -5.4
65 and over 19,500 18,670 830 4.4
Males
Total 46,075 48,125 -2,050 -4.3
0 to 14 6,800 7,840 -1,040 -13.3
15 to 64 30,945 32,660 -1,715 -5.3
65 and over 8,320 7,635 685 9.0
Females
Total 51,325 54,125 -2,800 -5.2
0 to 14 6,515 7,500 -985 -13.1
15 to 64 33,630 35,585 -1,955 -5.5
65 and over 11,175 11,035 140 1.3

Cape Breton, RGM – Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D: Cape Breton, RGM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Chart D description: Cape Breton, RGM - Population by five-year age groups and sex

Table 6 Cape Breton, RGM – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 97,395 46,075 51,325
0 to 4 years 4,065 2,085 1,985
5 to 9 years 4,300 2,210 2,090
10 to 14 years 4,955 2,510 2,450
15 to 19 years 6,170 3,105 3,065
20 to 24 years 5,880 3,035 2,850
25 to 29 years 4,485 2,155 2,330
30 to 34 years 4,420 2,025 2,400
35 to 39 years 5,070 2,280 2,790
40 to 44 years 5,740 2,725 3,010
45 to 49 years 7,615 3,485 4,130
50 to 54 years 8,740 4,105 4,635
55 to 59 years 8,610 4,210 4,400
60 to 64 years 7,850 3,815 4,035
65 to 69 years 5,940 2,825 3,110
70 to 74 years 4,710 2,195 2,505
75 to 79 years 3,605 1,530 2,075
80 to 84 years 2,585 995 1,590
85 years and over 2,665 770 1,890
Median age 47.5 46.4 48.3

Cape Breton, RGM – Median age1 of the population

Chart E: Canada, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, RGM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

Chart E description: Canada, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, RGM - Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses

In 2011, the median age in Cape Breton, RGM was 47.5 years. In comparison, the median age of Nova Scotia was 43.7 years.

Table 7 Canada, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, RGM – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Nova Scotia 41.8 43.7
Cape Breton, RGM 44.9 47.5

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Cape Breton was 28,805, which represents a change of -4.9% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Cape Breton, 65.2% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 10.1% were common-law-couples and 24.7% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Cape Breton - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Cape Breton - Census families by family structure

Cape Breton – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, Nova Scotia, CSD of Cape Breton, RGM and neighbouring census subdivisions – Distribution of census families by family structure, 2011 Census
Geographic name Total families Married-couple families Common-law-couple families Lone-parent families % change, census families, 2006 to 2011
number % number % number %
Canada † 9,389,695 6,293,950 67.0 1,567,905 16.7 1,527,840 16.3 5.5
Nova Scotia 270,065 184,870 68.5 38,460 14.2 46,735 17.3 1.0
Cape Breton, RGM 28,805 18,795 65.2 2,900 10.1 7,115 24.7 -4.9
Richmond, Subd. A, SC 1,225 915 74.7 135 11.0 175 14.3 -0.8
Richmond, Subd. B, SC 510 375 73.5 60 11.8 70 13.7 -6.4
Membertou 28B, IRI 235 85 36.2 45 19.1 100 42.6 17.5
Eskasoni 3, IRI 795 240 30.2 120 15.1 435 54.7 9.7
Victoria, Subd. B, SC 1,170 920 78.6 100 8.5 150 12.8 -7.1

Cape Breton – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Cape Breton, 38.0% were couples with children aged 24 and under at home. In comparison, as a whole, 46.9% of couples in Canada had children aged 24 and under at home.

Presence of children within couple families
* Children aged 24 and under at home
Married couples with children * 6,975
Married couples without children * 11,825
Common-law-couples with children * 1,275
Common-law-couples without children * 1,625

Cape Breton – Marital status

Chart H: Cape Breton - Marital status

Chart H description: Cape Breton - Marital status

In Cape Breton, 52.4% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (45.4%) or living with a common-law partner (6.9%).

The remaining 47.6% were not married and not living with a common-law partner, including those who were single (never-married), separated, divorced or widowed.

Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.

Table 9 Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, RGM – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Cape Breton, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 84,075 100.0 783,510 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 44,015 52.4 453,095 57.8 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 38,205 45.4 376,020 48.0 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 5,810 6.9 77,075 9.8 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 40,060 47.6 330,420 42.2 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 24,310 28.9 209,180 26.7 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 3,150 3.7 23,545 3.0 698,245 2.5
Divorced 5,200 6.2 46,060 5.9 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 7,395 8.8 51,625 6.6 1,584,525 5.7

Cape Breton – Types of private households

There were 41,125 private households3 in Cape Breton in 2011, a change of -2.1% from 2006. Of these, 19.5% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -17.2% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, RGM – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Cape Breton, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 41,125 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 8,010 19.5 88,450 22.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 12,815 31.2 128,065 32.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 6,380 15.5 42,445 10.9 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 11,830 28.8 108,795 27.9 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 790 1.9 5,495 1.4 268,060 2.0
Other households9 1,295 3.1 17,030 4.4 543,340 4.1

Cape Breton – Structural type of dwelling

In Cape Breton, 74.1% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 0.5% lived in apartments in buildings that have five or more storeys. The rest lived in other types of dwelling structures.

Table 11 Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, RGM – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Cape Breton, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 41,120 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 30,480 74.1 260,435 66.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 2,675 6.5 19,450 5.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 645 1.6 9,175 2.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 200 0.5 17,880 4.6 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 4,185 10.2 56,485 14.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 1,675 4.1 11,970 3.1 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 75 0.2 705 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 1,185 2.9 14,175 3.6 183,510 1.4

Language

Cape Breton, RGM – Mother tongue

Chart J: Cape Breton, RGM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Chart J description: Cape Breton, RGM - Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home

Note: Counts for mother tongue as well as those for language spoken most often at home include single responses only.

In Cape Breton, 97.2% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 1.0% reported French only, and 1.5% reported a non-official language only, in 2011. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 91.8% for English only, 3.4% for French only and 4.1% for only non-official languages.

In 2011, 98.7% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.3% spoke only French and 0.7% spoke only a non-official language. In comparison, the provincial / territorial percentages were 95.4% for only English, 1.8% for only French and 2.0% for only a non-official language.

Table 12 Cape Breton, RGM – Mother tongue and language spoken most often at home, 2011 Census
Selected languages Mother tongue Language spoken most often at home
number % number %
Total 95,880 100.0 95,885 100.0
English 93,210 97.2 94,615 98.7
French 920 1.0 255 0.3
Non-official language 1,475 1.5 705 0.7
Multiple responses 275 0.3 310 0.3
Table 13 Cape Breton, RGM – Mother-tongue retention, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Mother-tongue retention12
(in percentage)
Total retention; language spoken at home at least on a regular basis Complete retention; language spoken most often at home Partial retention; language spoken at home on a regular basis
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
English 99.9 99.9 0.0
French 42.5 22.6 19.8
Non-official language 73.5 50.8 22.8

Cape Breton, RGM – Non-official languages

In Cape Breton, the three most common mother tongues were Arabic (0.3%), Chinese, n.o.s. (0.2%) and Italian (0.1%), in 2011. In comparison, the most common mother tongues at the provincial / territorial level were Arabic (0.7%), Mi'kmaq (0.5%) and German (0.4%).

Table 14 Cape Breton, RGM – The most common non-official-language mother tongues, 2011 Census
Mother tongue Number Percentage of non-official language mother-tongue population Percentage of total population
Note: Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French.
Arabic 325 20.0 0.3
Chinese, n.o.s. 180 11.1 0.2
Italian 85 5.2 0.1
Gaelic languages 80 4.9 0.1
German 80 4.9 0.1
Urdu 80 4.9 0.1

Cape Breton, RGM – Bilingualism

Table 15 Cape Breton, RGM – Rate of English-French bilingualism by mother tongue and age groups, 2011 Census
Age groups Mother tongue
Total English French Non-official language
Note: Counts for mother tongue include single responses only. Consequently, the total excludes multiple responses.
Total 4.2 3.4 79.9 5.8
0 to 19 7.1 6.8 73.3 12.8
20 to 44 5.5 4.9 89.2 4.1
45 to 64 2.5 1.6 80.9 8.2
65 and over 2.3 1.0 71.2 4.1
Table 16 Cape Breton, RGM – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 95,885 100.0
English only 91,715 95.7
French only 25 0.0
English and French 4,080 4.3
Neither English nor French 65 0.1

Symbols:

···
not applicable
†
excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements. For further information, refer to Notes.
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement. For further information, refer to Notes.
A
adjusted figure due to boundary change. For further information, refer to Content considerations.
E
use with caution. For further information, refer to Cautionary note.


Source:

Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-310-XWE2011004. Ottawa, Ontario. Analytical products, 2011 Census. Last updated October 24, 2012.
 

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