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Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census

Census subdivision of Halifax, RGM - Nova Scotia

Map of Halifax, RGM (shaded in green), Nova Scotia

Map of Halifax, RGM

Interactive version of map

Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

Chart A: Halifax, RGM - Population, 2011 and 2006 censuses

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

Prov. rank
1
Nat. rank
14

In 2011, Halifax (Regional municipality) had a population of 390,096, representing a percentage change of 4.7% from 2006. This compares to the national average growth of 5.9%.

Land area is 5,490.28 square kilometres with a population density of 71.1 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, Halifax (Regional municipality) had 165,033 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 6.4%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.

Halifax (Regional municipality) is part of the census metropolitan area of Halifax.

Population and dwelling counts

Halifax (Regional municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions

Table 1 Halifax (Regional municipality) – Neighbouring census subdivisions, population change, 2006 to 2011
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2011 2006 % change
Chester, N.S. MD 10,599 10,741 -1.3
West Hants, N.S. MD 14,165 13,871 A 2.1
East Hants, N.S. MD 22,111 21,397 A 3.3
Cole Harbour 30, N.S. IRI 194 128 51.6
Shubenacadie 13, N.S. IRI 0 0  ···
Beaver Lake 17, N.S. IRI 23 21 9.5
Sheet Harbour 36, N.S. IRI 15 30 -50.0
Colchester, Subd. C, N.S. SC 13,339 13,312 0.2
St. Mary's, N.S. MD 2,354 2,587 -9.0

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

Halifax, RGM – Age distribution

Chart C: Halifax, RGM - Population by broad age groups

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

Table 4 Halifax, RGM – Age distributions by broad age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
0 to 14 15.3% 16.2% 14.4%
15 to 64 71.6% 72.1% 71.3%
65 and over 13.1% 11.7% 14.3%

In 2011, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Halifax, RGM was 13.1%, compared with a national percentage of 14.8%. The percentage of the working age population (15 to 64) was 71.6% and the percentage of children aged 0 to 14 was 15.3%. 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.

Halifax, RGM – Population by broad age groups and sex

Table 5 Halifax, 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 390,090 372,675 17,415 4.7
0 to 14 59,605 60,180 -575 -1.0
15 to 64 279,465 267,570 11,895 4.4
65 and over 51,025 44,925 6,100 13.6
Males
Total 188,585 178,810 9,775 5.5
0 to 14 30,555 30,490 65 0.2
15 to 64 135,890 129,345 6,545 5.1
65 and over 22,145 18,970 3,175 16.7
Females
Total 201,505 193,870 7,635 3.9
0 to 14 29,050 29,690 -640 -2.2
15 to 64 143,580 138,225 5,355 3.9
65 and over 28,880 25,955 2,925 11.3

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

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

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

Table 6 Halifax, RGM – Population by five-year age groups and sex, 2011 Census
Age groups Both sexes Males Females
Total - Age groups 390,090 188,585 201,505
0 to 4 years 19,960 10,260 9,700
5 to 9 years 19,155 9,775 9,375
10 to 14 years 20,485 10,515 9,970
15 to 19 years 23,865 12,045 11,825
20 to 24 years 31,230 15,630 15,605
25 to 29 years 28,405 13,985 14,415
30 to 34 years 25,930 12,485 13,440
35 to 39 years 26,490 12,745 13,745
40 to 44 years 27,810 13,260 14,550
45 to 49 years 33,095 16,175 16,925
50 to 54 years 31,555 15,265 16,290
55 to 59 years 27,185 12,875 14,310
60 to 64 years 23,900 11,425 12,465
65 to 69 years 16,785 8,025 8,760
70 to 74 years 11,840 5,470 6,365
75 to 79 years 9,125 4,050 5,070
80 to 84 years 6,620 2,620 4,000
85 years and over 6,655 1,980 4,675
Median age 39.9 38.8 40.9

Halifax, RGM – Median age1 of the population

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

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

In 2011, the median age in Halifax, RGM was 39.9 years. In comparison, the median age of Nova Scotia was 43.7 years.

Table 7 Canada, Nova Scotia and Halifax, RGM – Median age, 2006 and 2011 censuses
  Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
Nova Scotia 41.8 43.7
Halifax, RGM 39.0 39.9

Families and households

In 2011, the number of census families2 in Halifax was 109,690, which represents a change of 4.3% from 2006. This compares to a growth rate for Canada of 5.5% over the same period.


In Halifax, 67.9% of census families were married couples in 2011, while 15.4% were common-law-couples and 16.7% were lone-parent families.

Chart F: Halifax - Census families by family structure

Chart F description: Halifax - Census families by family structure

Halifax – Family structure

Table 8 Canada, Nova Scotia, CSD of Halifax, 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
Halifax, RGM 109,690 74,425 67.9 16,920 15.4 18,340 16.7 4.3
Chester, MD 3,425 2,400 70.1 560 16.4 465 13.6 3.0
West Hants, MD 4,535 3,195 70.5 755 16.6 590 13.0 2.6
East Hants, MD 6,800 4,905 72.1 1,005 14.8 885 13.0 3.3
Cole Harbour 30, IRI 65 35 53.8 5 7.7 20 30.8 44.4
Colchester, Subd. C, SC 4,210 2,945 70.0 645 15.3 620 14.7 2.8
St. Mary's, MD 735 590 80.3 75 10.2 75 10.2 -10.4

Halifax – Presence of children within couple families

Among couples (married and common-law) in the census subdivision of Halifax, 44.1% 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 * 34,940
Married couples without children * 39,485
Common-law-couples with children * 5,350
Common-law-couples without children * 11,570

Halifax – Marital status

Chart H: Halifax - Marital status

Chart H description: Halifax - Marital status

In Halifax, 56.2% of the total population aged 15 and over were either married (45.9%) or living with a common-law partner (10.3%).

The remaining 43.8% 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, Halifax, RGM – Population 15 years and older by marital status, 2011 Census
Marital status Halifax, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Population 15 years and over 330,490 100.0 783,510 100.0 27,869,345 100.0
Married or living with a common-law partner 185,635 56.2 453,095 57.8 16,084,490 57.7
Married (and not separated) 151,740 45.9 376,020 48.0 12,941,965 46.4
Living common-law 33,895 10.3 77,075 9.8 3,142,525 11.3
Not married and not living with a common-law partner 144,855 43.8 330,420 42.2 11,784,855 42.3
Single (never legally married) 99,210 30.0 209,180 26.7 7,816,045 28.0
Separated 9,360 2.8 23,545 3.0 698,245 2.5
Divorced 19,480 5.9 46,060 5.9 1,686,035 6.0
Widowed 16,810 5.1 51,625 6.6 1,584,525 5.7

Halifax – Types of private households

There were 165,035 private households3 in Halifax in 2011, a change of 6.4% from 2006. Of these, 23.8% of households were comprised of couples with children aged 24 and under at home, a change of -2.3% compared with five years earlier.

Table 10 Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax, RGM – Distribution of households by household type, 2011 Census
Household type4 Halifax, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total private households 165,035 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Couple-family households with children
aged 24 and under at home5		 39,285 23.8 88,450 22.7 3,524,915 26.5
Couple-family households without children
aged 24 and under at home6		 49,080 29.7 128,065 32.8 3,935,540 29.5
Lone-parent family households7 16,795 10.2 42,445 10.9 1,375,450 10.3
One-person households 47,145 28.6 108,795 27.9 3,673,310 27.6
Multiple family households8 2,240 1.4 5,495 1.4 268,060 2.0
Other households9 10,485 6.4 17,030 4.4 543,340 4.1

Halifax – Structural type of dwelling

In Halifax, 51.1% of private households lived in single-detached houses and 10.7% 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, Halifax, RGM – Distribution of private households by structural type of dwelling, 2011 Census
Structural type of dwelling Halifax, RGM Nova Scotia Canada
number % number % number %
Total - Structural type of dwelling 165,030 100.0 390,280 100.0 13,320,615 100.0
Single-detached house 84,265 51.1 260,435 66.7 7,329,150 55.0
Semi-detached house 11,295 6.8 19,450 5.0 646,240 4.9
Row house 6,165 3.7 9,175 2.4 791,600 5.9
Apartment, building that has five or more storeys 17,605 10.7 17,880 4.6 1,234,770 9.3
Apartment, building that has fewer than five storeys 35,330 21.4 56,485 14.5 2,397,555 18.0
Apartment, duplex 6,200 3.8 11,970 3.1 704,485 5.3
Other single-attached house10 260 0.2 705 0.2 33,310 0.3
Movable dwelling11 3,920 2.4 14,175 3.6 183,510 1.4

Language

Halifax, RGM – Mother tongue

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

Chart J description: Halifax, 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 Halifax, 90.2% of the population reported English only as mother tongue, 2.6% reported French only, and 6.2% 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, 94.6% of the population spoke only English most often at home, 0.9% spoke only French and 3.2% 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 Halifax, 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 386,205 100.0 386,200 100.0
English 348,515 90.2 365,300 94.6
French 10,160 2.6 3,660 0.9
Non-official language 23,855 6.2 12,300 3.2
Multiple responses 3,675 1.0 4,945 1.3
Table 13 Halifax, 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 99.7 0.2
French 60.5 33.6 26.8
Non-official language 80.9 57.4 23.5

Halifax, RGM – Non-official languages

In Halifax, the three most common mother tongues were Arabic (1.5%), Chinese, n.o.s. (0.6%) and German (0.4%), 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 Halifax, 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 5,835 22.4 1.5
Chinese, n.o.s. 2,265 8.7 0.6
German 1,365 5.2 0.4
Spanish 1,210 4.6 0.3
Persian (Farsi) 1,165 4.5 0.3

Halifax, RGM – Bilingualism

Table 15 Halifax, 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 11.7 9.6 89.8 10.0
0 to 19 15.1 14.1 82.8 11.2
20 to 44 14.7 12.8 94.4 9.2
45 to 64 8.0 5.1 91.3 10.9
65 and over 6.3 3.1 82.0 9.2
Table 16 Halifax, RGM – Knowledge of official languages, 2011 Census
Knowledge of official languages Number Percentage
Total 386,205 100.0
English only 338,245 87.6
French only 380 0.1
English and French 46,385 12.0
Neither English nor French 1,190 0.3

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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