Immigrants in Halifax, Nova Scotia | Annual Arrivals and Census Trends

In 2025, Halifax was the destination for 6,840 new immigrants.

Source: IRCC

• In 2025, 9,175 new permanent residents were admitted to Nova Scotia, 74.6% of them landed in Halifax.
• From 2020 to 2025, Halifax was the destination for 46,100 new immigrants.
• Immigration data highlights a growing trend pre-pandemic levels, a sharp decline in 2020, a rebound in 2021-2024, and decline by 2025.

Immigrants in Halifax in Recent Years

Since 2020 immigration has been the leading driver of population growth in Halifax and the surrounding Nova Scotia region with the Halifax census metropolitan area becoming a key destination for newcomers to Atlantic Canada. Pandemic restrictions caused a temporary decline in permanent resident arrivals that year but inflows rebounded strongly in the following years as federal targets increased and Halifax attracted rising numbers of economic immigrants skilled professionals international students and family reunifications.

Immigrants represent about 12 to 15 percent of the metropolitan population and the area has captured a growing share of arrivals to the province with international migration fueling the majority of recent demographic gains. Newcomers have settled across central urban neighborhoods as well as suburban communities while contributing significantly to the local workforce. Although housing pressures and recent federal reductions in immigration targets have begun to moderate overall inflows migration continues to serve as a crucial factor supporting Halifaxs long term population and economic expansion.