Nova Scotia is one of 13 provinces and territories of Canada located in the Atlantic region of the country. It is maritime province with strong ties to the ocean , with an economy based on fishing, tourism, technology.
Nova Scotia, or “New Scotland,” is a province in Canada. It’s one of 3 Maritime provinces and one of 4 Atlantic Canada provinces located nearly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. Nova Scotia is the second-smallest province in the country with a total area of 21,300 square miles (55,284 square kilometers), which includes Cape Breton Island and almost 3,800 small coastal islands.
Nova Scotia has a varied climate based on its geography:
• Northern Region
Subarctic climate with long, harsh winters and shorter, cooler summers.
• Southern Region
Milder climate, particularly in coastal areas, with moderate temperatures.
• Coastal Region
Coastal areas experience weather influenced by ocean currents, with more moderate temperatures and increased precipitation.
Significant fishing industry including lobster, scallops, and groundfish.
Forestry operations and offshore natural gas production.
Halifax serves as Atlantic Canada's financial hub.
Shipbuilding, aerospace, and food processing facilities.
Average Age
44 years
Median Age
45 years
Female (51.2%)
Male (48.8%)
The 2021 census found the racial and ethnic composition of Nova Scotia was:
White (89.8%)
Black (2.9%)
Indigenous (2.7%)
South Asian (1.4%)
Chinese (0.9%)
Arab (0.8%)
Filipino (0.6%)
Latin American (0.4%)
Southeast Asian (0.3%)
Other (0.2%)
English (92.9%)
French (3.2%)
Other (3.9%)
Average Household Income
$66,900
Median Household Income
$60,100
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Mi'kmaq people inhabited the region for thousands of years before European contact.
French colonists established Port-Royal, one of the earliest European settlements in North America.
The Treaty of Utrecht transferred Acadia (Nova Scotia) from France to Britain.
The Great Expulsion (Le Grand Dérangement) saw British authorities deport thousands of Acadian settlers.
Halifax was founded as a British military outpost to counter the French fortress of Louisbourg.
Nova Scotia became one of the four founding provinces in Canadian Confederation.