Largest Cities in Nova Scotia

Top 73 cities ranked by largest cities

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · Canada · Nova Scotia

Largest Cities — Nova Scotia

1 Halifax 439,819

2 Sydney 105,968

3 Dartmouth 101,343

4 Cape Breton 93,694

5 Lower Sackville 51,749

6 Downtown Halifax 25,555

7 East Hants 22,892

8 Halifax West End 22,664

9 Kings, Subd. A 22,355

10 Bedford 21,474

11 Woodlawn 20,000

12 Halifax South End 19,922

13 Colchester, Subd. B 19,806

14 West Hants 19,509

15 Glace Bay 16,915

16 Armdale 16,502

17 Halifax North End 14,893

18 Truro 12,954

19 Colchester, Subd. C 12,476

20 Sydney Mines 12,353

21 Kings, Subd. B 11,951

22 Eastern Passage 11,738

23 Fall River 11,526

24 Chester 10,693

25 Queens 10,422

26 Spryfield 10,118

27 Rockingham 10,079

28 New Glasgow 9,471

29 Amherst 9,404

30 Millview 9,189

31 Antigonish, Subd. A 8,963

32 Forest Hills 8,822

33 Bridgewater 8,790

34 Fairview 8,618

35 Albro Lake 8,503

36 Pictou, Subd. C 8,386

37 Woodside 8,348

38 Kings, Subd. C 8,348

39 Argyle 7,870

40 Manor Park 7,716

41 Clare 7,678

42 Burnside 7,506

43 Quinpool District 7,228

44 Port Wallace 6,963

45 Cumberland, Subd. B 6,786

46 New Waterford 6,723

47 Harbourview 6,656

48 Kentville 6,630

49 Enfield 6,583

50 Barrington 6,523

51 Westmount 6,388

52 Downtown Dartmouth 6,300

53 Williams Lake 6,268

54 Hammonds Plains 6,242

55 Pictou, Subd. A 6,153

56 Antigonish, Subd. B 6,138

57 Pictou, Subd. B 6,137

58 Beaver Bank 6,000

59 Annapolis, Subd. A 5,980

60 North Sydney 5,699

61 Cumberland, Subd. C 5,694

62 Timberlea 5,627

63 Convoy Place 5,581

64 Princeville 5,571

65 Willowdale 5,543

66 Greenwood 5,369

67 Kings, Subd. D 5,264

68 Annapolis, Subd. C 5,218

69 Inverness, Subd. A 5,207

70 Clayton Park 5,201

71 Imperoyal 5,102

72 Bible Hill 5,076

73 Wolfville 5,057

The largest cities in Nova Scotia represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Halifax leads with a population of 439,819, followed by Sydney and Dartmouth. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. NS dominates the top 10 with 10 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

1. Halifax's population is larger than that of many small nations.
2. NS has 10 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 6,523 — larger than most cities worldwide.
4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 792,573.

Browse Rankings by Region

Canada — By Region

Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan

By Country

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe