Health in Nova Scotia, Canada: official figures
Life expectancy at birth in Nova Scotia was 80.30 years in 2022–2024, against 81.65 years for Canada; 6th highest of 12 provinces and territories with data. Ten years earlier, in 2012–2014, it was 80.48 years (down 0.18 years).
How long do men and women live in Nova Scotia?
In 2022–2024, women in Nova Scotia could expect to live 82.53 years at birth and men 78.13 years, a gap of 4.40 years (Canada: 83.86 and 79.47 years).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is life expectancy at 65 in Nova Scotia?
People in Nova Scotia who reached 65 could expect, on average, another 19.55 years of life in 2022–2024 (4th lowest of 12 provinces and territories with data; Canada: 20.85 years).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Nova Scotia?
23 infants died before their first birthday in Nova Scotia in 2024, an infant mortality rate of 2.9 per 1,000 live births; tied for the lowest of 13 provinces and territories. The Canadian rate was 4.5. 10 of the deaths were in the first four weeks of life.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyIs infant mortality falling in Nova Scotia?
The infant mortality rate in Nova Scotia was 3.7 in 2020, 4.2 in 2021, 4.4 in 2022, 4.7 in 2023, 2.9 in 2024 per 1,000 live births, so year-to-year changes reflect small numbers of deaths.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow healthy do people in Nova Scotia say they are?
47.3% of adults in Nova Scotia rated their own health as very good or excellent in 2023–2024 (4th lowest of 13 provinces and territories; Canada: 52.1%), and 19.7% rated their mental health as fair or poor (Canada: 15.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people smoke in Nova Scotia?
13.8% of adults in Nova Scotia smoked daily or occasionally in 2023–2024; tied for 5th highest of 13 provinces and territories (Canada: 11.4%). 22.2% reported heavy drinking (Canada: 19.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the obesity rate in Nova Scotia?
Based on self-reported height and weight (adjusted), 38.8% of adults in Nova Scotia were obese in 2023–2024 (5th highest of 13 provinces and territories; Canada: 30.6%). 24.8% reported high blood pressure and 9.8% diabetes (Canada: 20.4% and 8.4%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyAre people in Nova Scotia satisfied with their lives?
81.5% of adults in Nova Scotia said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their life in 2023–2024 (Canada: 84.3%). 49.7% had a flu shot in the previous 12 months.
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Nova Scotia compares with other provinces
Life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 (2022–2024)
Nova Scotia ranks 6 of 12, highest first. Three-year life tables; Yukon is not published for recent periods.
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | British Columbia | 81.98 years |
| 4 | Prince Edward Island | 81.16 years |
| 5 | Alberta | 80.81 years |
| 6 | Nova Scotia | 80.30 years |
| 7 | New Brunswick | 80.12 years |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 79.17 years |
| 9 | Saskatchewan | 79.02 years |
Life expectancy at age 65, 2022–2024 (2022–2024)
Nova Scotia ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Life expectancy at age 65, 2022–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Prince Edward Island | 20.03 years |
| 7 | New Brunswick | 19.91 years |
| 8 | Manitoba | 19.90 years |
| 9 | Nova Scotia | 19.55 years |
| 10 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 18.99 years |
| 11 | Northwest Territories | 18.69 years |
| 12 | Nunavut | 16.21 years |
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2024 (2024)
Nova Scotia ranks 12 of 13, highest first. Small numbers of deaths make rates in the smaller provinces and territories vary from year to year.
| Rank | Region | Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Alberta | 4.4 |
| 8 | Yukon | 4.4 |
| 9 | Ontario | 4.3 |
| 10 | British Columbia | 3.3 |
| 11 | Prince Edward Island | 3.0 |
| 12 | Nova Scotia | 2.9 |
| 13 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 2.9 |
Share of people aged 12 and over with a regular health care provider, 2022 (2022)
Nova Scotia ranks 5 of 10, highest first. Provinces only.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 12 and over with a regular health care provider, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Alberta | 89.3% |
| 3 | New Brunswick | 89.3% |
| 4 | Manitoba | 89.0% |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 85.2% |
| 6 | Saskatchewan | 84.9% |
| 7 | British Columbia | 83.4% |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 81.9% |
Adults rating their health very good or excellent, 2023–2024 (2023–2024)
Nova Scotia ranks 10 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults rating their health very good or excellent, 2023–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | British Columbia | 50.1% |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 50.0% |
| 9 | Saskatchewan | 49.5% |
| 10 | Nova Scotia | 47.3% |
| 11 | Northwest Territories | 44.4% |
| 12 | New Brunswick | 43.2% |
| 13 | Nunavut | 41.9% |
Adults who smoke daily or occasionally, 2023–2024 (2023–2024)
Nova Scotia ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults who smoke daily or occasionally, 2023–2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northwest Territories | 25.6% |
| 3 | Yukon | 17.7% |
| 4 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 15.0% |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 13.8% |
| 6 | New Brunswick | 13.8% |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | 12.4% |
| 8 | Quebec | 12.3% |
More on Nova Scotia: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0096-01: Health characteristics, annual estimates (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8bd73f02e063…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0972-01: Health characteristics, two-year period estimates (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69d18cb0c5d4…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0713-01: Infant deaths and mortality rates, by age group (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7630920ec549…)
- Statistics Canada: Table 13-10-0114-01: Life expectancy and other elements of the complete life table, three-year estimates, Canada, all provinces except Prince Edward Island (Web Data Service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 04229e3361ab…)
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