Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Port Hawkesbury census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Port Hawkesbury. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 8.10 km2. The town has a population density of 396.30 people per km2.

We highlight the Port Hawkesbury town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Port Hawkesbury on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Port Hawkesbury location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Port Hawkesbury has a population of around 3,210 people. The town's population is in decreased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Port Hawkesbury has decreased by -0.12%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
3,2143,210 --0.12%

2026 Population Projection

Port Hawkesbury's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 3,210 people recorded in the 2021 census.

Population By Genders

The male population of Port Hawkesbury is around 1,525 while the female population is around 1,685.

Of the 3,210 total population in Port Hawkesbury, the largest gender is female with around 1,685 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,5251,685 -9.50%

Is Port Hawkesbury a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Port Hawkesbury compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Nova Scotia, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

18.4%
Unemployment rate
5.7 pts above the province
46.9%
Employment rate
5.0 pts below the province
57.4%
Participation rate
2.1 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$65,500
Median household income
$6,000 below the province
17.7%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
2.8 pts above the province

Commute

85.1%
Commute under 30 minutes
10.0 pts above the province
85.5%
Commute by car
1.9 pts below the province
0.9%
Commute by public transit
3.2 pts below the province

Housing Character

58.0%
Single-detached houses
5.7 pts below the province
26.8%
Apartments (any building size)
1.9 pts above the province

Household Composition

2.20 people
Average household size
About the same as the province
32.5%
One-person households
1.7 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Other Towns Near Port Hawkesbury

Population by Age Characteristics

Port Hawkesbury has an aging population. The majority of the population is people aged 55 to 59 years old, accounting for 8.30% of the total population. The town median age is 46.80.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
55 to 59 years110 7.20%150 8.90% 26.67%265 8.30%
70 to 74 years115 7.50%120 7.10% 4.17%230 7.20%
60 to 64 years100 6.60%120 7.10% 16.67%220 6.90%
45 to 49 years105 6.90%110 6.50% 4.55%215 6.70%
65 to 69 years110 7.20%105 6.20% 4.55%215 6.70%
40 to 44 years90 5.90%115 6.80% 21.74%205 6.40%
20 to 24 years105 6.90%90 5.30% 14.29%200 6.20%
15 to 19 years105 6.90%90 5.30% 14.29%195 6.10%
50 to 54 years90 5.90%110 6.50% 18.18%195 6.10%
30 to 34 years95 6.20%90 5.30% 5.26%185 5.80%
10 to 14 years90 5.90%90 5.30% 0.00%180 5.60%
25 to 29 years75 4.90%85 5.00% 11.76%160 5.00%
35 to 39 years75 4.90%70 4.20% 6.67%150 4.70%
5 to 9 years70 4.60%70 4.20% 0.00%145 4.50%
75 to 79 years55 3.60%75 4.50% 26.67%135 4.20%
0 to 4 years50 3.30%60 3.60% 16.67%110 3.40%
80 to 84 years40 2.60%65 3.90% 38.46%105 3.30%
85 years and over30 2.00%65 3.90% 53.85%90 2.80%
85 to 89 years25 1.60%45 2.70% 44.44%70 2.20%
Median age of the population45 45.20%48 48.40% 6.20%47 46.80%
Average age of the population44 43.70%46 46.40% 6.47%45 45.10%

Broader Age Groups

If the town's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 62.30% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 24.30% and 13.20%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Port Hawkesbury are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
65 years and over23.00%25.50%24.30%
0 to 14 years13.80%12.80%13.20%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Port Hawkesbury

Explore Port Hawkesbury Through Videos

Population of Port Hawkesbury by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Port Hawkesbury is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Port Hawkesbury is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are Scottish, which accounts for 47.06% of the total population, followed by Irish (27.98%), English (17.97%), French (15.90%), and Canadian (13.51%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Acadian, German, Nova Scotian, Dutch, and Caucasian (White).

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
Scottish45.82%47.88%47.06%
Irish28.09%28.18%27.98%
English16.72%19.39%17.97%
French14.38%17.27%15.90%
Canadian13.71%13.33%13.51%
Acadian7.69%9.70%8.59%
German5.02%5.45%5.25%
Nova Scotian3.68%3.33%3.66%
Dutch3.68%2.73%3.18%
Caucasian (White)3.01%3.03%3.02%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Port Hawkesbury's population profile.

About 4.5% of Port Hawkesbury's population are immigrants (140 people).

The top countries of origin for Port Hawkesbury's immigrant population are Syria (30), United Kingdom (20), China (20), Philippines (20), Brazil (0).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Syria30
United Kingdom20
China20
Philippines20
Brazil0

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 820 of Port Hawkesbury's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 2 persons household.

Household Size

About 17.85% of the population lives in 2 persons households. 1 person households ranked second, accounting for 16.25% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 7.75%, 5.10%, and 2.65%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
2 persons50517.85%
1 person46016.25%
3 persons2207.75%
4 persons1455.10%
5 or more persons752.65%

Income in Port Hawkesbury

Analyzing income distribution in Port Hawkesbury can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Port Hawkesbury is $34,000.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Port Hawkesbury population or around 480 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $30,000 to $49,999, and $50,000 to $79,999 with around 315 and 265 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Port Hawkesbury's median household income is $65,500, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Port Hawkesbury's median household income is 18,500 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Port Hawkesbury

This data sheds light on the distribution of Port Hawkesbury residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

61.50% or most of the Port Hawkesbury population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 28.00% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 19.80% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.50% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree1,2601,3852,64561.50%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate5456801,23028.00%
Bachelor's degree or higher32052084519.80%
No certificate, diploma or degree27523050010.50%

Below national average 19.8% of Port Hawkesbury's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Port Hawkesbury

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Port Hawkesbury. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 10.56% which is very high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate46.85%
Unemployment rate10.56%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Port Hawkesbury's population (around 69.70%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 55 men and 45 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 100.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed5545100

Employment Industry Sectors

The Port Hawkesbury industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Port Hawkesbury is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Port Hawkesbury has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (19%) works in the retail trade sector. The Accommodation and food services sector comes second at 11%, followed by Health care and social assistance at 10%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Retail trade16513019%
Accommodation and food services809511%
Health care and social assistance2012510%
Educational services351109%
Manufacturing110208%
Public administration50456%
Construction7005%
Transportation and warehousing60205%
Professional, scientific and technical services45305%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services25303%
Other services (except public administration)20253%
Arts, entertainment and recreation15202%
Wholesale trade2502%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction2002%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting15101%
Information and cultural industries10151%
Finance and insurance0201%
Utilities1001%
Real estate and rental and leasing000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Port Hawkesbury residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Port Hawkesbury: -45 Retail trade (19%), Accommodation and food services (11%), Health care and social assistance (10%)

Top occupation categories in Port Hawkesbury: Sales and service occupations (33%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (16%), Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (12%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work5355001,03581.80%
Worked at home40751159.10%
No fixed workplace address75351058.30%
Worked outside Canada100100.80%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Port Hawkesbury residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Port Hawkesbury residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Port Hawkesbury spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes69.30%
15 to 29 minutes15.80%
30 to 44 minutes7.00%
45 to 59 minutes6.10%
60 minutes and over2.60%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Port Hawkesburyshed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Port Hawkesbury's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
50.99%
Married or living common-law
49.01%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Port Hawkesbury. About 3,060 people living in the province speak English, 75 people speak French, 5 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 0 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English3,060
French75
Neither English nor French5
English and French0

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English90.9%96.3%
Non-official languages4.5%2.4%
French2.7%0.6%

Religion

Port Hawkesbury is predominantly Christian. About 2,305 of its population is Christian (1,065 males and 1,065 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 1.3% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Buddhist, both represent 0.5% and 0.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian73.4%
Islam1.3%
Hindu0.5%
Buddhist0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Port Hawkesbury

Schools

Parks

Green Spaces in Port Hawkesbury

NameTypeApprox. Area
Port Hakesbury Community ParkParks5.3 ha
Granville GreenParks0.5 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Port Hawkesbury

According to the 2021 census, Port Hawkesbury has a population of approximately 3,210 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Port Hawkesbury decreased by 0.12%.

Port Hawkesbury has a population density of approximately 396.30 people per square kilometre.

Port Hawkesbury covers a land area of approximately 8.10 km².

The median age of the population in Port Hawkesbury is 46.80 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Port Hawkesbury is Scottish.

The median household income in Port Hawkesbury is $65,500, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Port Hawkesbury.

Christian is the predominant religion in Port Hawkesbury.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.