Quick facts
Halifax overview
Halifax (orange) and the other large cities of Canada
Halifax lies in Nova Scotia in Canada at 44.64°N, 63.58°W, about 60 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Halifax (UTC-3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Québec (531,902) and larger than Laval (438,366). The largest city in Canada is Toronto with 2,794,356 people; the capital, Ottawa, has 1,017,449.
The national capital, Ottawa, is about 956 km away; the nearest large city is Dartmouth, 3 km from Halifax.
Canada as a whole has a live population of 40,562,765 (+0.8% a year) and ranks #38 of 238 countries — see the Canada population page for the full statistics and the Canada atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Halifax
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth Nova Scotia | 3 km | 101,343 |
Largest cities in Canada
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Halifax?
Halifax has about 471,559 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Halifax the capital of Canada?
No. The capital of Canada is Ottawa (1,017,449 people), about 956 km away. Halifax is the 13th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Halifax compared with the rest of Canada?
Its 471,559 residents are 1.2% of the 40,562,765 people living in Canada today. Toronto is larger with 2,794,356 people.
Where is Halifax?
In Nova Scotia, Canada, at latitude 44.64 and longitude -63.58, 60 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Dartmouth (3 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Halifax Population 2026 — Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/canada/halifax/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/canada/halifax/">Halifax Population 2026 — Canada</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.