Excerpt from 43-page Provincial Demographic Study (Nova Scotia)

The current populations age structure, increasing life expectancy, and the declining number of births suggest that the average household size will also decrease, resulting in the growth of households with many young professionals and elderly persons living on their own. In 2021, life expectancy in Nova Scotia is projected to increase by 4.3 years for males and 3.2 years for females, which will result in the reduction in difference of life span between males and females, from 6.8 years to 5.7 years. Since the early 1970s, the net number of interprovincial migrants between Nova Scotia and other provinces has fluctuated. There was a positive net flow of migrants in the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, while negative flows were recorded in the late 1970s, mid-1980s and mid-1990s and recently between 2008 and 2009. This is likely a result of the varying job opportunities in Nova Scotia compared to Ontario and the western provinces. In the future, it can be expected that there will be continued varying interprovincial flows. Nova Scotia has seen an increase in foreign immigration to the province in the recent past. There was an average of 1 200 immigrants during the 1980s, 3 700 in 1995, and 2 651 in 2008. While number of immigrants is now tailing off, it is still projected that in the near future, Nova Scotia will be receiving around 2 000 immigrants a year. Higher levels of immigration are expected as newcomers will tend to assimilate into their established ethnic communities. The fluctuations are generally seen as a direct result of job opportunities, a major long-term investment will encourage positive flows into the province and a higher number of permanent residents. Nova Scotia has emerged through economic collapse and historic slow growth to show impressive malleability and adaptive thinking. In addition to well-established service, mining, and manufacturing sectors, the forestry and commercial agriculture sectors have also become well-developed. In the past decade, the province has benefitted from employing previously unknown endeavours such as the exploration of offshore oil and gas, and intensive tourism promotion with . Nova Scotia now ranks top among the Maritime Provinces in average income. Coupled with the fact there is a lower cost of living, increased rates of education, and further industrialization, a significant long-term investment can substantially help the transformation of Nova Scotias economy and way of life.