Teen Pregnancy Trend in Nova Scotia (1991-2023)

Teen pregnancy in Nova Scotia has seen a remarkable and steady decline over the past three decades. In 1991, over 1 in 12 births (8.6%) in the province were to teen mothers. By 2023, that number dropped to just 1.4%, marking an 84% decrease.

This long-term trend reflects shifts in public health education, access to contraception, and evolving social norms across the province.

Key Phases of Decline

🔹 1991–2000: A Gradual Downward Trend

• Teen birth percentage ranged between 8.6% and 6.4%.
• A total of 8,439 teen births occurred over the decade.

🔹 2001–2010: The Tipping Point

• The rate fell below 6% by the end of the decade.
• Public campaigns and school programs began to show measurable effects.

🔹 2011–2023: Acceleration of the Decline

• By 2021, the percentage of teen births dropped to 2.0%.
• 2023 recorded the lowest teen birth rate in Nova Scotia’s modern history.

Nova Scotia in the National Context

Nova Scotia’s teen birth rate of 1.4% in 2023 is in line with Canada’s national average, reflecting consistent progress across all provinces.

Number of Live Births to Teen Mothers in Nova Scotia (19 Years or Younger):

Year	Total number of live births in province	Number of live births to teen mothers in province	Percentage of live births
1991	12,026	1,037	8.6%
1992	11,901	1,010	8.5%
1993	11,615	992	8.5%
1994	11,155	969	8.7%
1995	10,807	892	8.3%
1996	10,648	886	8.3%
1997	10,031	759	7.6%
1998	9,685	764	7.9%
1999	9,628	700	7.3%
2000	9,175	590	6.4%
2001	8,961	515	5.7%
2002	8,728	522	6.0%
2003	8,682	478	5.5%
2004	8,835	451	5.1%
2005	8,645	420	4.9%
2006	8,566	470	5.5%
2007	8,950	521	5.8%
2008	9,243	578	6.3%
2009	9,040	560	6.2%
2010	8,890	535	6.0%
2011	8,889	506	5.7%
2012	8,791	484	5.5%
2013	8,444	446	5.3%
2014	8,617	366	4.2%
2015	8,206	329	4.0%
2016	8,311	288	3.5%
2017	8,238	284	3.4%
2018	7,949	213	2.7%
2019	8,099	235	2.9%
2020	7,630	187	2.5%
2021	6,983	143	2.0%
2022	7,873	145	1.8%
2023	7,323	102	1.4%

Source:

Source Name:	Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0416-01. Live births, by age of mother.
Source Link:	https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310041601
Release Date:	2024-09-25