Current provincial population estimates

Highlights

A population estimate is a measure of the current or historical population at a particular point in time. These are the key highlights for the third quarter of 2024:

• Despite signs of easing, Alberta’s population growth rate led the country for the fifth straight quarter.
• Immigration to the province set a new third quarter record and was the second highest share in the country.
• Following the pattern at the national level and in most provinces, Alberta’s gains from non-permanent residents (NPR) slowed considerably in the third quarter, likely impacted by recent federal government policy changes.
• Alberta registered the highest net interprovincial migration gains in Canada in the third quarter, the ninth quarter in a row.

For more information and analysis, see the Third Quarter Population Report.

Detailed population tables

• Population estimates and components of growth and population by age and sex – Excel files, updated December 17, 2024
• Municipal (Census Subdivision) Population Estimates (2016 to 2023) – Excel files, updated May 22, 2024
• Components of Migration, Mobility – Alberta, 19 Census Divisions and 8 Economic Regions
• Vital statistics (births and deaths) – Alberta, 19 Census Divisions and 8 Economic Regions

Population change components

Population change is a result of the relationship between births, deaths and migration.

Definitions

• Natural increase – The difference between the number of births and deaths.
• Migration (net) – The difference between movements into a region and those out of a region.
• International migration (net) – This includes immigrants, emigrants, non-permanent residents (net), temporarily abroad (net) and returning migrants:
  • Immigrants – permanent residents moving to Canada from other countries and landing in Alberta.
  • Emigrants – people permanently leaving Canada
  • Non-permanent residents (net) – in and out movements of foreign students, workers and refugee claimants, and the families of each of these categories
  • Temporarily abroad (net) – movements of people who do not have a residence in Canada, but intend to return
  • Returning migrants – former emigrants who have returned to Canada to live
• Interprovincial migration (net) – The movement between the provinces and territories of Canada, which equals 0 at the national level.
• Intraprovincial migration (net) – The movement within the province of Alberta, which equals 0 at the provincial level.

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Contact

General OSI enquiries

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2071
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-426-3951
Email: [email protected]

Media enquiries

Contact the Treasury Board and Finance Spokesperson.