Alberta's population growth is outpacing the rest of Canada and here's what's driving it

Statistics Canada has released updated data, and it shows that the population of Alberta is growing faster than any other Canadian province.

Calgary was also recently ranked as the best place to live in Canada for a high quality of life, pointing to affordability, job opportunities and safety. It seems like people are seeing the intrigue of the Western Canadian province, as it's "the fastest-growing province or territory" a report from Statistics Canada said.

The province's population grew by 1.0% between April 1 and July 1, 2024, a rate that has set it apart for the fourth quarter in a row. This isn't just a slight bump — it's a continuation of a trend.

What's driving the growth?

Alberta's growth is being driven by several key factors: international migration, interprovincial migration, and natural increase (births minus deaths). The province welcomed 31,877 international migrants in the second quarter. This accounted for a significant portion of the population boost, with people from around the world choosing to call Alberta home.

But it's not just about international migration. Alberta also gained 9,654 people from other provinces. This interprovincial migration is a clear sign that many Canadians are relocating to Alberta.

Natural increase — essentially the difference between the number of births and deaths — added another 4,669 people to the province's population, further solidifying Alberta's growth. On the other end of the spectrum was the Northwest Territories, which had the slowest growth in the second quarter.

On a national level

On a national level, Canada's population growth has been slowing slightly, but it remains high. Canada's overall population reached an estimated 41,288,599 on July 1, 2024, with 96% of growth coming from international migration.

"This marked the first time since 2020 that quarterly growth has been slower than in the same quarter a year earlier," Statistics Canada said.

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