(CHAT News Today)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge area’s population grew by smallest amount in 20+ years in 2020-21

Jan 17, 2022 | 10:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Another 1,153 people were added to Lethbridge’s population over the last year.

Statistics Canada has released its Annual Demographic Estimates for census metropolitan areas (CMA) for the period between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

In that time, Lethbridge’s CMA population grew by 0.9 per cent, bringing the total count to 130,027.

It should be noted that the CMA includes a few rural areas immediately outside of the city’s jurisdiction such as Coalhurst.

There was a natural increase of 434 while 412 people moved from other parts of Alberta, 26 came to Alberta from other provinces, and 281 people from other countries settles in Alberta.

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According to Stats Canada, the most recent numbers show the smallest increase in total population in at least the last 20 years. The graphs on the Annual Demographic Estimates webpage show results dating back to 2002.

In 2019-2020, there was a growth of 1,947 people.

The second smallest rise in population occurred in 2010-2011 when 1,281 people were added.

Currently, 64.9 per cent of the Lethbridge CMA population is between the ages of 15 and 64, 18.3 per cent are at least 65 years old, and 16.7 per cent are no older than 14.

You can see the data for yourself in the Annual Demographic Estimates here.

The City of Lethbridge elected to not hold its own municipal census the last two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, so the most recent local count is from 2019. At that point, the city’s population reached 101,482.

READ MORE: Lethbridge’s population officially reaches 101,482

The first batch of numbers from the 2021 federal census should be released in February.