Alberta's population grew by 49,138 in the first three months of 2024. (Photo: Paulbradyphoto | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Alberta accounted for 20% of national population growth in first quarter

Jun 19, 2024 | 10:38 AM

New numbers from Stats Canada show Alberta is more than pulling its weight when it comes to population growth.

The agency reports that Canada’s population reached 41,012,563 as of April 1, 2024. It has been just 10 months since the country hit 40 million on June 16, 2023.

In the first three months of this year, the population grew by 242,673, with 99.3 per cent of that growth being the result of international migration.

A total of 4,849,906 people called Alberta home as of April 1, growing by 49,138 (one per cent) since the start of 2024. That increase accounts for approximately 20 per cent of all national population gains, despite Alberta only making up 11.8 per cent of the total population.

International migration was the most significant factor in Alberta’s growth at 32,893 (67 per cent).

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Alberta was the biggest benefactor of interprovincial migration in the country as 12,482 Canadians (25.4 per cent) moved to the province. A combined 18,616 Ontarians and British Columbians came to Alberta while 9,637 Albertans went to those two provinces.

This was the 11th straight quarter with a net gain in interprovincial migration to Alberta.

A total of 3,763 people were born in Alberta during the first quarter, making up just 7.6 per cent of the population growth.

Below is the list of every economic region in Alberta. Their populations are as of 2023.

• Lethbridge-Medicine Hat:
  • 321,727 population
  • 2.2% growth rate
• Calgary:
  • 1,797,580 population
  • 5.6% growth rate
• Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House:
  • 95,990 population
  • 1.8% growth rate
• Camrose-Drumheller:
  • 211,740 population
  • 1.5% growth rate
• Red Deer:
  • 229,725 population
  • 2.7% growth rate
• Edmonton:
  • 1,607,518 population
  • 4% growth rate
• Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake:
  • 154,190 population
  • 1.9% growth rate
• Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River
  • 276,820 population
  • 1.2% growth rate

The full report on Canada’s population estimates from the first quarter of 2024 can be found on the Statistics Canada website.

READ MORE: Canada’s population surpasses 41 million in Q1 2024