Statistics Canada said Alberta had the highest growth in its population among all Canadian provinces and territories between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. (Photo: Paulbradyphoto | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Alberta’s population the fastest-growing in Canada

Sep 27, 2023 | 7:57 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Canada reached a new population milestone this summer, lead by high levels of growth in Alberta.

Statistics Canada has released its demographic estimates for July 1, 2023.

Between July 1 2022 and July 1, 2023, the national population grew by 1,158,705 (2.9 per cent) to 40,097,761. The organization announced on June 16, 2023, that the population hit 40 million.

This marks the largest increase in the country’s population rate over a one-year period since 1957, when it grew by 3.3 per cent. At that time, growth was lead by the Hungarian refugee crisis and the peak of the baby boom.

In terms of absolute numbers, Statistics Canada said the increase seen in 2022-23 was more than double what the country saw in 1957.

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“If the rate of population growth seen this past year remained constant in the future, it would lead to the Canadian population doubling in 25 years,” reads a writeup from the agency.

Nearly 98 per cent of the growth in the Canadian population was due to immigration, or 1,131,181, marking the most substantial increase on record. The number of non-permanent residents in the country rose by 46 per cent over the past year to 2,198,679.

“This represents the largest year-over-year increase in the population of non-permanent residents living in Canada since comparable data are available (1971/1972), with the increase in work and study permits accounting for most of the change in the last year,” said Statistics Canada.

The province with the strongest population increase was Alberta. Growing by four per cent over the last year, Alberta was home to 4,695,290 people as of July 1, 2023.

Statistics Canada said population growth in Alberta was not only due to international migration, but interprovincial as well.

“Alberta saw 56,245 more people moving to the province than leaving it, making these not only the highest annual net interprovincial gains for Alberta, but the highest annual net interprovincial gains ever recorded for any single province or territory since comparable data are available (1971/1972),” said Statistics Canada.

Ontario and B.C. were tied for the second-highest population growth rate in the country at three per cent each.

Every province and territory experienced at least some net growth in its population between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023.

READ MORE: Canada’s population reaches 40 million: Statistics Canada

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