By Canadian Press, David Opinko

Statistics Canada says population grew 0.6 per cent in Q2, Alberta fastest

Sep 25, 2024 | 7:15 AM

Statistics Canada says the population of the country reached an estimated 41,288,599 on July 1.

The agency says the total means 250,229 people were added in the second quarter of the year for a growth of 0.6 per cent.

The growth rate was slower than the same quarter of 2023 which saw a 0.8 per cent increase and the 0.7 per cent increase in the second quarter of 2022.

The increase in the population was almost entirely due to international migration which added 240,303 people.

The difference between births and deaths added 9,926 people.

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Alberta posted the fastest growth rate among the provinces and territories with an increase of 1.0 per cent in the quarter, while the Northwest Territories was the slowest with an increase of 0.1 per cent.

Alberta added 46,200 residents for a rate of 0.9 per cent.

That brings the total population in the prairie province to 4,888,723.

Approximately 69 per cent of that came from international migration (+31,877). There was a net increase in interprovincial migration of 9,654, at 20.9 per cent, meaning more Canadians were moving to Alberta than away from it.

4,669 babies were born in the province during the second quarter, accounting for around 10 per cent of population gains.

The pace of population growth in Alberta has picked up since 2022, rising steadily in every quarter.

Nationally, Canada is now home to 41,288,599 residents, increasing by 250,229 people or 0.6 per cent in Q2. Stats Canada says immigration accounted for 96 per cent of that total.

The full report on population estimates can be found on the Statistics Canada website.