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OTTAWA — Alberta added more people than any other province over the past year, continuing to lead the country in population growth even as the pace slowed across Canada.
Statistics Canada estimates Alberta’s population grew by about 1.5 per cent between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, bringing the province to more than 5.1 million residents.
That represents an increase of nearly 76,500 people over the year.
Alberta posted the fastest growth rate among the provinces and added more people in absolute terms than any other jurisdiction in Canada.
Only Yukon and Nunavut recorded higher percentage growth, though both have much smaller populations.
Nationally, Canada’s population grew by about 0.5 per cent over the same period, the slowest annual growth rate in more than a century.
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan each grew by about one per cent, while Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia increased by 0.8 per cent.
Manitoba grew by 0.6 per cent, while Ontario increased by 0.3 per cent, Quebec by 0.2 per cent and British Columbia by 0.1 per cent.
The Northwest Territories was the only province or territory to record a population decline, falling by 127 people, or about 0.3 per cent.
Statistics Canada says population growth slowed in every province compared with the previous year, largely because of changes in international migration.
Canada’s non-permanent resident population fell by more than 154,000 over the year, while the number of new permanent immigrants also declined.
Alberta still received more than 50,000 immigrants during the year, although that was about 8,000 fewer than the year before and the lowest level since the pandemic began.
The province also recorded a net loss of almost 8,000 non-permanent residents, driven largely by international students leaving.
Interprovincial migration also slowed, although Alberta continued to gain residents from other parts of Canada, particularly British Columbia and Ontario.
Canada’s estimated population stood at nearly 41.8 million as of July 1, 2026.
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