Alberta’s population grew more than rest of Canada last year, data shows | CBC News
Alberta recorded the country’s largest population increase over the year. Its growth rate was surpassed only by Nunavut and Yukon, both far smaller in population.
Growth has eased after several years of rapid expansion. The estimated rate from 2025 to 2026 was Alberta’s slowest since 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Births and deaths produced little change in the province’s natural increase. Fewer people moved from elsewhere in Canada, though many arrived from British Columbia, Ontario and other Prairie provinces.
Alberta also had a net departure of nearly 8,000 non-permanent residents, mostly international students. Federal plans cap permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually through 2028 and set a 385,000 limit for non-permanent residents this year, with another reduction planned.
The provincial government says it will continue seeking a more sustainable federal immigration policy. Edmonton Chamber of Commerce executive Heather Thomson said arrivals should meet economic needs and officials should consider whether departing people are skilled workers; she also raised concerns about economic uncertainty around an upcoming provincial referendum.
Key points
- Alberta had the largest population gain among Canadian jurisdictions, while its growth rate slowed.
- International student departures drove nearly 8,000 net losses among non-permanent residents.
- Alberta plans to press Ottawa on immigration; business leaders are watching workforce needs and referendum uncertainty.