Alberta’s estimated population reached 5,101,050 on July 1, 2026. The province’s recent growth reflects a combination of migration, immigration and changes in the number of non-permanent residents. Census data adds detail about where people live, their ages, immigration history, languages and Indigenous identity.
Alberta population statistics at a glance
- 5,101,050 people: Alberta’s estimated population on July 1, 2026 (Statistics Canada, Canada’s population estimates, second quarter 2026).
- 1.5% growth: The increase from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the fastest provincial growth rate in Canada (Statistics Canada, Canada’s population estimates: Age and gender, 2026).
- 4,262,635 people: Alberta’s enumerated population in the 2021 Census (Statistics Canada, Population and dwelling counts).
- 6.7 people per square kilometre: Alberta’s 2021 population density across 634,658.27 square kilometres (Statistics Canada, Population and dwelling counts).
- 39.0 years: Alberta’s average age in the 2021 Census (Statistics Canada, Broad age groups, gender and census year).
- 284,470 people: The Indigenous population counted in Alberta in 2021, representing 6.8% of the provincial population (Statistics Canada, Indigenous population continues to grow).
Current population estimates for Alberta
The latest quarterly estimate in the supplied series places Alberta at 5,101,050 residents on July 1, 2026. This is an estimate for a specific date, rather than a census enumeration. Between April 1 and July 1, 2026, the estimated population increased by 0.4%. Alberta was estimated to have 5,057,077 residents on April 1, 2026, after a 0.2% increase between January 1 and April 1.
The year-over-year picture is stronger. Alberta’s population grew 1.5% between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, the fastest provincial growth rate in Canada. These estimates are reported by Statistics Canada in Canada’s population estimates, second quarter 2026 and Canada’s population estimates: Age and gender, 2026.
Non-permanent residents were an important component of the estimate. Alberta had an estimated 279,477 non-permanent residents on July 1, 2026. That count fell by 0.6% from April 1 to July 1. At the same time, Alberta received an estimated 13,647 immigrants during the second quarter of 2026, an immigrant flow 8.2% higher than in the second quarter of 2025.
Census counts, land area and urban geography
The 2021 Census counted 4,262,635 people in Alberta, compared with 4,067,175 in the 2016 Census. Statistics Canada reported the 2021 count as 4.8% higher than the 2016 count. The two figures are census counts for their respective census years, while the 2026 figures above are population estimates for later measurement dates.
Alberta’s land area was 634,658.27 square kilometres in the 2021 Census, producing a population density of 6.7 people per square kilometre. This province-wide density describes the relationship between the census population and the full land area; it does not describe how evenly residents are distributed between cities, towns and rural areas.
Housing counts provide another view of the province’s settlement pattern. Alberta had 1,772,670 private dwellings in 2021, including 1,633,220 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The 2021 Census also counted 1,418,118 residents in the Edmonton census metropolitan area. These figures come from Statistics Canada’s Population and dwelling counts.
Alberta population by age
The 2021 Census age groups show a large working-age population alongside substantial younger and older groups. Alberta had 809,640 residents aged 0 to 14, 2,823,770 residents aged 15 to 64, and 629,220 residents aged 65 and older. The average age was 39.0 years.
For comparison, the 2016 Census counted 779,155 residents aged 0 to 14, 2,787,800 aged 15 to 64, and 500,220 aged 65 and older. Alberta’s average age was 37.8 years in 2016. The age-group figures and averages are published in Statistics Canada’s Broad age groups, gender and census year.
| Measure | 2016 Census | 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| Age 0 to 14 | 779,155 | 809,640 |
| Age 15 to 64 | 2,787,800 | 2,823,770 |
| Age 65 and older | 500,220 | 629,220 |
| Average age | 37.8 years | 39.0 years |
The later age estimate gives a separate July 1, 2026 snapshot. People aged 0 to 14 made up 17.3% of Alberta’s population, while people aged 65 and older made up 16.0%. The median age was 38.3 years and the average age was 39.4 years. These are estimates for July 1, 2026, not revised 2021 Census values. The source is Statistics Canada’s Canada’s population estimates: Age and gender, 2026.
Migration and projected population growth
Interprovincial migration has been a major part of Alberta’s recent demographic story. Alberta gained 43,750 people through net interprovincial migration in 2023/2024, following a gain of 39,408 in 2022/2023. The province’s population grew 4.3% from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, the highest rate among Canadian provinces and territories in that measurement period. These annual figures are reported in Annual Demographic Estimates: Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2024.
The quarterly pattern was still positive later. Alberta’s net interprovincial migration gain was 3,684 people from October 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, compared with 4,993 people in the same quarter one year earlier. Alberta recorded the largest net gain from interprovincial migration for the 14th consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025. These quarter-specific results are in Canada’s population estimates, second quarter 2026.
Long-range projections are different from estimates and should be read as a scenario rather than a guaranteed outcome. Under Alberta’s reference projection, the province is expected to reach nearly 7.0 million residents by 2051. The reference projection adds roughly 1.9 million residents between 2025 and 2051 and assumes an average annual population growth rate of 1.3% through 2051. Migration is projected to account for 81% of population growth through 2051. Alberta publishes these figures in Demographic statistics.
Immigration and arrival periods
The 2021 Census provides a detailed view of immigration history for Alberta’s private-household population covered by the 25% sample. In that census universe, Alberta had 970,975 immigrants, 3,141,915 non-immigrants and 64,825 non-permanent residents. These categories belong to the specified census sample universe and should not be treated as a July 2026 estimate.
Arrival periods show how the immigrant population is distributed across decades:
- 127,275 immigrants arrived before 1980.
- 91,320 arrived from 1980 to 1990.
- 126,610 arrived from 1991 to 2000.
- 239,260 arrived from 2001 to 2010.
- 386,505 arrived from 2011 to 2021.
Within the most recent period, 193,340 immigrants arrived from 2011 to 2015 and 193,175 arrived from 2016 to 2021. The figures are from Statistics Canada’s Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth. The source’s private-household 25% sample universe and 2021 measurement period are important when comparing these values with other population totals.
Language statistics in Alberta
English was the first official language spoken for 4,078,135 Alberta residents in 2021. French was the first official language spoken for 64,440 residents, while 15,525 had both English and French as their first official languages spoken. Another 63,735 had neither English nor French as their first official language spoken.
Mother-tongue figures offer a different measure. In 2021, 3,083,840 Alberta residents reported English as their mother tongue, 64,855 reported French as their only mother tongue, and 906,680 reported a non-official language as their mother tongue. In addition, 17,200 residents reported an Indigenous language as their mother tongue.
French-language use was broader than first-official-language and mother-tongue categories alone. In 2021, 261,435 Alberta residents could conduct a conversation in French, 75,460 spoke French at least regularly at home, and 21,770 workers used French at least regularly at work. These language measures are reported in Statistics Canada’s Key facts on the French language in Alberta in 2021 and its Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth.
Indigenous population statistics
The 2021 Census counted 284,470 Indigenous people in Alberta. Indigenous people represented 6.8% of Alberta’s population in that census. The same 2021 period provides the language context above: 17,200 Alberta residents reported an Indigenous language as their mother tongue.
The Indigenous population count and percentage are from Statistics Canada’s Indigenous population continues to grow and is much younger than the non-Indigenous population, although the pace of growth has slowed. The language count is from Statistics Canada’s Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth. Because the measures come from 2021 Census products, they describe that census period rather than Alberta’s later population estimates.