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Demographics of Alberta

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Population density of Alberta, 2016

Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates (on par with some larger provinces such as British Columbia), relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces.[1] Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions.[2] Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 4,262,635 in 2021 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 11.5%.[3] It is the fourth most populated province in Canada. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the Alberta population grew by 4.8%.

Population history

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Year Population [4] Five-year % change Ten-year % change Percentage of Canadian pop. Rank among provinces
1901 73,022† n/a n/a 1.4 9
1911 374,295 n/a 412.6 5.2 7
1921 588,454 n/a 57.2 6.7 5
1931 731,605 n/a 24.3 7.0 4
1941 796,169 n/a 8.8 6.9 5
1951 939,501 n/a 18.0 6.7 4
1956 1,123,116 19.5 n/a n/a 4
1961 1,331,944 18.6 41.8 7.3 4
1969 1,463,203 9.9 30.3 n/a 4
1971 1,627,875 11.3 22.2 7.5 4
1976 1,838,035 12.9 25.6 n/a 4
1981 2,237,724 21.7 37.5 9.2 4
1986 2,365,830 5.7 28.7 9.3 4
1991 2,545,553 7.6 13.8 9.3 4
1996 2,696,826 5.9 14.0 9.3 4
2001 2,974,807 10.3 16.9 9.9 4
2006 3,290,350 10.6 22.0 10.4 4
2011 3,645,257 10.8 22.5 10.9 4
2016 4,067,175 11.6 23.6 11.6 4
2021 4,262,635 4.8 16.9 11.5 4

† 1901 population for District of Alberta, part of the then-named North-West Territories.

Population geography

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Census divisions

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Main article: List of census divisions of Alberta
Alberta's census divisions by population

Census metropolitan areas

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As of the 2011 census, Alberta had two census metropolitan areas (CMAs) recognized by Statistics Canada. A third one was added in the 2016 census.

The following is a list of the recent population history of the Calgary and Edmonton CMAs.

CMA name [5] 2021 [6] 2016 [7] 2011 [5] 2006 [8] 2001 [9] 1996 [10] Census division
Calgary 1,481,806 1,374,655 1,214,839 1,079,310 951,395 [CMA 1] 821,628 Division No. 6
Edmonton 1,418,118 1,297,280 1,159,869 1,034,945 937,845 862,597 Division No. 11

The third CMA added in 2016 is Lethbridge, and its population history is as follows:

CMA name [5] 2021 [6] 2016 [7] Census division
Lethbridge 123,847 113,920 Division No. 2

The fourth CMA added in 2021 is Red Deer, and its population history is as follows:

CMA name 2021 [6] Census division
Red Deer 100,844 Division No. 8

CMA notes:

  1. ^ In the 2006 census, the 2001 population of the Calgary was adjusted to 951,494 due to a boundary expansion.

Census agglomerations

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Main article: List of census agglomerations in Alberta

Census subdivisions

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Population growth of Alberta's census subdivisions between 2006 and 2011 censuses

As of the 2006 census, Alberta had 453 census subdivisions (municipalities and municipal equivalents) recognized by Statistics Canada. The following is a list of those census subdivisions with a population of 10,000 or greater.

Population centres

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Main article: List of population centres in Alberta

Designated places

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Main article: List of designated places in Alberta

Vital statistics

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Ethnic origins

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The ethnicities most commonly reported in the 2021 Census are shown in the table below. The percentages add up to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "Irish-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "Irish" and the category "Canadian").[16]

Ethnic groups in Alberta (1941–2021)
Ethnic group 2021[17] 2001[18] 1941[19]: 2–3 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
English 766,070 18.34% 753,190 25.61% 191,934 24.11%
German 641,025 15.34% 576,350 19.6% 77,721 9.76%
Scottish 631,015 15.1% 556,575 18.92% 112,540 14.14%
Irish 561,915 13.45% 461,065 15.68% 83,876 10.53%
Ukrainian 343,640 8.23% 285,725 9.71% 71,868 9.03%
French 341,755 8.18% 333,705 11.35% 42,979 5.4%
Filipino 203,955 4.88% 36,235 1.23% — —
First Nations 188,315 4.51% 144,040 4.9% 12,565 1.58%
Chinese 177,990 4.26% 108,050 3.67% 3,122 0.39%
Dutch 174,625 4.18% 149,225 5.07% 20,429 2.57%
Polish 169,925 4.07% 137,625 4.68% 26,845 3.37%
Indian 155,700 3.73% 61,180 2.08% 48 0.01%
Norwegian 154,535 3.7% 120,045 4.08% 29,628 3.72%
Métis 115,455 2.76% 63,620 2.16% 8,808 1.11%
Italian 98,730 2.36% 67,655 2.3% 4,872 0.61%
Russian 97,890 2.34% 62,750 2.13% 19,316 2.43%
Swedish 92,970 2.23% 78,565 2.67% 20,505 2.58%
Welsh 76,810 1.84% 59,470 2.02% 10,896 1.37%
Danish 56,190 1.34% 50,465 1.72% 12,284 1.54%
Hungarian 51,360 1.23% 41,535 1.41% 7,892 0.99%
Spanish 40,170 0.96% 19,295 0.66% 135 0.02%
Pakistani 39,535 0.95% 5,450 0.19% — —
Vietnamese 39,395 0.94% 21,490 0.73% — —
Punjabi 37,585 0.9% 3,785 0.13% — —
Austrian 36,220 0.87% 27,910 0.95% 7,513 0.94%
African 34,225 0.82% 7,115 0.24% 926 0.12%
Mennonite 31,565 0.76% — — — —
Romanian 31,530 0.75% 20,235 0.69% 4,206 0.53%
Sikh 28,860 0.69% — — — —
Lebanese 28,480 0.68% 17,660 0.6% —[a] —
Mexican 25,450 0.61% 3,345 0.11% 1 0%
Korean 24,165 0.58% 7,925 0.27% — —
Swiss 22,450 0.54% 17,460 0.59% — —
Belgian 21,985 0.53% 14,925 0.51% 2,919 0.37%
Portuguese 21,415 0.51% 13,885 0.47% 42 0.01%
Hindu 20,535 0.49% — — — —
Czech 19,730 0.47% 15,765 0.54% 8,177[b] 1.03%
Icelandic 19,720 0.47% 13,065 0.44% 1,077 0.14%
Finnish 18,705 0.45% 12,730 0.43% 3,452 0.43%
Japanese 18,605 0.45% 11,945 0.41% 578 0.07%
Somali 16,310 0.39% 1,385 0.05% — —
Jamaican 15,620 0.37% 7,925 0.27% — —
Nigerian 14,600 0.35% 1,245 0.04% — —
Jewish 14,405 0.34% 15,435 0.52% 4,164 0.52%
Greek 13,980 0.33% 9,110 0.31% 605 0.08%
Croatian 13,720 0.33% 8,565 0.29% 1,704[c] 0.21%
Ethiopian 13,505 0.32% 1,460 0.05% — —
Muslim 12,420 0.3% — — — —
Colombian 11,115 0.27% 950 0.03% — —
Eritrean 11,010 0.26% 1,180 0.04% — —
Iranian 10,545 0.25% 3,130 0.11% — —
Slovak 10,525 0.25% 6,810 0.23% —[d] —
Afghan 10,380 0.25% 1,805 0.06% — —
Egyptian 9,585 0.23% 2,290 0.08% — —
Syrian 9,520 0.23% 1,265 0.04% 428[e] 0.05%
Total responses 4,177,720 98.01% 2,941,150 98.87% 796,169 100%
Total population 4,262,635 100% 2,974,807 100% 796,169 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Future projections

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Panethnic origin projections in Alberta (2031–2041)[20][21][22][23]
Panethnic group 2031 2036 2041
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[f] 3,122,000 56.6% 3,178,000 52.89% 3,219,000 49.6%
South Asian 533,000 9.66% 649,000 10.8% 763,000 11.76%
Southeast Asian[g] 441,000 7.99% 528,000 8.79% 619,000 9.54%
Indigenous 404,000 7.32% 442,000 7.36% 480,000 7.4%
African 331,000 6% 406,000 6.76% 480,000 7.4%
East Asian[h] 311,000 5.64% 352,000 5.86% 392,000 6.04%
Middle Eastern[i] 188,000 3.41% 233,000 3.88% 280,000 4.31%
Latin American 107,000 1.94% 126,000 2.1% 144,000 2.22%
Other/multiracial[j] 78,000 1.41% 95,000 1.58% 112,000 1.73%
Projected Alberta population 5,516,000 100% 6,009,000 100% 6,490,000 100%

Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples

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Indigenous and visible minority identity (2021):[24][25]

  European Canadian (65.4%)
  Visible minority (27.8%)
  First Nations (3.5%)
  Métis (3.1%)
  Inuit (0.1%)
  Other Indigenous (0.2%)
Visible minority and Indigenous population (2021 Canadian census)[26]
Population group Population %
European[f] 2,731,825 65.4%
Visible minority group
 South Asian 297,650 7.1%
Chinese 164,235 3.9%
Black 177,940 4.3%
Filipino 216,710 5.2%
Arab 69,505 1.7%
Latin American 66,520 1.6%
Southeast Asian 54,005 1.3%
West Asian 25,075 0.6%
Korean 24,365 0.6%
Japanese 13,560 0.3%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 12,100 0.3%
Multiple visible minorities 39,745 1.0%
Total visible minority population 1,161,420 27.8%
Indigenous group
 First Nations (North American Indian) 145,640 3.5%
Métis 127,470 3.1%
Inuk (Inuit) 2,945 0.1%
Multiple Indigenous responses 4,785 0.1%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 3,620 0.1%
Total Indigenous population 284,470 6.8%
Total population 4,177,715 100.0%

Languages

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Knowledge of languages

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Knowledge of official languages of Canada in Alberta (2016)
Language Percent
English only
 
 91.86%
French only
 
 0.10%
English and French
 
 6.57%
Neither English nor French
 
 1.47%

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census and the 2016 Canadian Census, and lists languages that were selected by at least one per cent of respondents.

Knowledge of languages in Alberta
Language 2021[27] 2016
Pop. % Pop. %
English 4,109,720 98.37% 3,916,805 98.46%
French 260,415 6.23% 264,720 6.65%
Tagalog 172,625 4.13% 138,440 3.48%
Punjabi 126,385 3.03% 90,485 2.27%
Spanish 116,070 2.78% 104,445 2.63%
Hindi 94,015 2.25% 61,290 1.54%
Mandarin 82,095 1.97% 70,510 1.77%
Arabic 76,760 1.84% 62,730 1.58%
Cantonese 74,960 1.79% 74,770 1.88%
German 65,370[k] 1.56%[k] 83,010 2.09%
Urdu 51,545 1.23% 41,235 1.04%

Mother tongue

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Languages of Alberta (2021):[28]

  English (76.6%)
  French (2.1%)
  Indigenous language (0.6%)
  Other language (20.9%)
  Multiple (2.3%)

Of the 4,221,835 singular responses to the 2021 census question concerning mother tongue, the languages most commonly reported were:[29]

Mother tongue in Alberta
Language 2021 2016 2011 2006 2001
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
English 3,235,065 76.6% 2,972,670 74.71% 2,780,200 78.37% 2,576,670 79.99% 2,379,515 81.84%
Tagalog (Filipino/Pilipino) 138,160 3.27% 98,360 2.47% 60,085 1.69% 29,740 0.92% 11,705 0.40%
Chinese 128,160 3.04% 119,710 3.01% 105,470 2.97% 97,275 3.02% 78,205 2.69%
Cantonese 62,835 1.49% 59,580 1.50% 34,985 0.99% 32,485 1.01% 26,255 0.90%
Mandarin 58,535 1.39% 49,990 1.26% 19,325 0.54% 12,135 0.38% 5,580 0.19%
Min Nan languages (Teochow, Fukien, Taiwanese) 3,080 0.07% 3,075 0.08% 785 0.02% 400 0.01% N N
Hakka 1,075 0.03% 940 0.02% 325 0.01% 425 0.01% 570 0.02%
Chinese, n.o.s. 1,960 0.05% N N N N N N N N
Panjabi (Punjabi) 103,965 2.46% 68,315 1.72% 49,940 1.41% 36,320 1.13% 22,535 0.78%
French 88,010 2.08% 70,440 1.77% 68,545 1.93% 61,225 1.90% 58,645 2.02%
Spanish 67,865 1.61% 54,685 1.37% 44,020 1.24% 29,125 0.90% 19,820 0.68%
German 65,835 1.56% 63,570 1.60% 80,905 2.28% 84,505 2.62% 78,040 2.68%
Arabic 57,170 1.35% 40,695 1.02% 28,000 0.79% 20,495 0.64% 15,390 0.53%
Urdu 35,905 0.85% 26,860 0.68% 19,900 0.56% 11,275 0.35% 4,910 0.17%
Hindi 26,975 0.64% 16,495 0.41% 12,290 0.35% 8,985 0.28% 6,315 0.22%
Vietnamese 26,930 0.64% 23,015 0.58% 21,195 0.60% 19,350 0.60% 16,680 0.57%
Niger-Congo languages 25,230 0.60% 15,515 0.30% N N N N N N
Yoruba 5,565 0.13% 3,215 0.08% N N N N N N
Swahili 3,800 0.09% 2,390 0.06% 1,455 0.04% 850 0.03% 380 0.01%
Igbo 2,530 0.06% 1,160 0.03% 900 0.03% N N N N
Akan (Twi) 2,280 0.05% 1,765 0.04% 1,100 0.04% 345 0.01% N N
Kinyarwanda (Rwanda) 1,395 0.03% 770 0.02% 440 0.01% 60 0.01% N N
Rundi (Kirundi) 895 0.02% 570 0.01% 290 0.01% 50 0.01% N N
Selected Aboriginal languages 24,630 0.58% 22,970 0.58% 22,005 0.62% 20,890 0.65% 18,470 0.64%
Cree 16,445 0.41% 17,125 0.43% 16,745 0.47% 17,215 0.53% 15,105 0.52%
Blackfoot 4,800 0.11% 3,385 0.09% 3,035 0.09% 3,015 0.09% 2,630 0.09%
Dene 1,425 0.03% 1,570 0.04% 1,680 0.05% 1,585 0.05% 1,495 0.05%
Ojibway 485 0.01% 630 0.02% 455 0.01% 615 0.02% 645 0.02%
Korean 21,020 0.50% 17,400 0.44% 13,885 0.39% 10,845 0.33% 6,330 0.22%
Russian 20,280 0.48% 17,465 0.44% 13,840 0.38% 10,145 0.31% 6,980 0.29%
Ukrainian 19,885 0.47% 21,215 0.53% 24,575 0.69% 29,455 0.91% 33,970 1.17%
Polish 19,345 0.46% 19,780 0.50% 19,890 0.56% 21,990 0.68% 20,635 0.71%
Gujarati 18,675 0.44% 12,775 0.32% 8,675 0.24% 6,280 0.19% 4,910 0.17%
Persian 17,635 0.42% 14,835 0.37% 10,655 0.30% 7,700 0.24% 3,700 0.13%
Dutch 14,420 0.34% 16,005 0.40% 17,950 0.51% 19,980 0.62% 19,575 0.67%
Somali 12,310 0.29% 9,425 0.24% 5,515 0.16% 3,130 0.10% 810 0.03%
Tigrinya 11,510 0.27% 5,755 0.14% 2,460 0.07% N N N N
Italian 11,180 0.26% 11,475 0.29% 11,960 0.34% 13,095 0.41% 13,935 0.48%
Portuguese 11,090 0.26% 8,565 0.22% 7,380 0.21% 7,205 0.22% 6,110 0.21%
Malayalam 10,720 0.25% 6,230 0.16% 2,760 0.08% 1,550 0.05% 1,055 0.04%
Ilocano 9,765 0.23% 5,750 0.14% 3,010 0.08% 1,885 0.06% N N
Amharic 9,610 0.22% 7,015 0.18% 5,110 0.14% 2,785 0.09% 1,100 0.04%
Bengali 9,125 0.22% 6,940 0.17% 5.030 0.14% 2,710 0.08% 1,190 0.04%
Romanian 8,205 0.19% 8,255 0.21% 6,550 0.18% 4,370 0.14% 2,890 0.10%
Cebuano and other Bisayan languages 6,780 0.16% 5,025 0.13% 3,255 0.09% 1,370 0.04% N N
Nepali 6,645 0.16% 4,995 0.13% 1,605 0.05% N N N N
Tamil 6,450 0.15% 4,650 0.11% 2,645 0.07% 1,385 0.04% 1,110 0.04%
Hungarian 5,950 0.14% 6,505 0.16% 6,700 0.19% 6,770 0.21% 6,985 0.24%
Japanese 5,290 0.13% 4,575 0.11% 4,560 0.13% 4,555 0.14% 3,625 0.12%
Croatian 4,865 0.12% 4,425 0.11% 3,960 0.11% 4,150 0.13% 4,195 0.14%
Serbian 4,530 0.11% 4,115 0.10% 3,560 0.10% 3,090 0.10% 2,125 0.07%
Oromo language 4,030 0.10% 2,615 0.07% 1,405 0.04% N N N N
Turkish 3,860 0.09% 2,760 0.07% 2,460 0.07% 1,605 0.05% 810 0.03%
Afrikaans 3,730 0.09% 3,050 0.08% 2,420 0.07% N N N N
Telugu 3,550 0.08% 2,130 0.05% 1,245 0.03% N N N N
Scandinavian languages 3,535 0.08% 3,750 0.09% 4,935 0.14% 6,045 0.19% 6,795 0.23%
Danish 2,040 0.05% 2,225 0.06% 2,805 0.08% 3,510 0.11% 3,615 0.12%
Swedish 855 0.02% 785 0.02% 950 0.03% 1,145 0.04% 1,345 0.05%
Norwegian 640 0.02% 740 0.02% 1,180 0.03% 1,245 0.04% 1,670 0.06%
Pashto 3,435 0.08% 2,340 0.06% 1,850 0.05% 1,175 0.04% 275 0.01%
Greek 3,330 0.08% 3,285 0.08% 2,965 0.08% 3,305 0.10% 2,765 0.10%
Sindhi (includes Kacchi) 3,260 0.08% 2,835 0.07% 2,560 0.07% 2,000 0.06% 1,990 0.07%
Sinhalese 3,215 0.08% 2,935 0.07% 1,940 0.05% 835 0.03% N N
Hiligaynon 3,090 0.07% 1,160 0.03% N N N N N N
Czech 3,000 0.07% 2,715 0.07% 2,880 0.08% 3,100 0.08% 3,520 0.12%
Creole 2,770 0.07% 2,120 0.05% 1,560 0.05% 415 0.01% 250 0.01%
Albanian 2,625 0.06% 2,435 0.06% 1,685 0.05% N N N N
Thai 2,255 0.05% 1,700 0.04% 1,375 0.04% 190 0.01% N N

In addition to the table above, other mother tongues in Alberta include (including languages with more than 422 people, or 0.01 per cent of respondents):

In addition to the single-language responses detailed above, about 88,765 people reported having more than one mother tongue. There were 74,515 responses of both English and a non-official language; 2,785 of both French and a non-official language; 10,005 of both English and French; and 1,455 of English, French and a non-official language.

Religion

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Religious affiliation (2021):[30]

  Christian (48.1%)
  Muslim (4.8%)
  Sikh (2.5%)
  Hindu (1.9%)
  Buddhist (1.0%)
  Jewish (0.3%)
  Aboriginal spirituality (0.5%)
  Other religions (0.8%)
  Irreligious (40.1%)

Christian sub-affiliation (2021):[30]

  Roman Catholic (41.4%)
  United Church (7.7%)
  Anglican (4.8%)
  Lutheran (3.9%)
  Orthodox (3.2%)
  Pentecostal (2.7%)
  Latter Day Saints (2.3%)
  Baptist (2.2%)
  Presbyterian (1.1%)
  Jehovah's Witnesses (0.9%)
  Reformed (0.7%)
  Other Christian (26.9%)

Just under 50 percent of Albertans identify as Christian, while over 40 percent of residents identify with no religion. The largest denominations are the Roman Catholic, United, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Just over 1 percent of Albertans are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, descended from pioneers who emigrated from Utah around the turn of the 20th century; there are three temples in the province. Alberta also has large numbers of Pentecostal, Presbyterians, and evangelical Christians.

There are significant numbers of Mennonites and Hutterites, which are communal Anabaptist sects. There are also many Jehovah's Witnesses and Reformed Christians, as well a significant population of Seventh-day Adventists in and around Lacombe where the Canadian University College is located.

Alberta is also home to several Eastern Rite Churches as part of the legacy of Eastern European immigrants, including the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese of Edmonton and Western Canada. There are 500 Doukhobors living in their few communities across Southern Alberta.

Many people of the Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim faiths also make Alberta their home; one of the largest Sikh temples in Canada is located just outside Edmonton. Most of Alberta's Jewish population of 11,390 lives in Calgary and Edmonton.

Alberta's second largest religion, Islam, has roots that include Canada's first mosque, Al-Rashid Mosque, built in 1938 led by a Lebanese woman named Hilwie Hamdon.

Religion (2021) 1 Denomination Congregation Proportion
Christian 2,009,820 48.1%
Anglican Church 95,560 2.3%
Baptist 44,605 1.1%
Catholic 833,025 19.9%
Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox 63,775 1.5%
Jehovah's Witnesses 18,185 0.4%
Latter Day Saints 47,125 1.1%
Lutheran 78,925 1.9%
Methodist 9,640 0.2%
Pentecostal 53,900 1.3%
Presbyterian 22,850 0.5%
Reformed 14,735 0.4%
United Church 153,820 3.7%
Other Christian 541,520 15.2%
Muslim 202,535 4.8%
Sikh 103,600 2.5%
Hindu 78,520 1.9%
Buddhist 42,830 1.0%
Jewish 11,390 0.3%
Other religions 33,220 0.8%
Aboriginal spirituality 19,755 0.5%
No religious affiliation 1,676,045 40.1%
^1 Statistics Canada. 2022. Alberta (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2021 National Household Survey. Released October 26, 2022.[30]
Religious groups in Alberta (1981–2021)
Religious group 2021[31] 2011[32] 2001[33] 1991[34] 1981[35]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Christianity 2,009,820 48.11% 2,152,200 60.32% 2,099,435 71.38% 1,928,745 76.56% 1,903,205 85.98%
Irreligion 1,676,045 40.12% 1,126,130 31.56% 694,840 23.62% 496,150 19.69% 260,015 11.75%
Islam 202,535 4.85% 113,445 3.18% 49,045 1.67% 31,000 1.23% 16,865 0.76%
Sikhism 103,600 2.48% 52,335 1.47% 23,470 0.8% 13,550 0.54% 5,985 0.27%
Hinduism 78,520 1.88% 36,845 1.03% 15,965 0.54% 10,770 0.43% 7,360 0.33%
Buddhism 42,830 1.03% 44,410 1.24% 33,410 1.14% 20,745 0.82% 6,200 0.28%
Indigenous spirituality 19,755 0.47% 15,100 0.42% — — — — — —
Judaism 11,390 0.27% 10,900 0.31% 11,085 0.38% 9,950 0.39% 10,655 0.48%
Other 33,220 0.8% 16,605 0.47% 13,900 0.47% 8,270 0.33% 2,355 0.11%
Total responses 4,177,715 98.01% 3,567,975 97.88% 2,941,150 98.87% 2,519,180 98.96% 2,213,650 98.92%
Total population 4,262,635 100% 3,645,257 100% 2,974,807 100% 2,545,553 100% 2,237,724 100%

Migration

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Immigration

[edit]
Alberta immigration statistics[36]: 239 [37]: 108 
Year Immigrant percentage Immigrant population Total population
1901 42.8% 31,240 73,022
1911 56.8% 212,426 374,295
1921 46.5% 273,364 588,454
1931 41.8% 305,738 731,605
1941 32.5% 258,387 796,169
1951 25.5% 240,016 939,501
1961 21.7% 288,749 1,331,944
1971 17.3% 282,260 1,627,870

The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 970,975 persons or 23.2 percent of the total population of Alberta.[38]

Immigrants in Alberta by country of birth
Country of birth 2021[39][38] 2016[40] 2011[41][42] 2006[43][44] 2001[45][46] 1921[47]: 314–315 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Philippines 167,735 17.3% 123,830 14.7% 69,575 10.8% 36,630 7% 24,800 5.7% — —
India 122,145 12.6% 91,660 10.8% 59,020 9.2% 38,610 7.3% 24,670 5.6% 300 0.1%
China 61,390 6.3% 57,695 6.8% 49,595 7.7% 41,495 7.9% 27,630 6.3% 3,422 1.3%
United Kingdom 56,675 5.8% 59,215 7% 58,245 9% 60,210 11.4% 59,510 13.6% 90,131 33%
Pakistan 30,815 3.2% 28,080 3.3% 19,110 3% 12,095 2.3% 5,415 1.2% — —
United States 30,540 3.1% 30,460 3.6% 31,050 4.8% 28,325 5.4% 27,510 6.3% 99,879 36.5%
Vietnam 27,875 2.9% 27,080 3.2% 26,020 4% 24,270 4.6% 22,005 5% — —
Nigeria 21,065 2.2% 12,405 1.5% 5,575 0.9% 1,740 0.3% 985 0.2% — —
Hong Kong 18,725 1.9% 19,115 2.3% 17,300 2.7% 17,455 3.3% 18,600 4.2% — —
Mexico 17,985 1.9% 15,665 1.9% 10,755 1.7% 5,970 1.1% 3,880 0.9% — —
Germany 16,635 1.7% 19,200 2.3% 20,085 3.1% 21,570 4.1% 21,845 5% 14,587[l] 5.3%
South Korea 16,180 1.7% 13,850 1.6% 9,575 1.5% 8,120 1.5% 5,290 1.2% — —
Poland 15,595 1.6% 16,930 2% 16,335 2.5% 19,165 3.6% 19,680 4.5% 2,959 1.1%
Ethiopia 14,420 1.5% 10,565 1.2% 6,375 1% 3,655 0.7% 1,370 0.3% — —
Netherlands 12,730 1.3% 14,035 1.7% 15,290 2.4% 16,715 3.2% 17,385 4% 1,765 0.6%
Colombia 10,385 1.1% 9,535 1.1% 6,860 1.1% 3,155 0.6% 945 0.2% — —
Syria 9,975 1% 4,800 0.6% 1,185 0.2% 975 0.2% 610 0.1% 109[m] 0%
Lebanon 9,960 1% 10,390 1.2% 8,390 1.3% 7,530 1.4% 6,870 1.6% — —
Eritrea 9,720 1% 4,815 0.6% 2,805 0.4% 965 0.2% 845 0.2% — —
South Africa 8,960 0.9% 7,355 0.9% 6,010 0.9% 4,950 0.9% 4,025 0.9% 230 0.1%
Ukraine 8,915 0.9% 8,150 1% 6,430 1% 5,435 1% 5,170 1.2% 2,165 0.8%
Iran 8,865 0.9% 8,910 1.1% 5,595 0.9% 3,995 0.8% 2,400 0.5% — —
Jamaica 8,695 0.9% 6,845 0.8% 4,340 0.7% 3,755 0.7% 3,705 0.8% 110[n] 0%
Somalia 8,545 0.9% 7,060 0.8% 3,395 0.5% 2,120 0.4% 795 0.2% — —
Russia 7,470 0.8% 7,260 0.9% 5,900 0.9% 4,850 0.9% 3,635 0.8% 11,572 4.2%
Romania 7,190 0.7% 7,725 0.9% 6,235 1% 5,165 1% 3,920 0.9% 3,073 1.1%
Italy 6,990 0.7% 8,115 1% 8,050 1.2% 8,705 1.7% 9,830 2.2% 2,486 0.9%
El Salvador 6,940 0.7% 7,255 0.9% 5,535 0.9% 5,475 1% 4,695 1.1% — —
Egypt 6,760 0.7% 5,320 0.6% 3,120 0.5% 2,140 0.4% 1,490 0.3% — —
Afghanistan 6,585 0.7% 5,190 0.6% 4,345 0.7% 3,305 0.6% 1,695 0.4% — —
Iraq 6,215 0.6% 5,935 0.7% 3,825 0.6% 2,300 0.4% 1,490 0.3% — —
Kenya 6,070 0.6% 5,120 0.6% 4,005 0.6% 3,425 0.6% 2,875 0.7% — —
Bangladesh 6,035 0.6% 5,085 0.6% 3,680 0.6% 1,835 0.3% 690 0.2% — —
Nepal 4,970 0.5% 3,915 0.5% 1,260 0.2% 490 0.1% 115 0% — —
Sri Lanka 4,930 0.5% 4,835 0.6% 3,295 0.5% 1,600 0.3% 1,330 0.3% — —
Venezuela 4,800 0.5% 4,335 0.5% 1,930 0.3% 1,350 0.3% 500 0.1% — —
Fiji 4,690 0.5% 4,625 0.5% 4,140 0.6% 3,975 0.8% 3,395 0.8% — —
Tanzania 4,660 0.5% 4,510 0.5% 4,465 0.7% 4,035 0.8% 4,435 1% — —
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4,335 0.4% 4,555 0.5% 3,720 0.6% 3,505 0.7% 3,065 0.7% 282[o] 0.1%
Ireland 4,225 0.4% 3,940 0.5% 2,795 0.4% 2,475 0.5% 2,840 0.6% 7,374 2.7%
Chile 4,215 0.4% 4,255 0.5% 4,305 0.7% 4,345 0.8% 3,775 0.9% — —
Sudan 4,145 0.4% 2,580 0.3% 4,625 0.7% 3,400 0.6% 1,055 0.2% — —
Malaysia 3,990 0.4% 4,260 0.5% 3,500 0.5% 3,215 0.6% 2,855 0.7% — —
Australia 3,690 0.4% 3,360 0.4% 2,745 0.4% 2,480 0.5% 2,370 0.5% 251 0.1%
Brazil 3,800 0.4% 2,545 0.3% 1,740 0.3% 1,130 0.2% 750 0.2% — —
Japan 3,380 0.3% 3,060 0.4% 2,935 0.5% 2,265 0.4% 1,730 0.4% 374 0.1%
Total immigrants 970,975 23.2% 845,215 21.2% 644,115 18.1% 527,030 16.2% 438,335 14.9% 273,364 46.5%
Total responses 4,177,715 98% 3,978,145 97.8% 3,567,975 97.9% 3,256,355 99% 2,941,150 98.9% 588,454 100%
Total population 4,262,635 100% 4,067,175 100% 3,645,257 100% 3,290,350 100% 2,974,807 100% 588,454 100%

Recent immigration

[edit]

The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 193,170 people who immigrated to Alberta between 2016 and 2021.

Recent immigrants to Alberta by place of birth (2016 to 2021)[48]
Rank Country Population % of recent immigrants
1 Philippines 47,605 24.6%
2 India 31,815 16.5%
3 Nigeria 9,840 5.1%
4 China 9,495 4.9%
5 Syria 7,295 3.8%
6 United States 5,175 2.7%
7 Eritrea 5,120 2.7%
8 Mexico 4,165 2.2%
9 Pakistan 4,080 2.1%
10 Ethiopia 3,960 2.1%
11 United Kingdom 3,800 2%
12 South Korea 3,430 1.8%
13 Iran 3,260 1.7%
14 Nepal 2,620 1.4%
15 Jamaica 2,130 1.1%

Interprovincial migration

[edit]
Net cumulative interprovincial migration per Province from 1997 to 2017, as a share of population of each Provinces
Main article: Interprovincial migration in Canada

Over the past five decades, Alberta has had the highest net increase from interprovincial migration of any province. However, it typically experiences population decline during economic downturns, as it did during the 1980s.[citation needed] Oil is the main industry driving interprovincial migration to Alberta, as many Canadians move to Alberta to work on the oil fields. Interprovincial migration to Alberta rises and drops dependent of the price of oil. There was a dramatic reduction after the 2014 drop in oil prices.[49]

Interprovincial migration in Alberta
In-migrants Out-migrants Net migration
2009–10 Decrease 57,958 Positive decrease 61,229 Decrease −3,271
2010–11 Increase 63,975 Positive decrease 55,532 Increase 8,443
2011–12 Increase 80,837 Positive decrease 53,185 Increase 27,652
2012–13 Increase 84,602 Positive decrease 46,004 Increase 38,598
2013–14 Increase 87,307 Negative increase 51,925 Decrease 35,382
2014–15 Decrease 81,540 Negative increase 59,946 Decrease 21,594
2015–16 Decrease 56,978 Negative increase 72,086 Decrease −15,108
2016–17 Decrease 50,396 Positive decrease 65,955 Decrease −15,559
2017–18 Increase 55,147 Positive decrease 58,394 Increase −3,247
2018–19 Increase 65,778 Negative increase 60,236 Increase 5,542
2019–20 Increase 85,919 Negative increase 77,519 Increase 8,400

Source: Statistics Canada[50]

See also

[edit]
Demographics of Canada's provinces and territories

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Included under Syrian
  2. ^ Including Slovak
  3. ^ Including all Yugoslavic ethnic groups
  4. ^ Included under Czech
  5. ^ Including Lebanese
  6. ^ a b Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an Indigenous identity.
  7. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  8. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  9. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  10. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
  11. ^ a b Now excluding Plautdietsch.
  12. ^ Including Austria
  13. ^ Including Lebanon
  14. ^ All individuals born in the British West Indies
  15. ^ All individuals born in Yugoslavia.

References

[edit]
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