Key Takeaways
- Alberta’s population grew by approximately 11,500 people in the third quarter of 2025, despite the overall Canadian population declining by over 76,000 people.
- The country’s population decline is attributed to a decrease in non-permanent residents, with Canada losing almost 176,500 non-permanent residents, including about 10,600 who were living in Alberta.
- Alberta’s growth is driven mainly by migrants from other countries and other Canadian provinces, but the current situation comes amid federal efforts to reduce the number of non-permanent residents allowed into the country.
- The Alberta government supports policies that focus on economic migration, fulfilling legitimate labour shortages, rather than oversaturating the market with entry-level workers.
Introduction to Alberta’s Population Growth
Alberta’s population has defied the trend experienced by almost every other Canadian province and territory in the third quarter of 2025, according to Statistics Canada population estimates. While the country’s population declined by more than 76,000 people, marking the first quarterly dip since the fourth quarter of 2020, Alberta’s population continued to grow, rising by about 11,500 people. This growth is not surprising, given Alberta’s record growth in recent years, driven mainly by migrants from other countries and other Canadian provinces.
Understanding the Reasons Behind Alberta’s Growth
According to Alicia Planincic, director of policy and economics for the Business Council of Alberta, "This has been the story of Alberta for quite a while now, where we have seen so much more population growth than the rest of Canada." Planincic notes that while the numbers are slowing down, Alberta’s growth is still unique, making it the only province that’s actually growing. The Alberta government supports policies that focus on economic migration, fulfilling legitimate labour shortages, rather than oversaturating the market with entry-level workers. Hunter Baril, spokesperson for Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow, stated that the provincial government plans to use "all legal measures" to gain more control of immigration, which is a responsibility shared between federal and provincial and territorial governments.
Impact of Federal Immigration Policies
The current situation comes amid federal efforts to reduce the number of non-permanent residents allowed into the country, and lower the cap on international student admissions. Statistics Canada reported that Canada as a whole lost almost 176,500 non-permanent residents, including about 10,600 who were living in Alberta. However, Alberta accepted hundreds of more asylum claimants, and while it reported about 11,800 fewer work permit holders, and lost more than 4,100 study permit holders, the province’s population still grew. Nancy Thornton, director of NorQuest International, notes that students are discerning when choosing where to study, and Alberta remains attractive, offering opportunities for students to settle, make a living, and contribute to the province and country.
Comparison with Other Jurisdictions
Nunavut was the only other jurisdiction that recorded growth, adding 89 people last quarter, according to data from Statistics Canada. In contrast, the rest of Canada experienced a decline in population, with the majority of provinces and territories losing non-permanent residents. This decline is attributed to federal immigration policies, which aim to reduce the number of non-permanent residents allowed into the country. The Alberta government’s stance on immigration policies is clear, with Baril stating that the provincial government backs "any policies that scale back and focus on economic migration, fulfilling legitimate labour shortages rather than oversaturating the market with entry-level workers."
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, Alberta’s population growth in the third quarter of 2025 is a unique trend, driven mainly by migrants from other countries and other Canadian provinces. While the federal government’s efforts to reduce the number of non-permanent residents allowed into the country may impact Alberta’s growth, the province remains attractive to students and migrants. The Alberta government’s support for policies that focus on economic migration, fulfilling legitimate labour shortages, rather than oversaturating the market with entry-level workers, is likely to continue shaping the province’s population growth in the future. As the country’s population continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Alberta’s growth compares to the rest of Canada, and how the provincial government’s immigration policies will impact the province’s population in the years to come.