Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population

Alberta, Province

Population change, provinces and territories, 2011 to 2016 and 2016 to 2021

4.8%

In 2021, the enumerated population of Alberta was 4,262,635 which represents a change of 4.8% from 2016. This growth was lower than the national rate of 5.2%.

6.9%

In 2021, there were 1,633,220 private dwellings occupied in Alberta which represent a change of 6.9% from 2016. This growth was higher than the national rate of 6.4%.

6.7

The land area of Alberta is 634,658.27 square kilometres and the population density was 6.7 people per square kilometre.

Population in the last 110 years, Alberta

Population change in the last 110 years, Alberta

Alberta — Census metropolitan areas (CMAs), census agglomerations (CAs) and regions outside CMAs and CAs

In 2021, 82.3% of the population of Alberta lived inside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA). That represents 3,509,966 persons. This was lower than the national rate of 83.9%.

The number of persons living outside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) was 752,669, which accounts for 17.7% of the population. This was higher than the national rate of 16.1%.

Population change by rank, 2016 to 2021 for CMAs or CAs in Alberta

CMA or CA name Type Population Rank
2021 2016 % change Nat. Prov.
Calgary CMA 1,481,806 1,392,609 6.4 5 1
Edmonton CMA 1,418,118 1,321,441 r 7.3 6 2
Lethbridge CMA 123,847 117,394 5.5 33 3
Red Deer CMA 100,844 100,418 0.4 42 4
Medicine Hat CA 76,376 76,522 -0.2 50 5
Wood Buffalo CA 73,837 73,325 r 0.7 51 6
Grande Prairie CA 64,141 63,166 1.5 55 7
Lloydminster CA 36,508 36,736 r -0.6 74 ...

Lloydminster (Saskatchewan part)

 CA part 16,769 17,091 -1.9 ... 8

Lloydminster (Alberta part)

 CA part 19,739 19,645 0.5 ... 9
Okotoks CA 30,405 29,016 r 4.8 88 8
Camrose CA 18,772 18,742 0.2 118 10
Sylvan Lake CA 16,514 15,302 7.9 128 11
Canmore CA 15,990 13,992 14.3 129 12
Brooks CA 14,924 14,451 r 3.3 134 13
Strathmore CA 14,339 13,756 4.2 135 14
High River CA 14,324 13,594 r 5.4 136 15
Lacombe CA 13,396 13,057 2.6 143 16
Wetaskiwin CA 12,594 12,655 -0.5 149 17

Alberta — Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth

Census subdivision (CSD) name Type Population
2021 2016 % change
Cochrane T 32,199 25,853 24.5
Airdrie CY 74,100 61,581 20.3
Beaumont CY 20,888 17,457 r 19.7
Mackenzie County SM 12,804 11,171 r 14.6
Canmore T 15,990 13,992 14.3

Alberta — Census subdivisions with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth

Census subdivision (CSD) name Type Population
2021 2016 % change
Athabasca County MD 6,959 7,869 -11.6
Lac la Biche County SM 7,673 8,330 -7.9
Brazeau County MD 7,179 7,771 -7.6
Barrhead County No. 11 MD 5,877 6,288 -6.5
Greenview No. 16 MD 8,584 9,154 r -6.2
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