Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census

Province of Alberta

Data quality

Data quality note(s): Province of Alberta

  • Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.
  • Global non-response rate (GNR), short-form census questionnaire: 4.7%.

Population change (in percentage), provinces and territories, 2006 to 2011 and 2011 to 2016

Figure 1.1 description Long description for Figure 1.1 Population change (in percentage), provinces and territories, 2006 to 2011 and 2011 to 2016

  • In 2016, the enumerated population of Alberta was 4,067,175 which represents a change of 11.6% from 2011. This growth was higher than the national rate of 5.0%.
  • In 2016, there were 1,527,678 private dwellings occupied in Alberta in 2016 which represent a change of 9.9% from 2011. This growth was higher than the national rate of 5.6%.
  • The land area of Alberta is 640,330.46 square kilometres and the population density was 6.4 people per square kilometre.

Figure 1.2 Population in the last 105 years, Alberta

Figure 1.2 description Long description for Figure 1.2 Population in the last 105 years, Alberta

Figure 1.3 Population change (in percentage) in the last 105 years, Alberta

Figure 1.3 Description Long description for Figure 1.3 Population change (in percentage) in the last 105 years, Alberta

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

In 2016, 82.0% of the population of Alberta lived inside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA). That represents 3,334,092 persons. This was lower than the national rate of 83.2%.

The number of persons living outside a census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) was 733,083, which accounts for 18.0% of the population. This was higher than the national rate of 16.8%.

Figure 1.4 description Long description for Figure 1.4 Alberta – Census metropolitan areas (CMAs), census agglomerations (CAs) and regions outside CMAs and CAs

Population rank and population change, 2011 to 2016 for CMAs or CAs in Alberta

Population rank and population change, 2011 to 2016 for CMAs or CAs in Alberta
CMA or CA name Type Population Rank
2016 2011 % change Nat. Prov.
Calgary Calgary - Census metropolitan area CMA 1,392,609 1,214,839 14.6 4 1
Edmonton Edmonton - Census metropolitan area CMA 1,321,426 1,159,869 13.9 6 2
Lethbridge Lethbridge - Census metropolitan area CMA 117,394 105,999 10.8 34 3
Red Deer Red Deer - Census agglomeration CA 100,418 90,564 10.9 41 4
Medicine Hat Medicine Hat - Census agglomeration CA 76,522 72,807 5.1 48 5
Wood Buffalo Wood Buffalo - Census agglomeration CA 73,320 66,896 9.6 50 6
Grande Prairie Grande Prairie - Census agglomeration CA 63,166 55,655revised r 13.5 54 7
Lloydminster Lloydminster - Census agglomeration CA 34,583 30,798 12.3 78  not applicable ···
Lloydminster (Saskatchewan part)   14,938 12,766 17.0  not applicable ··· 8
Lloydminster (Alberta part)   19,645 18,032 8.9  not applicable ··· 10
Okotoks Okotoks - Census agglomeration CA 28,881 24,511 17.8 92 8
Brooks Brooks - Census agglomeration CA 24,662 23,430 5.3 103 9
Camrose Camrose - Census agglomeration CA 18,742 17,286 8.4 114 11
Sylvan Lake Sylvan Lake - Census agglomeration CA 15,302 12,797revised r 19.6 130 12
Cold Lake Cold Lake - Census agglomeration CA 14,961 13,839 8.1 132 13
Canmore Canmore - Census agglomeration CA 13,992 12,288 13.9 134 14
Strathmore Strathmore - Census agglomeration CA 13,756 12,305 11.8 135 15
High River High River - Census agglomeration CA 13,584 12,930revised r 5.1 139 16
Lacombe Lacombe - Census agglomeration CA 13,057 11,707 11.5 143 17
Wetaskiwin Wetaskiwin - Census agglomeration CA 12,655 12,525 1.0 147 18

Alberta – Census subdivisions with the highest population growth among those with 5,000-plus population

Table 2 Alberta – Census subdivisions, with 5,000-plus population with the highest population growth, population change, 2011 to 2016
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2016 2011 % change
Blackfalds Census subdivision - Blackfalds, Town T 9,328 6,300 48.1
Cochrane Census subdivision - Cochrane, Town T 25,853 17,580 47.1
Airdrie Census subdivision - Airdrie, City CY 61,581 43,271 revised r 42.3
Chestermere Census subdivision - Chestermere, City CY 19,887 14,824 34.2
Beaumont Census subdivision - Beaumont, Town T 17,396 13,284 31.0

Alberta – Census subdivisions with the lowest population growth among those with 5,000-plus population

Table 3 Alberta – Census subdivisions, with 5,000-plus population with the lowest population growth, population change, 2011 to 2016
Census subdivision (CSD) name CSD type Population
2016 2011 % change
Bonnyville Census subdivision - Bonnyville, Town T 5,417 6,216 -12.9
Westlock County Census subdivision - Westlock County, Municipal district MD 7,220 7,644 -5.5
Rocky Mountain House Census subdivision - Rocky Mountain House, Town T 6,635 6,933 -4.3
Big Lakes County Census subdivision - Big Lakes County, Municipal district MD 5,672 5,912 -4.1
Clearwater County Census subdivision - Clearwater County, Municipal district MD 11,947 12,278 -2.7
Slave Lake Census subdivision - Slave Lake, Town T 6,651 6,782 -1.9

Symbols:

···
not applicable
··
incompletely enumerated Indian reserve or Indian settlement
r
revised
E
use with caution

Source:

Statistics Canada. 2017. Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-404-X2016001. Ottawa, Ontario. Data products, 2016 Census.

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