Alberta remains the top destination for residents migrating within Canada for the third consecutive year, as per the latest data from Statistics Canada. The province’s population has surpassed the five-million mark, standing at 5,029,346 as of July 1. In the second quarter of 2025, Alberta’s population grew by about 0.4%, outpacing the national growth rate of 0.1%.
While Alberta experienced a population increase due to interprovincial migration, Ontario saw a loss of residents moving to other provinces. Alberta gained 6,187 people from interprovincial migration, with the majority coming from Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Notably, Alberta has led the country in interprovincial migration for 12 consecutive quarters.
International migration also contributed significantly to Alberta’s population growth in the second quarter of 2025, with 11,538 new residents arriving from other countries. Additionally, the province saw a natural population increase of 5,361 people during the same period.
The decline in temporary international residents in Alberta aligns with a national trend following changes in federal rules for temporary residents, particularly affecting international students. The decrease in non-permanent residents has been observed for two consecutive quarters in Alberta and three quarters nationally. After reaching a peak in October 2024, the number of non-permanent residents in Canada decreased to 3.02 million as of July 2025.
This data indicates the ongoing shifts in population dynamics within Canada, with Alberta continuing to attract residents from other provinces and countries, contributing to its population growth.