Alberta continues to be the fastest-growing province in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. The province’s population grew by 1.5 per cent between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026 — the fastest growth rate among Canadian provinces. According to StatCan, Alberta’s growth was more than three times the national rate of 0.5 per cent during the same period. New Brunswick and Saskatchewan followed Alberta, each recording population growth of one per cent. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia each grew by 0.8 per cent, while Manitoba’s population increased by 0.6 per cent. The populations of Canada’s three largest provinces grew at slower rates than the national average. Ontario’s population increased by 0.3 per cent, while Quebec grew by 0.2 per cent and British Columbia by 0.1 per cent. The agency noted Ontario, Quebec and B.C. typically receive the largest share of international migrants, making those provinces more affected by changes in international migration levels. The Northwest Territories was the only province or territory to record a population decline during the period, falling by 127 people, or 0.3 per cent. Statistics Canada says population growth in every province was slower between July 2025 and July 2026 than the same period a year earlier— July 2024 to July 2025.
