Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates (on par with some larger provinces such asBritish Columbia), relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces.^[1] Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. TheCalgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions.^[2] Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 4,262,635 in 2021 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 11.5%.^[3] It is thefourth most populated province in Canada. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the Alberta population grew by 4.8%.

† 1901 population forDistrict of Alberta, part of the then-namedNorth-West Territories.

As of the 2011 census, Alberta had twocensus metropolitan areas (CMAs) recognized by Statistics Canada. A third one was added in the 2016 census.

The following is a list of the recent population history of the Calgary and Edmonton CMAs.

The third CMA added in 2016 is Lethbridge, and its population history is as follows:

The fourth CMA added in 2021 is Red Deer, and its population history is as follows:

CMA notes:

As of the 2006 census, Alberta had 453census subdivisions (municipalities and municipal equivalents) recognized by Statistics Canada. The following is a list of those census subdivisions with a population of 10,000 or greater.

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The ethnicities most commonly reported in the 2021 Census are shown in the table below. The percentages add up to more than 100% because of multiple responses.^[16]

The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses, and first appeared on the1991 Canadian census.^[o]

Of the 4,221,835 singular responses to the 2021 census question concerningmother tongue, the languages most commonly reported were:^[43]

In addition to the table above, other mother tongues in Alberta include (including languages with more than 422 people, or 0.01 per cent of respondents):

In addition to the single-language responses detailed above, about 88,765 people reported having more than onemother tongue. There were 74,515 responses of bothEnglish and a non-official language; 2,785 of bothFrench and a non-official language; 10,005 of bothEnglish andFrench; and 1,455 ofEnglish,French and a non-official language.

Just under 50 percent of Albertans identify asChristian, while over 40 percent of residents identify withno religion. The largest denominations are theRoman Catholic,United,Anglican,Lutheran, andEastern Orthodox andOriental Orthodox Churches.

Just over 1 percent of Albertans are members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, descended frompioneers who emigrated fromUtah around the turn of the 20th century; there are threetemples in the province. Alberta also has large numbers ofPentecostal,Presbyterians, andevangelical Christians.

There are significant numbers ofMennonites andHutterites, which are communalAnabaptist sects. There are also manyJehovah's Witnesses andReformed Christians, as well a significant population ofSeventh-day Adventists in and aroundLacombe where theCanadian University College is located.

Alberta is also home to severalEastern Rite Churches as part of the legacy of Eastern European immigrants, including theUkrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, and theUkrainian OrthodoxDiocese of Edmonton and Western Canada. There are 500Doukhobors living in their few communities across Southern Alberta.

Many people of theHindu,Sikh, andMuslim faiths also make Alberta their home; one of the largestSikh temples in Canada is located just outside Edmonton. Most of Alberta's Jewish population of 11,390 lives in Calgary and Edmonton.

Alberta's second largest religion, Islam, has roots that include Canada's first mosque,Al-Rashid Mosque, built in 1938 led by a Lebanese woman named Hilwie Hamdon.

^1 Statistics Canada. 2022. Alberta (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2021 National Household Survey. Released October 26, 2022.^[44]

• 
  Largest non-Christian religion in Alberta by census division, 2021 census
• 
  Largest non-Christian religion in Alberta by census division, 2011 census
• 
  Largest non-Christian religion in Alberta by census division, 2001 census
• 
  Largest non-Christian religion in Alberta by census division, 1991 census

The2021 census reported thatimmigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 970,975 persons or 23.2 percent of the total population of Alberta.^[105][106]