In 2023, the population of Calgary and Edmonton will increase by 159,000 people

Alberta's two largest metro areas will see their populations peak by about 159,000 in 2023, according to new Statistics Canada data.

The population of the Calgary metro area increased from 1,586,725 in 2022 to 1,682,509 as of July 1, 2023, while the population of the Edmonton metro area increased from 1,500,536 in 2022 to 1,563,571 at the same time.

For Alberta's two largest cities, the population grew by just over 5.1%, while Calgary's population grew by more than 6%. Edmonton rose 4.2%.

Calgary's census metropolitan area includes areas such as Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere, Langdon and Crossfield, while Edmonton includes areas such as Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Beaumont, Leduc, Thoresby, St. Albert, Stony Plain and Morinville.

In Alberta's largest cities, Edmonton received more than 19,700 immigrants during the same period, while Calgary received more than 28,000.

Calgary led the country in net interprovincial migration with 26,662 residents from other provinces, followed by Edmonton with nearly 16,100 residents.

All census agglomerations in Alberta changed from 399,081 in 2022 to 407,802 in 2023, with Alberta showing no point in population decline according to Statistics Canada.