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It was modest by historical standards, but Alberta gained almost 7,000 residents from other parts of Canada last year, including 2,252 from October to December.

Statistics Canada estimates that 65,486 people left Alberta for other parts of the country compared to 72,414 who moved here from another province or territory. 

The net gain was higher than the 2,184 recorded in 2018 but was not enough to offset the large losses recorded in 2016 and 2017 when Alberta lost a total of 28,239 residents to the rest of Canada.

Seven out of the thirteen provinces and territories recorded net interprovincial losses last year. Saskatchewan lost the most at -10,828 followed by Manitoba at -9,948. The biggest gainer was British Columbia at +9,551 with Alberta in second spot.

Alberta’s population ended the year 1.8 per cent larger (+77,378) than at the start. Interprovincial migration accounted for 9 per cent of the gain compared to 35 per cent for natural increase (births less deaths) and 56 per cent for international migration.

Alberta’s pace of growth was the third fastest among the provinces with Prince Edward Island in first (+2.0 per cent) and Ontario in second spot (+1.9 per cent). Canada as a whole grew by 1.6 per cent to reach 37,311,904 people.