Alberta is one of 13 provinces and territories of Canada located in the western region of the country. It is the fourth-most populous province, and is the largest producer of oil and gas in the country, with an economy based on energy resources, agriculture.
Alberta is a province of Canada in western Canada. It’s one of the 3 Prairie Provinces in Canada bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north and the U.S. state Montana to the south. The capital of Alberta is Edmonton, located near the center of the province and 180 miles north of Calgary, the largest city of Alberta.
About 81% of Alberta’s population lives in an urban area with just 19% in the rural areas. The most urbanized area is the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor, which is also one of the most densely populated areas in all of Canada.
In 2006, the racial and ethnic composition of Alberta was 80.3% white, 13.9% belonging to a visible minority group and 5.8% Aboriginal (3% First Nations, 2.6% Metis, 0.1% other Aboriginal). Visible minority groups include:
Alberta is very ethnically diverse, with many immigrants from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, France, Ukraine and Scandinavia. Alberta also has the second-highest percentage of Francophones (French speakers) in western Canada at 2%, most of whom live in the northwestern and central part of the province. It’s also the third most diverse province in terms of visible minorities.
The most common ancestry/ethnic groups in the province include, in order of size, European, British Isles, English, Western Europe, other North American, German, Canadian, Scottish, Eastern European, Irish, French and Ukrainian. The full list is available through Statistics Canada.
Native languages spoken in Alberta include:
Other languages include Vietnamese, Cree (an Aboriginal language), Italian, Urdu, Korean, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese and Hungarian.
Alberta has grown fairly quickly over the last decade, in large part due to its growing economy. Alberta has had high birthrates combined with high immigration and a high rate of interprovincial migration. In 2011, it was home to 7 of the 8 fastest-growing census agglomerations in the country.
Alberta has grown from just 73,000 people in 1901 to 2.9 million in 2001, hitting 3.3 million in 2006.
Today, Alberta is leading Canada in population growth, in part as many people move to the region from other parts of Canada. From October 2013 to the start of 2014, Alberta gained almost 22,000 people with a growth rate of 3.3% in 2013. By 2041, Alberta is projected to hit a population of 5 to 7 million, with a growth rate that drops to about 1.5% a year between 2012 and 2041.
Alberta has a varied climate based on its geography:
• Northern Region
Subarctic climate with long, harsh winters and shorter, cooler summers.
• Southern Region
Milder climate, particularly in coastal areas, with moderate temperatures.
Major oil and gas sector, including the oil sands in Fort McMurray and conventional oil production.
Extensive cattle ranching and grain farming, leading Canada's beef production.
Growing financial sector in Calgary, particularly in energy financing and investment.
Petrochemical manufacturing and food processing facilities across the province.
Average Age
38 years
Median Age
37 years
Female (50.0%)
Male (50.0%)
The 2021 census found the racial and ethnic composition of Alberta was:
White (67.8%)
South Asian (8.2%)
Filipino (5.7%)
Chinese (4.8%)
Black (4.3%)
Indigenous (3.3%)
Arab (2.1%)
Latin American (1.8%)
Southeast Asian (1.7%)
Other (0.3%)
English (81.8%)
French (1.8%)
Other (16.4%)
Average Household Income
$84,700
Median Household Income
$72,500
Poverty Rate
11.3%
The Blackfoot Confederacy, Cree, and other Indigenous groups inhabited the plains and foothills region.
The North West Company established the first European fur trading post in Alberta at Fort Chipewyan.
The Canadian Pacific Railway reached Alberta, bringing settlers to the territory.
Alberta became a province of Canada, separating from the Northwest Territories.
The discovery of oil at Leduc No. 1 transformed Alberta into Canada's energy powerhouse.
Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics, showcasing Alberta to the world.
