Edmonton, Alberta · City reference

Population and growth

How many people live in Edmonton, how fast that is changing, and how much of the city is built up. All figures are from Statistics Canada.

Last checked 2026-01-14 · Times shown in Mountain Time

Statistics Canada publishes two different population numbers for a city, and they measure different things. The census is a full count taken every five years, most recently in May 2021. The annual estimates are produced every year in between, using births, deaths, immigration and migration records; they are the better guide to what the population is today.

Census of Population, 2021

Population (2021)

1,010,899

Rank 5 in Canada by population

Change since 2016

+8.3%

From 933,088 in 2016

Private dwellings

428,857

Total dwellings, occupied or not

Land area

766 km²

Census subdivision boundary

Population density

1,320 / km²

Residents per square kilometre

Occupied dwellings

396,404

Usual residents, excludes vacant and seasonal

“Land area” and “density” use the census subdivision boundary, which is the legal municipal boundary rather than the built-up area. A city that has annexed a large rural fringe will show a low density for that reason alone.

Population estimates since 2001

These are Statistics Canada’s July 1 estimates on 2021 boundaries, so the whole series is comparable like for like. The most recent estimate is for 2025: 1,238,295 people. That is a compound annual growth rate of 3.42% over the previous five years.

Population estimates for Edmonton, July 1 of each year (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0155)
Year	Population	Change from previous year	Five-year growth rate
2025	1,238,295	+40,524	+3.42%
2024	1,197,771	+70,588	+3.13%
2023	1,127,183	+53,005	+2.35%
2022	1,074,178	+23,233	+1.94%
2021	1,050,945	+4,389	+1.88%
2020	1,046,556	+20,057	+2.02%
2019	1,026,499	+23,006	+2.13%
2018	1,003,493	+27,521	+2.36%
2017	975,972	+18,537	+2.44%
2016	957,435	+10,580	+2.52%
2015	946,855	+23,154	+2.63%
2014	923,701	+30,676	+2.46%
2013	893,025	+28,063	+2.30%
2012	864,962	+19,366	+2.11%
2011	845,596	+14,007	+2.17%
2010	831,589	—	+2.40%

Where this sits

Edmonton is the anchor of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. For how the city compares with its neighbours and how the wider region is growing, Statistics Canada publishes census metropolitan area tables alongside the municipal ones linked below.

Official sources

Details such as fares, fees, hours and program rules change. Always confirm against the official source before acting on anything time-sensitive.