The increase in international migration is driving Canada's population growth rate to levels not seen in nearly 70 years.

Statistics Canada reported on September 27 that 98 percent of Canada’s population growth in the past year came from international migration.

Currently, Alberta is growing faster than any other province since population records began.

The latest population estimates from the federal data management indicate that Canada’s population grew by 1.15 million between July 2022 and July 2023, representing the highest growth among G7 countries. Canada’s population growth rate is now 2.9 percent.

This growth rate is the highest recorded in Canada since a 12-month period in 1957, when it reached 3.3 percent annually during the peak of the baby boom and the Hungarian refugee crisis.

The number of temporary residents increased by 46%, primarily due to an increase in work and study permits.

Figures also show that since July 2022, the number of temporary residents has risen by about 700,000 to reach 2.2 million, and the number of immigrants increased by 468,817 people.

Statistics Canada released a new data table estimating the number of temporary residents by type and province after a report from CIBC Capital Markets in August indicated that the official count of temporary residents may be underreported by nearly one million people.

The agency stood by its figures at that time, as Statistics Canada said on Wednesday that the impact of its new table on estimates of Canada’s total population is very minimal.

Statistics Canada also stated that the table includes new adjustments for delays that occur after permits expire, improving the count of temporary residents living in Canada with expired permits who are in the process of renewing.

While the 4 percent population growth in Alberta was partially driven by international migration, it was also fueled by record interprovincial migration.

Last year, 56,245 people chose to move to Alberta from other provinces, representing the highest annual increase since Statistics Canada began collecting comparable data in 1971/1972.

Alberta was not the only province to record a record number. Seven other provinces also saw their population rates rise to record levels.

Prince Edward Island increased by 3.9 percent, Nova Scotia by 3.2 percent, New Brunswick by 3.1 percent, Ontario by 3.0 percent, Manitoba by 2.9 percent, Saskatchewan by 2.6 percent, and Quebec by 2.3 percent.