Demographics

According to the most recent 2006 Statistics Canada Census, the population of the Wood Buffalo Region was 53,065 in 2006 or 1.6% of Alberta’s total population.  This was a 23.6% increase from the Census estimate of 2001 and a 46.2% increase from the 1996 Census estimate. The Census indicates that, on average, the Wood Buffalo region’s population is somewhat younger than the provincial average. Further, most of the population is part of the prime working age population, with a comparably small section of the population past retirement age.  Thus productivity in this region should continue to be at high levels for the foreseeable future.

Definitions

i) See below paragraph about the under-coverage problems of Census population estimates 

ii) Dependency Ratio: The percentage of the population below the age of 15(Child) and over the age of 64 (Elderly) divided by the number of adults (15-64). This is the population of children and elderly that are dependent on the adult population for economic needs.

iii) Age Dependency Ratio: The percentage of the population over the age of 64 (Elderly) divided by the number of adults (15-64). This is the population that is dependent on the adult population for economic needs.

Under-coverage problems of Census population estimates

Although the Census provides the most detailed and accurate information at a single point in time on the demographic, social and economic conditions of the population, the Census under-estimates the overall population totals for any region as some people are not counted.  The reasons for this under-coverage can range from some households not receiving a census questionnaire to individuals not being included in the questionnaire completed for a household. Therefore, the below presented post-censal estimates should be used as the official population estimates for the region.  

According to the post-censal estimates, the region’s population increased by 11,400 or 20.5% between 2006 and 2010, compared with 8.8% growth at the provincial level.  The region’s share of Alberta’s population was stable at 1.8% in 2010.

Date Updated:
RDP-2331