The number of people living in Western Canada is growing, but few of them are choosing to live in rural areas.
According to the 2011 census released today, the population of all provinces west of Ontario now accounts for 30.7 percent of the total 33,476,688 who call Canada home.
That is larger than Quebec and Atlantic Canada at 30.6 percent. Ontario alone accounts for 38.4 percent.
About 6.3 million Canadians, or 18.9 percent, live in rural areas.
The census shows that immigration is largely responsible for the growth in all regions but particularly the West. That includes people new to Canada and movement from east to west.
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However, rural growth rates have not kept pace with urban growth.
Alberta led all provinces with 10.8 percent growth over the last five years for a total of 3,645,257. Of these, 16.9 percent live in rural areas, down one percent from 2006.
Saskatchewan’s population increased by 6.7 percent after two census periods of decline. Of its 1,033,381 residents, 343,398, or 33.2 percent, live in rural areas, down from 35 percent.
Manitoba doubled its population growth rate to 5.2 percent for 1,208,268 residents. Its rural population is 27.6 percent, down from 29 percent.
British Columbia’s population of 4,400,057 reflects a seven percent increase. The rural population accounts for 13.9 percent, down from 15 percent.
Rural populations top 50 percent in only Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.
The census also found that in the last five years, all western Canadian census metropolitan areas had higher population growth than the national average, except Winnipeg and Victoria.
The four highest rates of population growth were Calgary at 12.6 percent, Edmonton with 12.1 percent, Saskatoon at 11.4 percent and Kelowna with 10.8 percent.
