Any Calgarian who’s watched a new condo tower rise on their commute already knows the city is growing fast. The 2025 population numbers confirm what locals have felt for years: this is one of Canada’s most dynamic urban centres, expanding at a pace that few other cities can match. The official city estimate of 1,562,600 residents represents a 2.53% year-over-year jump, powered by immigration and a swelling concentration of wealth. Here’s what the latest data reveals about Canada’s third-largest city.

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Calgary city proper population (2025): 1,562,600 ·
Calgary metro area population (2025): 1,688,000 ·
Year-over-year growth rate (city): 2.53% ·
National rank by population: 3rd largest city in Canada ·
Millionaire growth (2024-2025): largest among Canadian cities ·
Number of billionaires: 14 (estimated)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • City population climbed from ~1.2M (2015) to 1.562M (2025) — a 30% gain in a decade (Wikipedia)
  • City projects 1.717M by 2031 (City of Calgary research outlook)
4What’s next
  • CMA growth rate likely to stay above 2% as immigration targets remain high federally (Statistics Canada)
  • Interprovincial migration gains of 11,195 in the CMA from July 2024 to July 2025 (Statistics Canada)

Key population and wealth metrics for Calgary in 2025 include the following data from official sources.

Metric Value Source
City population 2025 1,562,600 City of Calgary research outlook
Metro population 2025 1,688,000 Macrotrends analysis
Year-over-year growth 2.53% City of Calgary research outlook
Median household income $95,000 (est.) City of Calgary research outlook
Billionaires (est.) 14 Statistics Canada
Top immigrant source country Philippines Wikipedia

Is Calgary the fastest growing city in Canada?

Population growth rate among major Canadian cities

  • Statistics Canada reports Calgary CMA grew at 2.9% from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada population estimates)
  • This rate is tied with Edmonton CMA at 3.0% for the highest among major Canadian cities (Statistics Canada)
  • Toronto CMA grew at roughly 1.2% over the same period, Vancouver at 1.8%, Ottawa at 2.1% — Calgary and Edmonton lead by a clear margin (Statistics Canada)

Calgary vs Edmonton growth comparison

  • Edmonton CMA growth rate of 3.0% barely edges Calgary’s 2.9% over the July 2024–July 2025 window (Statistics Canada)
  • Calgary’s net interprovincial migration gains: 11,195 compared to Edmonton’s 11,742 — an extremely close race (Statistics Canada)
  • Both cities are being driven by permanent immigration as the leading factor of population increase (Statistics Canada)
Bottom line: Calgary is among the fastest-growing major cities in Canada, but Edmonton is running neck-and-neck. New arrivals from other provinces and immigrants are fueling both urban centres at rates Toronto and Vancouver haven’t seen. For homebuyers weighing which Alberta city offers the best opportunity, the growth numbers alone won’t settle the debate.

The implication: Calgary’s growth is competitive but not dominant, with Edmonton matching its pace.

How many billionaires live in Calgary?

Billionaire count and wealth trends

  • Estimated 14 billionaires reside in Calgary, making it Canada’s second-largest billionaire hub after Vancouver (Statistics Canada)
  • Calgary recorded the largest growth in millionaires of any Canadian city during the 2024–2025 period (Statistics Canada)

Millionaire growth in Calgary

  • Exact millionaire count is unclear, but the growth percentage is the highest among Canadian cities (Statistics Canada)
  • Average salary in Calgary is approximately $78,000 per year (City of Calgary research outlook)
The paradox

Calgary’s wealth concentration is growing faster than any other Canadian city, yet the average salary of $78,000 suggests that new arrivals chasing that wealth may be arriving just as affordability tightens. For young professionals, the calculation to move here has never been more rewarding — or more uncertain.

The pattern: wealth concentration is accelerating faster than the average wage can keep up, creating a tension for new residents.

Is Edmonton bigger than Calgary?

City proper population comparison

  • Calgary city proper: 1,562,600 in 2025 (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Edmonton city proper: approximately 1.5 million in 2025 (Statistics Canada)
  • Calgary remains the larger city proper by approximately 60,000 residents (Statistics Canada)

Metro area comparison

  • Calgary CMA: 1,688,000 (2025 estimate) (Macrotrends analysis)
  • Edmonton CMA: approximately 1.5 million (2025 estimate) (Statistics Canada)
  • Calgary’s metro area outpaces Edmonton’s by roughly 200,000 people (Statistics Canada)

Historical trends

  • In the 2021 Census, Calgary CMA had 1,481,806 residents; Edmonton CMA had 1,418,118 (Wikipedia)
  • Calgary’s CMA is projected to reach 1.85 million by 2026, keeping it ahead of Edmonton (City of Calgary research outlook)
Why this matters

For employers deciding between the two cities, Calgary’s larger labour pool and faster-rising wealth concentration mean the economic momentum leans toward the Bow River. Edmonton’s growth rate is catching up, but Calgary’s absolute size advantage persists.

The catch: size advantage gives Calgary an edge, but the gap is narrowing as Edmonton’s growth rate inches past.

Where do most of Calgary’s immigrants come from?

Top source countries

  • Philippines: the leading source country for immigrants in Calgary (Wikipedia)
  • India: the second-largest source of immigrants (Wikipedia)
  • China: third-largest source, followed by the United Kingdom and Pakistan (Wikipedia)
  • Immigrants make up 33.3% of Calgary’s total population (2021 Census data) (Wikipedia)

Immigration patterns and impact on population growth

  • Permanent immigration is the leading factor of growth in Calgary and Edmonton CMAs (Statistics Canada)
  • Interprovincial migration also contributes significantly: Calgary CMA gained 11,195 residents from other provinces between July 2024 and July 2025 (Statistics Canada)
  • The federal immigration targets for 2025 (500,000 new immigrants annually) will likely continue to boost Calgary’s growth (City of Calgary research outlook)
The catch

Immigration-driven growth is the engine, but it also strains rental supply, school capacity, and healthcare. For municipal planners, the 33.3% immigrant share means infrastructure spending must keep pace with a population that’s arriving faster than anticipated.

What this means: the demographic shift toward non-European immigration is reshaping Calgary’s labour market and public services demands.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Calgary?

Average salary in Calgary

  • Average salary in Calgary is approximately $78,000 per year (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Median household income is estimated at $95,000 (City of Calgary research outlook)

Cost of living breakdown (rent, utilities, food)

  • Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Calgary is roughly $1,500–$1,800 per month, significantly lower than Toronto ($2,300+) or Vancouver ($2,500+) (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Utilities (electricity, heating, water) in Calgary average about $300–$400 per month, driven by variable energy prices (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Grocery costs are roughly on par with national averages, around $400–$500 per month for a single person (City of Calgary research outlook)

Salary threshold for comfortable living

  • A comfortable living for a single person in Calgary is estimated at $80,000–$100,000 per year (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • For a family of four, a combined income of $140,000–$160,000 is considered comfortable (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Cost of living in Calgary is lower than Toronto (by about 15–20%) and Vancouver (by 20–25%) (City of Calgary research outlook)
What to watch

As Calgary’s population pushes toward 1.6 million, rental inflation is accelerating. A single-person household on the average salary of $78,000 is right at the edge of the comfortable threshold. For newcomers from Toronto or Vancouver, Calgary still looks affordable — but that window is closing.

The pattern: affordability is eroding fastest for those earning average wages, even as Calgary remains cheaper than the largest metros.

Timeline: population of Calgary 2025 in context

Confirmed facts

  • City population 2025: 1,562,600 (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • Metro population 2025: 1,688,000 (Macrotrends analysis)
  • Growth rate 2.53% (City of Calgary research outlook)
  • CMA growth rate 2.9% (July 2024–July 2025) (Statistics Canada)
  • Net interprovincial migration: +11,195 (CMA) (Statistics Canada)
  • Immigrants: 33.3% of total population (2021 Census) (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of millionaires (only the growth percentage is known)
  • Population projection for 2050 (dependent on migration and oil-sector trends)
  • Detailed ethnic and religious demographic breakdown from official sources
  • Precise urban area population (estimates vary between 1.68M and 1.84M)
Bottom line: Calgary’s 2025 population tells a story of a city that has successfully transitioned from oil-boom growth to a more diversified expansion powered by immigration, wealth concentration, and interprovincial migration. For homebuyers in the 403 area code region: the city’s growth is both an opportunity (rising property values) and a risk (infrastructure strain). For employers: the labour pool is deepening, but so is competition for housing and talent.

The implication: Calgary’s growth strategy is working, but the costs of success are becoming visible in housing and infrastructure pressure.

Additional sources

repcalgaryhomes.ca

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Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Calgary in 2025?

Calgary’s city proper population in 2025 is estimated at 1,562,600, with the metro area (CMA) at approximately 1,688,000, based on the City of Calgary’s research outlook and Statistics Canada data.

What is the population density of Calgary?

Calgary has a relatively low population density for a major Canadian city — approximately 1,500 people per square kilometre in the city proper, compared to Toronto’s 4,400 per km². The city’s sprawling layout contributes to its car-dependent character.

How does Calgary’s population compare to Toronto’s?

Toronto’s CMA population is roughly 6.5 million, nearly four times Calgary’s 1.688 million. Calgary’s growth rate of 2.53% is significantly faster than Toronto’s roughly 1.2%, but absolute size remains vastly different.

What is the median age in Calgary?

The median age in Calgary was 36.0 years in the 2021 Census, making it one of the younger major cities in Canada, largely due to immigration and a strong labour market attracting younger workers.

What are the population projections for Calgary in 2030?

The City of Calgary projects the city proper population to reach approximately 1.717 million by 2031, representing continued growth of roughly 10% over the next six years if current trends persist.

How many people live in Calgary’s downtown core?

The downtown core (within the Beltline area) has an estimated 40,000–45,000 residents, though day-time population swells to over 150,000 due to commuters. Downtown residential growth has been accelerating with new condo towers.

What is the birth rate in Calgary?

Calgary’s birth rate roughly mirrors the national average at about 10–11 live births per 1,000 population. Population growth is driven more by immigration than natural increase.

Calgary in 2025 is a city that has successfully levered immigration, wealth concentration, and interprovincial migration to become Canada’s fastest-growing major urban centre. For the average Calgary homebuyer in the 403 area code region, the choice is clear: the city is expanding rapidly, and property values will likely follow, but the rising cost of living means timing matters. For employers looking to relocate talent: Calgary’s lower housing costs than Toronto and Vancouver remain a draw, but the window of affordability is narrowing.