Demographics

According to the most recent Statistics Canada Census, the population of the Battle River Region was 65,559 in 2006 or 2.0% of Alberta’s total population.  This was a 0.3% increase from the Census estimate of 2001 and a 0.1% decrease from the 1996 Census estimate. The Census indicates that, on average, the Battle River region’s population is older than the provincial average. This may prove to be a challenge for the smaller cohort in the current prime working age group as they are increasingly required to sustain the older generation through higher productivity levels.

Age Pyramid of Population: Battle River vs. Alberta

Table of Economic Indicators for Battle River Region

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) Old 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 2,200 or 3.2% between 2006 and 2010, compared with 8.8% growth at the provincial level.  The region’s share of Alberta’s population was stable at 1.9% in 2010.

Date Updated:
RDP-2318