About Alberta

Alberta is an ideal place to live, work and do business. Alberta has a lot to offer with:

  • A strong economy
  • A positive business environment
  • High quality of life
  • An inviting landscape
Quick Facts
Size:
Population:
Capital city:
Largest city:
Currency: 		661,185 square kilometres (255,200 square miles)
3,724,832 (est.) as of April 1, 2010
Edmonton
Calgary
Canadian dollar
A strong economy

Alberta has one of North America's most vibrant and competitive economies. Alberta thrives thanks to its many land, energy and forest resources.

  • Alberta had the highest economic growth rate among Canadian provinces at 3.1% per year over the last 20 years.
  • In 2010, Alberta's exports were $77.8 billion, representing an 11.3% increase from $69.9 billion in 2009.
  • Albertans had an average personal disposable income of over $36,500 in 2000, the highest in Canada.
  • In 2010, Alberta had the highest employment rate among the provinces, at 68.1%.

A positive business environment

Alberta takes a balanced and realistic approach to ensure long-term prosperity and success. Alberta has made it a priority to diversify its economy and invest in key, knowledge-based industries that are critical to the global economy.

Alberta's business advantages include:

High quality of life

Albertans enjoy a superior quality of life for a number of reasons.

  • Alberta has a sophisticated healthcare environment and world-class education facilities.
  • Albertans have access to countless business and career opportunities along with an affordable cost of living.
  • Albertans enjoy a wide variety of recreational and leisure activities, with clean air and water and stunning scenery. There's a provincial park or recreation area within an hour's drive of every Alberta community. Alberta also receives more days of sunshine than any other province in Canada.

An inviting landscape

Alberta’s diverse landscape includes rivers, lakes, prairies, mountains, glaciers and even badlands. Alberta's protected areas provide access to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world.

  • To the north is the Northwest Territories.
  • To the west is the Canadian province of British Columbia.
  • To the east is the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
  • Alberta shares its southern border with the American state of Montana.
  • The great Rocky Mountains run along Alberta's western border, with their world famous national parks, Banff and Jasper.

About Alberta
Learn more about Alberta including information about business, industry and immigration.