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Alberta outpaced all the provinces in population growth during the past year despite low oil prices and the economic downturn, new numbers from Statistics Canada show.

Alberta’s population grew 1.7 per cent to 4,216,875 between Oct. 1, 2014, and Oct. 1, 2015, estimates published Wednesday by the information agency indicate.

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The province gained 69,835 people during the 12-month period. Only Ontario added more. Its population increased by 119,953 to 13,850,090 — or a growth rate of 0.9 per cent. Statistics Canada estimates Canada’s total population was 35,985,751 Oct. 1, up 0.85 per cent or 304,163 people from the same date in 2014.

More than half of Alberta’s population growth is from interprovincial and international migration. The rest was natural. Between Oct. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30 of this year, the province’s natural population increase — births minus deaths — was 33,638.

Richard Goatcher, economic analyst for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Alberta, said the growth will help drive demand for new homes and support the level of home prices.