Athabasca, Alberta Population & Demographics: How Many People Live Here?

Data source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population — View the official Athabasca census dataset on Statistics Canada

This article shows the demographic data and statistics of Athabasca. It is a town in Canada that encompasses a land area of 17.79 km2. The town has a population density of 155.10 people per km2.

We highlight the Athabasca town's various population characteristics. From gender, age distribution, ethnicity, household and dwelling, and income to spoken languages, occupation, and religion.

Athabasca on the Map

The map and listings below are sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors, not Statistics Canada, and may be incomplete depending on how thoroughly the area has been mapped.

Athabasca location on the map. View in Google Map

Population Characteristics

According to the latest census, Athabasca has a population of around 2,759 people. The town's population is in decreased . Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Athabasca has decreased by -6.95%.

Population in 2016Population in 2021Difference
2,9652,759 --6.95%

2026 Population Projection

Athabasca's population declined between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, so a 2026 growth projection is not shown. The most recent confirmed figure remains the 2,759 people recorded in the 2021 census.

Population By Genders

The male population of Athabasca is around 1,285 while the female population is around 1,470.

Of the 2,759 total population in Athabasca, the largest gender is female with around 1,470 women within the population.

MaleFemaleDifference
1,2851,470 -12.59%

Is Athabasca a Good Place to Live?

Based on 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, here's how Athabasca compares across key quality-of-life indicators — measured against Alberta, its own province. Draw your own conclusions from the actual numbers.

Employment & Economy

8.2%
Unemployment rate
3.3 pts below the province
58.1%
Employment rate
2.1 pts below the province
63.3%
Participation rate
4.7 pts below the province

Income & Affordability

$81,000
Median household income
$15,000 below the province
12.3%
Below low-income threshold (LIM-AT)
3.1 pts above the province

Commute

80.0%
Commute under 30 minutes
10.4 pts above the province
91.1%
Commute by car
3.8 pts above the province
1.1%
Commute by public transit
4.5 pts below the province

Housing Character

68.0%
Single-detached houses
7.1 pts above the province
17.3%
Apartments (any building size)
5.1 pts below the province

Household Composition

2.30 people
Average household size
0.30people below the province
35.1%
One-person households
9.1 pts above the province

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Population by Age Characteristics

Athabasca has a young population. The majority of the population is people aged 10 to 14 years old, accounting for 7.80% of the total population. The town median age is 42.80.

DataMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal
10 to 14 years110 8.60%115 7.80% 4.35%215 7.80%
45 to 49 years90 7.00%95 6.50% 5.26%185 6.70%
60 to 64 years75 5.80%110 7.50% 31.82%185 6.70%
15 to 19 years105 8.20%75 5.10% 28.57%180 6.50%
35 to 39 years80 6.20%95 6.50% 15.79%180 6.50%
40 to 44 years75 5.80%105 7.10% 28.57%180 6.50%
65 to 69 years90 7.00%90 6.10% 0.00%175 6.30%
55 to 59 years90 7.00%85 5.80% 5.56%170 6.20%
5 to 9 years80 6.20%75 5.10% 6.25%160 5.80%
50 to 54 years70 5.40%75 5.10% 6.67%155 5.60%
25 to 29 years70 5.40%75 5.10% 6.67%145 5.30%
30 to 34 years65 5.10%80 5.40% 18.75%145 5.30%
70 to 74 years60 4.70%75 5.10% 20.00%135 4.90%
85 years and over50 3.90%85 5.80% 41.18%135 4.90%
20 to 24 years60 4.70%70 4.80% 14.29%125 4.50%
0 to 4 years65 5.10%50 3.40% 23.08%115 4.20%
75 to 79 years40 3.10%50 3.40% 20.00%90 3.30%
80 to 84 years25 1.90%50 3.40% 50.00%75 2.70%
85 to 89 years30 2.30%45 3.10% 33.33%75 2.70%
Average age of the population41 41.00%45 44.80% 6.70%43 43.00%
Median age of the population41 40.80%44 44.40% 9.01%43 42.80%

Broader Age Groups

If the town's population is divided into broader age groups, most of the population falls into the 15 to 64 years age group. The group accounts for 60.00% of the population. The other age groups, 65 years and over and 0 to 14 years, account for 22.10% and 17.90%, respectively.

If we look at the population data from the broader age groups, we can see that most people in Athabasca are within the 15 to 64 years age group.

DataMaleFemaleTotal
65 years and over20.20%24.10%22.10%
0 to 14 years19.50%16.30%17.90%

Photos of Places & Sceneries in Athabasca

Population of Athabasca by Ethnicity and Origin

The population of Athabasca is quite diverse, which contributes to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Athabasca is inclusive and accepts various ethnic groups with open arms. Furthermore, the province appreciates the unique contributions that each ethnicity brings.

The top 5 ethnicities and origins in the province are English, which accounts for 19.80% of the total population, followed by Scottish (18.43%), Irish (15.10%), German (15.10%), and Canadian (14.71%).

Other ethnicities and origins in Newfoundland and Labrador include Ukrainian, French, Polish, Norwegian, and Dutch.

Ethnicity and OriginMaleFemalePercentage in Population
English19.25%19.93%19.80%
Scottish19.25%17.34%18.43%
Irish18.41%12.18%15.10%
German14.23%15.87%15.10%
Canadian13.39%15.50%14.71%
Ukrainian10.46%16.61%13.73%
French14.23%10.70%11.96%
Polish11.30%8.49%9.80%
Norwegian5.86%2.58%4.12%
Dutch4.60%2.95%3.73%

Immigration Profile

Immigration patterns vary a great deal from one area to another, which makes this data one of the more distinctive parts of Athabasca's population profile.

About 10.0% of Athabasca's population are immigrants (255 people).

The top countries of origin for Athabasca's immigrant population are Philippines (70), Pakistan (25), United Kingdom (20), United States of America (15), China (15).

Only using 25% sample data.
Country of BirthPopulation
Philippines70
Pakistan25
United Kingdom20
United States of America15
China15

Household and Dwelling Characteristics

About 785 of Athabasca's population live in a single-detached house. In addition, most of them are living in 1 person household.

Household Size

About 17.55% of the population lives in 1 person households. 2 persons households ranked second, accounting for 16.45% of the population. 3 persons, 4 persons, and 5 or more persons households account for 6.50%, 6.05%, and 3.25%, respectively.

Number of Person(s) in HouseholdTotalPercentage
1 person40517.55%
2 persons38016.45%
3 persons1506.50%
4 persons1406.05%
5 or more persons753.25%

Income in Athabasca

Analyzing income distribution in Athabasca can help us better understand its socioeconomic dynamics.

Per Capita Income

According to 2020 data, the median personal income within Athabasca is $42,400.

A region's per capita data sheds light on the average income earned per person living in it. Since per capita income is calculated by dividing the region's total income by its population, it quantifies the population's economic situation on an individual basis.

Such data offers insights into the town's economic performance, spread of income across individuals, quality of life, as well as disparities within its borders.

Most of Athabasca population or around 285 people falls in the $10,000 to $29,999 group. The next largest groups are the $50,000 to $79,999, and $30,000 to $49,999 with around 250 and 235 people, respectively.

Household Income

The Athabasca's median household income is $81,000, according to 2020 data.

Below national average Athabasca's median household income is 3,000 dollars below the Canadian national median of $84,000 (2020 data, 2021 Census).

The data provides important insights into the town's economic landscape as well as the living standards of its population.

Analyzing such data enables researchers, policymakers, and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the town's income distribution, disparities, and trends.

Education Levels in Athabasca

This data sheds light on the distribution of Athabasca residents across educational milestones.

Such information is crucial in shaping the province’s policies on education, workforce development strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve access to quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

54.75% or most of the Athabasca population has a Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. 29.60% of the population has a High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate, 20.75% has a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 15.25% has No certificate, diploma or degree.

Only using 25% sample data.
DegreeMenWomenTotalPercentage
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree8201,0001,82054.75%
High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate4555501,00029.60%
Bachelor's degree or higher30538069020.75%
No certificate, diploma or degree26027553015.25%

Below national average 20.8% of Athabasca's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 32.9% (Canada, 2021 Census).

Employment in Athabasca

This dataset provides a snapshot of employment trends in Athabasca. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, industries, as well as job categories.

The data shows that the unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador is at 5.17% which is quite high.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusPercentage
Employment rate58.13%
Unemployment rate5.17%

Working as an Employee

The table shows the data on the total number of individuals in the town who work as an employee. The majority of Athabasca's population (around 73.20%) are working permanent position as an employee.

Self-employed

In the town, there are 85 men and 100 women working as self-employed individuals, bringing the total number to 185.

Only using 25% sample data.
StatusMenWomenTotal
Self-employed85100185

Employment Industry Sectors

The Athabasca industry employment sector census data offers insights into the region's economic landscape. The distribution of employment in Athabasca is categorized and quantified, which reveals the region's economic composition.

Athabasca has a wide range of industries. Most of its population (15%) works in the retail trade sector. The Educational services sector comes second at 14%, followed by Health care and social assistance at 14%.

Only using 25% sample data.
IndustryMenWomenPercentage
Retail trade7512015%
Educational services8010514%
Health care and social assistance3515514%
Manufacturing95259%
Accommodation and food services40608%
Construction50255%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction5005%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting35154%
Transportation and warehousing30103%
Public administration20203%
Other services (except public administration)3003%
Wholesale trade20102%
Information and cultural industries10202%
Finance and insurance15152%
Professional, scientific and technical services10202%
Arts, entertainment and recreation20152%
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services10152%
Utilities000%
Real estate and rental and leasing000%
Management of companies and enterprises000%

Labour Market Snapshot

A quick snapshot of where Athabasca residents work — the leading industry sectors employing them, and the broad occupation categories they work in.

Top employer sectors in Athabasca: -45 Retail trade (15%), Educational services (14%), Health care and social assistance (14%)

Top occupation categories in Athabasca: Sales and service occupations (31%), Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (15%), Business, finance and administration occupations (13%)

Places of Work

The data offers insights into the commuting patterns as well as workplace distribution in the town. It provides a snapshot of workplaces, showing their geographic distribution and the flow of workers across different areas.

Only using 25% sample data.
Work LocationMenWomenTotalPercentage
Usual place of work41542583070.30%
Worked at home9513523019.50%
No fixed workplace address803512010.20%
Worked outside Canada0000.00%

Commuting

The data sheds light on how Athabasca residents travel to school or work. It highlights the frequency of different modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, and public transit.

The data is pivotal in the making of transportation policies as well as the development of transit systems. Ultimately commuting data contributes to improving the quality of life of Athabasca residents and sustainable urban planning.

Commuting Duration

This data reveals the average time that the residents of Athabasca spend traveling to their workplaces. It also sheds light on the efficiency of the town's public transit systems, and road networks, as well as the accessibility of the town.

Only using 25% sample data.
DurationPercentage
Less than 15 minutes66.80%
15 to 29 minutes13.20%
30 to 44 minutes12.60%
60 minutes and over5.30%
45 to 59 minutes3.70%

Marital Status

The statistics on marital status in Athabascashed light on its societal dynamics. It captures the diverse types of marital statuses of the population.

Long-term commitments, such as common-law partnerships, civil unions, and marriages, reflect the town's social fabric. We can gain insights into Athabasca's changing preferences and norms by examining the trends in marital status.

Married or living common-law
51.43%
Married or living common-law
48.57%

Language Spoken

The data below highlights town's linguistic diversity, showing elegances of solo language as well as bilingual harmonies. Other than language, it also shows the cultural landscape in Canada.

English is the most spoken official language in Athabasca. About 2,590 people living in the province speak English, 35 people speak French, 5 people speak Neither English nor French language, and 0 people speak English and French language.

LanguagePopulation
English2,590
French35
Neither English nor French5
English and French0

Mother Tongue & Home Language

Useful for newcomers researching an area: this shows the language residents first learned at home in childhood (mother tongue) and the language they speak most often at home now, which can differ as families settle in.

LanguageMother TongueSpoken Most Often at Home
English85.1%92.0%
Non-official languages11.0%6.1%
French1.3%0.2%

Religion

Athabasca is predominantly Christian. About 1,105 of its population is Christian (420 males and 420 females).

The second largest religion in the province is Muslim with 2.9% of the population adhering to the religion. There are also Hindu and Buddhist, both represent 1.4% and 0.0% of the population, while Jewish represent 0.0% of the population.

ReligionPopulation
Christian43.4%
Islam2.9%
Hindu1.4%
Buddhist0.0%
Jewish0.0%
Sikh0.0%

Points of Interest in Athabasca

Hospitals

Schools

Universities

Parks

Libraries

Community Centres

Green Spaces in Athabasca

NameTypeApprox. Area
Observation PointParks
Athabasca River Front ParkParks4.5 ha
Cornwall Outdoor RinkParks1.1 ha

Areas are approximate, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Athabasca

According to the 2021 census, Athabasca has a population of approximately 2,759 people.

Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Athabasca decreased by 6.95%.

Athabasca has a population density of approximately 155.10 people per square kilometre.

Athabasca covers a land area of approximately 17.79 km².

The median age of the population in Athabasca is 42.80 years.

The largest ethnic or cultural origin group in Athabasca is English.

The median household income in Athabasca is $81,000, based on 2020 data.

English is the most common first official language spoken in Athabasca.

Christian is the predominant religion in Athabasca.

Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) conducted the 2026 Census of Population in May 2026. However, census data goes through an extensive processing, validation, and quality-assurance period before public release. Based on the release plan, the 2026 Census results begin rolling out on February 10, 2027, with complete community-level profiles available by December 1, 2027. Until then, this page uses 2021 Census data as its primary source, supplemented by a population projection estimate for 2026 calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the 2016–2021 Census period.