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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Western Canada

Western Canada is a region of Canada generally comprising the four westernmost provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Western Canada is a region of Canada generally comprising the four westernmost provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It is also called the Canadian West or the Western provinces, and in some contexts the term is used more broadly to include Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. The region is commonly divided into British Columbia and the Prairie provinces.

Definition

Western Canada is a commonly used regional term for the four westernmost Canadian provinces. Some sources and contexts also extend the term to parts or all of the northern territories.

Geography and subdivisions

The region includes British Columbia on the Pacific coast and the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In Canadian usage, the Prairies often refers to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Population and settlement

Western Canada contains a large share of Canada’s population, with major concentration in urban centres such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and Saskatoon. Large parts of the region are less densely populated.

Economy and land use

The region is associated with agriculture, natural resources, energy production, and forestry. Its interior plains and prairie lands are especially important for farming.

Key facts

  • Western Canada is usually defined as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
  • The term is sometimes used more broadly to include Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
  • The region covered about 2.9 million square kilometres, or almost 29% of Canada’s land area.
  • As of the 2016 Census, Western Canada had a population of about 11.1 million.
  • Major urban centres include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and Saskatoon.
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Canadian context

Western Canada is one of the main geographic regions used in Canadian public administration, media, and regional analysis, and it includes several of the country’s largest cities and major resource-producing areas.

Frequently asked questions

What provinces are in Western Canada?
Western Canada usually includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Does Western Canada include the territories?
Sometimes. In some broader uses, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are included, but the most common definition is the four western provinces.
What are the Prairie provinces?
The Prairie provinces are Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They are often treated as a subregion of Western Canada.
How big is Western Canada?
It covers about 2.9 million square kilometres, or almost 29% of Canada’s land area.
How many people live in Western Canada?
The 2016 Census put the population at about 11.1 million.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada
    Supports: Common definition of Western Canada, area, and 2016 population
  2. Government of Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/discover-canada/read-online/canadas-regions.html
    Supports: Canada’s regional grouping and identification of Prairie Provinces and British Columbia
  3. Western Economic Diversification Canada — https://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/19702.asp
    Supports: Western Canada population, growth, Indigenous population, and economic overview
  4. Transport Canada — https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/transportation-canada-annual-reports/2020-2021/western-canada
    Supports: Population concentration in urban centres across Western Canada