Canada's 2011 census package: results released Wednesday. (Canadian Press)

P.E.I.'s growth in population is above the other Atlantic provinces according to new numbers released Wednesday by Statistics Canada.

There were 136,000 people on the Island in 2006, according to the last census.

Now, there are more than 140,000 residents – a growth of 3.2 per cent.

The main factor behind the increase in P.E.I. is immigration, according to Statistics Canada.

Charlottetown has seen the most growth by almost 4,000 people, but Stratford saw the biggest percentage increase at more than 21 per cent.

Cornwall also grew substantially, followed by Montague and Alberton.

Souris, which has seen troubles with the Ocean Choice fish plant closing last year, was one of the only municipalities to record fewer residents — down almost five per cent.

On the rise

Between the time of the last Census in 2006 and last year's count, every province in Canada saw its population increase. Canada's national growth rate was 5.9 per cent.

On Canada's East Coast, New Brunswick followed behind P.E.I. with a growth of 2.9 per cent, while Nova Scotia grew 0.9 per cent.

Newfoundland and Labrador managed to post its first positive growth rate since 1986, up 1.8 per cent.

Alberta has by far the fastest-growing population, up 10 per cent over 2006.

The national census is conducted every five years.

Canada's population on census day — May 10 — was 33,476,688, Statistics Canada reported.

The information published Wednesday is the first of several releases of data to come from Statistics Canada over the next year.

More information will be released eventually with specifics about regions — including age breakdowns of the population, family makeup, languages spoken, immigration and ethnic origin, the level of education attained and income earned.