B.C.’s population grew by 24,000 in the third quarter of 2013, reaching 4,606,375.

It’s the largest population increase for that quarter since 1996. The increase was mainly a result of 15,477 non-permanent residents, which Statistics Canada warns are a volatile component of population measurement.

Northern B.C. communities are dealing with what they call “ghost populations,” with thousands of workers flying in and out of industrial camps who put pressure on local services without contributing to communities.

Interprovincial migration figures showed the seventh consecutive quarter of net loss for B.C., down 282 people from the second quarter.

B.C.’s total population increase over the 12 months ending Oct. 1 was 47,496 people, mainly due to international immigration, which saw a net gain of 35,282 people. Natural growth (births minus deaths) accounted for 11,214 of the total.