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This page was last updated on 19 June 2008
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| Introduction | Canada | Top of Page

Background: | A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

| Geography | Canada | Top of Page

Location: | Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: | 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: | North America
Area: | total: 9,984,670 sq km land: 9,093,507 sq km water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative: | somewhat larger than the US
Land boundaries: | total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: | 202,080 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: | varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain: | mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural resources: | iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 4.57% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 94.78% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 7,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 3,300 cu km (1985)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%) per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards: | continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains
Environment - current issues: | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: | second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

| People | Canada | Top of Page

Population: | 33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,780,491/female 2,644,276) 15-64 years: 68.8% (male 11,547,354/female 11,300,639) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 2,150,991/female 2,788,945) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 40.1 years male: 39 years female: 41.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 0.83% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | 5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 81.16 years male: 78.65 years female: 83.81 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 56,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: | British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Religions: | Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)
Languages: | English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

| Government | Canada | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada
Government type: | constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation
Capital: | name: Ottawa geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November note: Canada is divided into six time zones
Administrative divisions: | 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: | 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)
National holiday: | Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: | made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments
Legal system: | based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch: | bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of five-year terms starting in 2009 elections) elections: House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to be held 19 October 2009) election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party 17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party - Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 102, New Democratic Party 29, Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2; seats by party as of November 2007 - Conservative Party 125, Liberal Party 96, New Democratic Party 30, Bloc Quebecois 49, other 4, vacant 4
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders: | Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada [Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party [Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430; P.O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1 telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335 FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Flag description: | two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

| Economy | Canada | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate continues over the equitable distribution of federal funds to the Canadian provinces. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs 80% of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. During 2007, Canada enjoyed good economic growth, moderate inflation, and the lowest unemployment rate in more than three decades.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $1.266 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $1.432 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 2.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $38,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.1% industry: 28.8% services: 69.1% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 17.95 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services 76%, other 3% (2006)
Unemployment rate: | 6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 32.1 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.1% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 22.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $569.3 billion expenditures: $555.2 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: | 68.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Industries: | transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: | 0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 609.6 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption: | 540.2 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports: | 42.93 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports: | 19.33 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production: | 3.092 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption: | 2.29 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - exports: | 2.274 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 1.185 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 178.8 billion bbl note: includes oil sands (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 178.2 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 92.76 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 101.9 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 9.403 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.537 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | $13.26 billion (2007 est.)
Exports: | $433.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: | motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners: | US 81.6%, UK 2.3%, Japan 2.1% (2006)
Imports: | $386.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners: | US 54.9%, China 8.7%, Mexico 4% (2006)
Economic aid - donor: | ODA, $3.9 billion (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $39.31 billion (2007 est.)
Debt - external: | $758.6 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $527.4 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $514.7 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.481 trillion (2005)
Currency (code): | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Exchange rates: | Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003)
Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March

| Communications | Canada | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 21 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 18.749 million (2006)
Telephone system: | general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)
Television broadcast stations: | 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code: | .ca
Internet hosts: | 4.196 million (2007)
Internet users: | 22 million (2005)

| Transportation | Canada | Top of Page

Airports: | 1,343 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 509 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 149 914 to 1,523 m: 248 under 914 m: 78 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 834 1,524 to 2,437 m: 68 914 to 1,523 m: 356 under 914 m: 410 (2007)
Heliports: | 11 (2007)
Pipelines: | crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2006)
Railways: | total: 48,068 km standard gauge: 48,068 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways: | total: 1,042,300 km paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2006)
Waterways: | 636 km note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2007)
Merchant marine: | total: 171 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,191,099 GRT/2,815,416 DWT by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 10, carrier 1, chemical tanker 9, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6 foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 3) registered in other countries: 130 (Australia 2, Bahamas 13, Barbados 9, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 39, Liberia 3, Malta 15, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 17, St Vincent and The Grenadines 6, Taiwan 3, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

| Military | Canada | Top of Page

Military branches: | Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security) (2008)
Military service age and obligation: | 16-34 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2006)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 8,072,010 females age 16-49: 7,813,462 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 6,646,281 females age 16-49: 6,417,924 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | males age 16-49: 227,435 females age 16-49: 215,556 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.1% (2005 est.)

| Transnational Issues | Canada | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs: | illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

This page was last updated on 19 June 2008