Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
Rank Order
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Background:
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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. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
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Location:
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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
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Geographic coordinates:
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60 00 N, 95 00 W
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Map references:
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North America
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Area:
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total: 9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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somewhat larger than the US
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Land boundaries:
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total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
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Coastline:
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202,080 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
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Terrain:
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mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.94%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.04% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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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
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US border
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Population:
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32,207,113 (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.5% (male 3,052,005; female 2,903,007)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 11,099,907; female 10,984,903)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,774,262; female 2,393,029) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 37.8 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
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Population growth rate:
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0.94% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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10.99 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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6.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.83 years
male: 76.44 years
female: 83.38 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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55,000 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 500 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
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Ethnic groups:
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British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%
note: based on the 1991 census
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Languages:
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English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
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Government type:
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confederation with parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Ottawa
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Administrative divisions:
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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*
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Independence:
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1 July 1867 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
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Constitution:
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17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
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Legal system:
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based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)
elections: none; 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
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993); Deputy Prime Minister John MANLEY (since 15 January 2002)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be held by 2005)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 41%, Canadian Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note - percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%, Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12
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Judicial branch:
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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)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]; Progressive Conservative Party [Peter MACKAY]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high 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. As a result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the United States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors. Nevertheless, given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas, which has been raising the specter of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure. A key strength in the economy is the substantial trade surplus.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $923 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.4% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $29,400 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 26.5%
services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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31.5 (1994)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.2% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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16.4 million (2001 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6% (2002 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $178.6 billion
expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
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Industries:
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transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2.2% (2002 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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566.3 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
other: 1.2% (2001)
nuclear: 12.9%
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Electricity - consumption:
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504.4 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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38.4 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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16.11 billion kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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2.738 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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1.703 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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2.008 million bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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1.145 million bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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5.112 billion bbl (January 2002 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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1.691 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
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Exports:
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$260.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
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Exports - partners:
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US 84.6%, Japan 2.2%, UK 1.6%, other EU 2.2% (2000)
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Imports:
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$229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
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Imports - partners:
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US 72.7%, UK 3.4%, other EU 3.2%, Japan 3.0% (2000)
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Debt - external:
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$NA
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)
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Currency:
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Canadian dollar (CAD)
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Currency code:
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CAD
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Exchange rates:
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Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March
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Railways:
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total: 64,994 km
standard gauge: 64,994 km 1.435-m gauge (129 km electrified) (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 901,902 km
paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)
unpaved: 583,531 km (1999)
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Waterways:
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3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)
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Pipelines:
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crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
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Ports and harbors:
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Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
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Merchant marine:
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total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,840,272 GRT/2,740,864 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 64, cargo 11, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United States 1 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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1,389 (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 507
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 245
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 882
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 363
under 914 m: 446 (2002)
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Heliports:
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12 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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