World Facts Index > Canada > Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver
 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's paramount political problem is meeting public
demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of
budget cuts. Canada also faces questions about integrity in government following
revelations regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has helped
revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone Quebec.
Geography of Canada
|
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 |
|
Coordinates:
|
60 00 N, 95 00 W |
|
Area:
|
total: 9,976,140 sq
km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 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:
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Geography - note:
|
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
|
Population of Canada
|
Population:
|
33,212,696 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)
15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) |
|
Median age:
|
38.9 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
0.88% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
4.69 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 80.22 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 83.74 years |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.61 children born/woman |
|
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 46%, Protestant 36%, other
18%
note: based on the 1991 census |
|
Languages:
|
English 59.3% (official), French 23.2%
(official), other 17.5% |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
|
Government
|
Government type:
|
confederation with parliamentary democracy |
|
Capital:
|
Ottawa |
|
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 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
|
Canada Day, 1 July (1867) |
|
Constitution:
|
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 |
|
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 (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 (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to
serve for up to five-year terms) |
|
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). |
Economy
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:
|
$1.271 trillion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
2.9% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$38,600 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 29.4%
services: 68.4% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
2.2% |
|
Labor force:
|
16.3 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%,
services 75%, other 3% |
|
Unemployment:
|
6.8% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $159.6 billion
expenditures: $152.6 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
other: 1.3%
nuclear: 12.9% |
|
Industries:
|
transportation equipment, chemicals,
processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products,
petroleum, natural gas, tourism |
|
Agriculture:
|
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits,
vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish |
|
Exports:
|
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude
petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum |
|
Export partners:
|
US 84.1%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and
parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods |
|
Import partners:
|
US 57.5%, China 7.4%, Mexico 3.8% |
|
Currency:
|
Canadian dollar (CAD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |