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Canada
| page last updated on
June 24, 2010 |
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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. Canada faces the political
challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health
care and education services, as well as responding to the particular
concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to
develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to
the environment.
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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: 9,984,670
sq km
land:
9,093,507 sq km
water:
891,163 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly 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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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
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Climate:
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Current Weather
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: 4.57%
permanent crops:
0.65%
other:
94.78% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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7,850 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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3,300 cu km (1985)
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Freshwater
withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 44.72
cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)
per capita:
1,386 cu m/yr (1996)
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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-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
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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 90% of the population is concentrated
within 160 km of the US border
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Population:
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33,759,742 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.9%
(male 2,747,226/female 2,612,943)
15-64 years:
68.6% (male 11,712,238/female 11,456,512)
65 years and over:
15.5% (male 2,291,928/female 2,938,895) (2010
est.)
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Median age:
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total: 40.7
years
male:
39.6 years
female:
41.8 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.804% (2010 est.)
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Birth rate:
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10.28 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
89
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Death rate:
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7.87 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
11
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Net migration rate:
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5.64 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
2
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 80%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.056
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.78 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.99
deaths/1,000 live births
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male:
5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth:
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total population: 81.29
years
male:
78.72 years
female:
84 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.58 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
8
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.4% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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73,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 500 (2007
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 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)
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Languages:
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English (official) 58.8%,
French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006 Census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to
tertiary education):
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total: 17
years
male:
17 years
female:
17 years (2004)
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Education expenditures:
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5.2% of GDP (2002)
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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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a parliamentary
democracy, a federation, and a constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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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
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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 (union of
British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by 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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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
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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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head 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 Joseph 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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 generally designated prime minister by the governor general
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament or
Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed
by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and serve
until 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)
elections:
House of Commons - last held on 14 October 2008
(next to be held no later than 15 October 2012)
election results:
House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party
18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 145, Liberal Party 77, New Democratic Party 37, Bloc
Quebecois 48, other 1
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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 Queen's
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]; Conservative Party of Canada [Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the
Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party
[Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party [Michael IGNATIEFF]; New Democratic Party
[Jack LAYTON]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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other: agricultural
sector; automobile industry; business groups; chemical industry;
commercial banks; communications sector; energy industry;
environmentalists; public administration groups; steel industry; trade
unions
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ADB (nonregional
member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN
(dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC,
EBRD, ESA (associate), ESA (cooperating state), FAO, FATF, G-20, 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, MONUC, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Gary DOER
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), Tucson
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
David C. JACOBSON
embassy:
490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address:
P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, 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
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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 maple
leaf has long been a Canadian symbol; 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 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,
its principal trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus
with the US, which absorbs nearly 80% of Canadian exports each year.
Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil,
gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources,
skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoyed solid
economic growth from 1993 through 2007. Buffeted by the global economic
crisis, the economy dropped into a sharp recession in the final months
of 2008, and Ottawa posted its first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12
years of surplus. Canada's major banks, however, emerged from the
financial crisis of 2008-09 among the strongest in the world, owing to
the country's tradition of conservative lending practices and strong
capitalization.
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GDP
(purchasing power parity):
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$1.285 trillion (2009
est.)
5
$1.318
trillion (2008 est.)
$1.313
trillion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP
(official exchange rate):
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$1.335 trillion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.5% (2009 est.)
57
0.4%
(2008 est.)
2.5%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$38,400 (2009 est.)
7
$39,700
(2008 est.)
$39,900
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP -
composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.3%
industry:
26.4%
services:
71.3% (2008 est.)
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Labor force:
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18.39 million (2009 est.)
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 2%
manufacturing:
13%
construction:
6%
services:
76%
other:
3% (2006)
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Unemployment rate:
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8.3% (2009 est.)
6.2%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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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)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%:
24.8% (2000)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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32.1 (2005)
00
31.5
(1994)
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Investment
(gross fixed):
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20.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $521.6
billion
expenditures:
$578.7 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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75.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
8
64.9%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.3% (2009 est.)
2.4%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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1.75% (31 December 2008)
09
4.5%
(31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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4.73% (31 December 2008)
37
6.1%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$356.2 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
$391.6
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$1.299 trillion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 5
$1.381
trillion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$2.335 trillion (31
December 2008)
$2.382
trillion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2009)
0
$1.002
trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.187
trillion (31 December 2007)
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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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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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-13% (2009 est.)
52
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Electricity -
production:
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620.7 billion kWh (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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Electricity -
consumption:
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536.1 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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55.73 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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23.5 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Oil - production:
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3.22 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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Oil - consumption:
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2.26 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
0
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Oil - exports:
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2.421 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Oil - imports:
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1.165 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
5
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Oil - proved reserves:
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178.1 billion bbl
note:
includes oil sands (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas -
production:
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170.9 billion cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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82.93 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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102.8 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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14.84 billion cu m (2008
est.)
6
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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1.64 trillion cu m (1
January 2009 est.)
2
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Current account balance:
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-$36.13 billion (2009
est.)
86
$7.61
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$323.4 billion (2009
est.)
1
$459.1
billion (2008 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 77.7%, UK 2.7%, Japan
2.3% (2008)
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Imports:
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$327.2 billion (2009
est.)
1
$415.2
billion (2008 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 52.4%, China 9.8%,
Mexico 4.1% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$54.36 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
8
$43.87
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$833.8 billion (30 June
2009)
2
$781.1
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$494.6 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$412.3
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$576.2 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
1
$520.4
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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Canadian dollars (CAD)
per US dollar - 1.1548 (2009), 1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334
(2006), 1.2118 (2005)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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18.25 million (2008)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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21.455 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
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Telephone system:
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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)
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Radio broadcast
stations:
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AM 245, FM 582, shortwave
6 (2004)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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148 (2007)
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Internet country code:
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.ca
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Internet hosts:
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7.193 million (2009)
4
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Internet users:
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25.086 million (2008)
3
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Airports:
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1,388 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Airports -
with paved runways:
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total: 515
over 3,047 m:
19
2,438 to 3,047 m:
18
1,524 to 2,437 m:
148
914 to 1,523 m:
251
under 914 m:
79 (2009)
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Airports
- with unpaved runways:
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total: 873
1,524 to 2,437 m:
73
914 to 1,523 m:
373
under 914 m:
427 (2009)
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Heliports:
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12 (2009)
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Pipelines:
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crude and refined oil
23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2009)
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Railways:
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total: 46,688
km
country comparison to the world: 5
standard gauge:
46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
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Roadways:
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total: 1,042,300
km
country comparison to the world: 6
paved:
415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved:
626,700 km (2008)
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Waterways:
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636 km
note:
Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the
Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 175
country comparison to the world: 38
by type:
bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical
tanker 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6,
passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned:
17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10)
registered in other countries:
206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84, Barbados 9, Cambodia
2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 44, Liberia 7, Malta 1,
Marshall Islands 6, Norway 10, Panama 18, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1, Spain 4, Taiwan 2, Vanuatu 5) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Fraser River Port,
Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec City, Saint John (New
Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver
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Military branches:
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Canadian Forces: Land Forces
Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada
Command (homeland security) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years of age for male
and female voluntary military service (with parental consent); 16 years
of age for reserve and military college applicants; Canadian citizenship
or permanent residence status required; maximum 34 years of age;
service obligation 3-9 years (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 8,051,656
females age 16-49:
7,780,644 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
|
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males age 16-49: 6,642,190
females age 16-49:
6,402,896 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age
annually:
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male: 220,538
female:
208,033 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
26
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| Transnational Issues
::Canada |
Disputes -
international:
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managed maritime boundary disputes
with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and
the Gulf of Maine including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North
Rock; Canada, the US, and other countries dispute the status of the
Northwest Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify security
measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of
people, transport, and commodities across the international border;
sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel
between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the collection of
technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200
nautical miles from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated
in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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