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North America
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867, while retaining ties to the British crown. Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, 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.
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
60 00 N, 95 00 W
North America
Total : 9,984,670 km²
Land: 9,093,507 km²
Water: 891,163 km²
Slightly larger than the US
Area comparison map:
Total: 8,892 km
Border countries: US 8,891 km (includes 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland) 1.3 km
202,080 km
Note: the Canadian Arctic Archipelago - consisting of 36,563 islands, several of them some of the world's largest - contributes to Canada easily having the longest coastline in the world
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
Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Mostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast
Highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Lowest point: Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m
Mean elevation: 487 m
Bauxite, iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, uranium, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Agricultural land: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 34.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 59.1% (2018 est.)
9,045 km² (2015)
Fresh water lake(s): Huron* - 35,972 km²; Great Bear Lake - 31,328 km²; Superior* - 28,754 km²; Great Slave Lake - 28,568 km²; Lake Winnipeg - 24,387 km²; Erie* - 12,776 km²; Ontario* - 9,790 km²; Lake Athabasca - 7,935 km²; Reindeer Lake - 6,650 km²; Nettilling Lake - 5,542 km²
Note - Great Lakes* area shown as Canadian waters
Mackenzie - 4, 241 km; Yukon river source (shared with the US [m]) - 3,185 km; Saint Lawrence river mouth (shared with US) - 3,058 km; Nelson - 2,570 km; Columbia river source (shared with the US [m]) - 1,953 km; Churchill - 1,600 km; Fraser - 1,368 km; Ottawa - 1,271 km; Athabasca - 1,231 km; North Saskatchewan - 1,220 km; Liard - 1,115 km
Note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Mississippi* (Gulf of Mexico) (3,202,185 km², Canada only 32,000 km²), Nelson (Hudson Bay) (1,093,141 km²), Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 km², Canada only 839,200 km²)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Mackenzie (1,706,388 km²)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Yukon* (847,620 km², Canada only 823,800 km²), Columbia* (657,501 km², Canada only 103,000 km²)
Note - watersheds shared with the US shown with *
Northern Great Plains Aquifer
Vast majority of Canadians are positioned in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
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
Volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant
Note 1: second-largest country in world (after Russia) and largest in the Americas; strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border
Note 2: Canada has more fresh water than any other country and almost 9% of Canadian territory is water; Canada has at least 2 million and possibly over 3 million lakes -- that is more than all other countries combined
Total: 38,794,813
Male: 19,234,729
Female: 19,560,084 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 38; male 38; total 37
Noun: Canadian(s)
Adjective: Canadian
Canadian 15.6%, English 14.7%, Scottish 12.1%, French 11%, Irish 12.1%, German 8.1%, Chinese 4.7%, Italian 4.3%, First Nations 1.7%, Indian 3.7%, Ukrainian 3.5%, Metis 1.5% (2021 est.)
Note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin
English (official) 87.1%, French (official) 29.1%, Chinese languages 4.2%, Spanish 3.2%, Punjabi 2.6%, Arabic 2.4%, Tagalog 2.3%, Italian 1.5% (2022 est.)
Major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
Christian 53.3%, Muslim 4.9%, Hindu 2.3%, Sikh 2.1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 0.9%, Traditional (North American Indigenous) 0.2%, other religions and traditional spirituality 0.6%, none 34.6% (2021 est.)
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 3,098,478/female 2,929,148)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 12,382,422/female 12,227,512)
65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 3,753,829/female 4,403,424)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 52.1
Youth dependency ratio: 23.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 28.2
Potential support ratio: 3.6 (2021 est.)
Total: 42.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.4 years
Female: 43.8 years
0.71% (2024 est.)
10 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Vast majority of Canadians are positioned in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
Urban population: 81.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
6.372 million Toronto, 4.308 million Montreal, 2.657 million Vancouver, 1.640 million Calgary, 1.544 million Edmonton, 1.437 million OTTAWA (capital) (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
29.4 years (2019 est.)
11 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 84.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.9 years
Female: 86.6 years
1.58 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.77 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 99.3% of population
Rural: 99.1% of population
Total: 99.2% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population
Rural: 0.9% of population
Total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)
12.9% of GDP (2020)
2.44 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Improved: urban: 99.1% of population
Rural: 98.9% of population
Total: 99% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population
Rural: 1.1% of population
Total: 1% of population (2020 est.)
29.4% (2016)
Total: 8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 2.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 13% (2020 est.)
Male: 15.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 10.7% (2020 est.)
NA
52.2% (2023 est.)
5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2020)
Metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting agricultural and forest productivity; air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation
Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Agricultural land: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 34.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 59.1% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 81.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.39 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 544.89 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 101.82 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,103,034 tons (2014 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,168,715 tons (2008 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.6% (2008 est.)
Fresh water lake(s): Huron* - 35,972 km²; Great Bear Lake - 31,328 km²; Superior* - 28,754 km²; Great Slave Lake - 28,568 km²; Lake Winnipeg - 24,387 km²; Erie* - 12,776 km²; Ontario* - 9,790 km²; Lake Athabasca - 7,935 km²; Reindeer Lake - 6,650 km²; Nettilling Lake - 5,542 km²
Note - Great Lakes* area shown as Canadian waters
Mackenzie - 4, 241 km; Yukon river source (shared with the US [m]) - 3,185 km; Saint Lawrence river mouth (shared with US) - 3,058 km; Nelson - 2,570 km; Columbia river source (shared with the US [m]) - 1,953 km; Churchill - 1,600 km; Fraser - 1,368 km; Ottawa - 1,271 km; Athabasca - 1,231 km; North Saskatchewan - 1,220 km; Liard - 1,115 km
Note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Mississippi* (Gulf of Mexico) (3,202,185 km², Canada only 32,000 km²), Nelson (Hudson Bay) (1,093,141 km²), Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 km², Canada only 839,200 km²)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Mackenzie (1,706,388 km²)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Yukon* (847,620 km², Canada only 823,800 km²), Columbia* (657,501 km², Canada only 103,000 km²)
Note - watersheds shared with the US shown with *
Northern Great Plains Aquifer
Municipal: 4.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 27.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 3.86 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
2.9 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 5
Global geoparks and regional networks: Perce; Stonehammer; Tumbler Ridge; Cliffs of Fundy; Discovery (2023)
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Canada
Etymology: the country name likely derives from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word "kanata" meaning village or settlement
Federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution
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
Time zone note: Canada has six time zones
Etymology: the city lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River, from which it derives its name; the river name comes from the Algonquin word "adawe" meaning "to trade" and refers to the indigenous peoples who used the river as a trade highway
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*
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
History: consists of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions dating from 1763; 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
Amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament or by the provincial legislative assemblies; there are 5 methods for passage though most require approval by both houses of Parliament, approval of at least two thirds of the provincial legislative assemblies and assent and formalization as a proclamation by the governor general in council; the most restrictive method is reserved for amendments affecting fundamental sections of the constitution, such as the office of the monarch or the governor general, and the constitutional amendment procedures, which require unanimous approval by both houses and by all the provincial assemblies, and assent of the governor general in council; amended 11 times, last in 2011 (Fair Representation Act, 2011)
Common law system except in Quebec, where civil law based on the French civil code prevails
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: minimum of 3 of last 5 years resident in Canada
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Mary SIMON (since 6 July 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Justin Pierre James TRUDEAU (since 4 November 2015)
Cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among members of his/her own party sitting in Parliament
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a 5-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Commons generally designated prime minister by the governor general
Note: the governor general position is largely ceremonial
Description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:
Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and can serve until age 75)
House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (338 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote with terms up to 4 years)
Elections: Senate - last appointed in July 2021
House of Commons - last held on 20 September 2021 (next to be held on or before 20 October 2025)
Election results: Senate - composition - men 43, women 54, percentage women 55.7% (8 seats are vacant)
House of Commons - percent of vote by party - CPC 33.7%, Liberal Party 32.6%, NDP 17.8%, Bloc Quebecois 7.7%, Greens 2.3%, other 5.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 159, CPC 119, NDP 25, Bloc Quebecois 32, Greens 2, independent 1; composition - men 234, women 102; percentage women 30.4%; total Parliament percentage women 35.2%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court of Canada (consists of the chief justice and 8 judges); note - in 1949, Canada abolished all appeals beyond its Supreme Court, which prior to that time, were heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: chief justice and judges appointed by the prime minister in council; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 75
Subordinate courts: federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts; note - in 1999, the Nunavut Court - a circuit court with the power of a provincial superior court, as well as a territorial court - was established to serve isolated settlements
Bloc Quebecois [Yves-Francois BLANCHET]
Conservative Party of Canada or CPC [Pierre POILIEVRE]
Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]
Liberal Party [Justin TRUDEAU]
New Democratic Party or NDP [Jagmeet SINGH]
People's Party of Canada [Maxime BERNIER]
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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
Maple leaf, beaver; national colors: red, white
Name: "O Canada"
Lyrics/music: Adolphe-Basile ROUTHIER [French], Robert Stanley WEIR [English]/Calixa LAVALLEE
Note: adopted 1980; originally written in 1880, "O Canada" served as an unofficial anthem many years before its official adoption; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ; as a Commonwealth realm, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the King" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
Total World Heritage Sites: 22 (10 cultural, 11 natural, 1 mixed) (2021)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: L'Anse aux Meadows (c); Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (n); Dinosaur Provincial Park (n); Historic District of Old Quebec (c); Old Town Lunenburg (c); Wood Buffalo National Park (n); Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (c); Gros Morne National Park (n); Pimachiowin Aki (m)
One of the world’s leading developed economies; globally integrated commercial and financial markets; largest US trading partner; key energy, forestry, manufacturing and service industries; inflation recovering following interest rate hikes; government priorities include climate policy, immigration and affordable housing
$2.238 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.215 trillion (2022 est.)
$2.133 trillion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
1.07% (2023 est.)
3.82% (2022 est.)
5.29% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$55,800 (2023 est.)
$56,900 (2022 est.)
$55,800 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$2.14 trillion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
3.88% (2023 est.)
6.8% (2022 est.)
3.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: AA+ (2020)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2002)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 28.2% (2017 est.)
Services: 70.2% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 68; industry 93; agriculture 187
Household consumption: 57.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 30.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -33.2% (2017 est.)
Wheat, rapeseed, maize, barley, milk, soybeans, potatoes, oats, peas, lentils (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas
-0.9% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
22.11 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
5.37% (2023 est.)
5.28% (2022 est.)
7.53% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 14% (2021 est.)
Male: 15%
Female: 13.1%
9.4% (2008 est.)
Note: this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off, a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
31.7 (2019 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 10% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 4.1% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.9% (2019 est.)
Highest 10%: 24.4% (2019 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
0.04% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.04% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $686.718 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $861.955 billion (2020 est.)
-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
61.42% of GDP (2022 est.)
71.07% of GDP (2021 est.)
74.55% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
12.83% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$13.255 billion (2023 est.)
-$7.622 billion (2022 est.)
$256.504 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$717.677 billion (2023 est.)
$731.81 billion (2022 est.)
$626.676 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
US 75%, China 4%, Japan 2%, UK 2%, Mexico 1% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Crude petroleum, cars, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$726.139 billion (2023 est.)
$728.732 billion (2022 est.)
$626.558 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
US 56%, China 11%, Mexico 4%, Germany 3%, Japan 2% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, trucks, crude petroleum (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$117.551 billion (2023 est.)
$106.952 billion (2022 est.)
$106.615 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$2,124,887,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,949,796,000,000 (2018 est.)
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.35 (2023 est.)
1.302 (2022 est.)
1.254 (2021 est.)
1.341 (2020 est.)
1.327 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 158.973 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 553.261 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 65.225 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 14.116 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 33.626 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 199; imports 18; exports 2; consumption 8; installed generating capacity 8
Fossil fuels: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Nuclear: 12.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Wind: 6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 19 (2023)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 13.7GW (2023 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 6 (2023)
Production: 43.024 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 17.138 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 29.114 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 6.444 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 6.582 billion metric tons (2022 est.)
Total petroleum production: 5.692 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 2.454 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Production: 187.686 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Consumption: 130.316 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Exports: 84.928 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Imports: 27.481 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
572.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 25.74 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 290.996 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 256.084 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
315.581 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 11.312 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 35.082 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (2022 est.)
General assessment: the Canadian telecom market continues to show steady development as operators invest in network upgrades; much of the investment among telcos has been channeled into LTE infrastructure to capitalize on consumer demand for mobile data services, while there has also been further investment in 5G; investment programs have also been supported by regulatory efforts to ensure that operators have spectrum available to develop 5G services; an investment in fixed-line infrastructure, focused on FttP and, among cable broadband providers; government policy has encouraged the extension of broadband to rural and regional areas, with the result that services are almost universally available and the emphasis now is on improving service speeds to enable the entire population to benefit from the digital economy and society; cable broadband is the principal access platform, followed by DSL; the mobile rate remains comparatively low by international standards; Canadians have provided for LTE and LTE-A infrastructure; despite topographical challenges and the remoteness of many areas, the major players effectively offer 99% population coverage with LTE; operators now provide up to 70% population coverage with 5G (2024)
Domestic: Nearly 29 per 100 fixed-line and 91 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2022)
International: country code - 1; landing points for the Nunavut Undersea Fiber Optic Network System, Greenland Connect, Persona, GTT Atlantic, and Express, KetchCan 1 Submarine Fiber Cable system, St Pierre and Miquelon Cable submarine cables providing 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) (2019)
2 public TV broadcasting networks, 1 in English and 1 in French, each with a large number of network affiliates; several private-commercial networks also with multiple network affiliates; overall, about 150 TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable systems provide access to a wide range of stations including US stations; mix of public and commercial radio broadcasters with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the public radio broadcaster, operating 4 radio networks, Radio Canada International, and radio services to indigenous populations in the north; roughly 1,119 licensed radio stations (2016)
.ca
Total: 35.34 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 93% (2021 est.)
Total: 15,825,813 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 51 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 879
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 89.38 million (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,434,070,000 (2018) mt-km
C
1,425 (2024)
481 (2024)
840,000 km oil and gas (2020)
Total: 49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)
Standard gauge: 49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge
Total: 1,042,300 km
Paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 626,700 km (2011)
636 km (2011) (Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States)
Total: 716 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 78, oil tanker 15, other 600
Total ports: 284 (2024)
Large: 4
Medium: 14
Small: 58
Very small: 149
Size unknown: 59
Ports with oil terminals: 59
Key ports: Argentia, Canaport (St. John), Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Pond Inlet, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Sept Iles, St. John, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Trois Rivieres, Vancouver, Victoria Harbor, Windsor
Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force; Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Coast Guard (2024)
Note 1: the CAF is comprised of both a Regular Force and a Reserve Force; the Reserve Force is part of all three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and is considered an integral component of the CAF; reservists are primarily part-time service positions; they may volunteer for full-time employment or deployment on operations; they typically serve one or more evenings a week and/or during weekends at locations close to home; the Reserve Force is comprised of the Primary Reserve, Canadian Rangers, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service, and the Supplementary Reserve; the Canadian Rangers are part of the Army Reserve Force and provide a limited presence in Canada's northern, coastal, and isolated areas for sovereignty, public safety, and surveillance roles
Note 2: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or "Mounties") are under the Department of Public Safety; only Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador have provincial police forces, but the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary contracts policing in regions of the province to the RCMP; the RCMP and municipal forces provide coverage for other provinces and territories; some Indigenous reserves provide Indigenous policing; provincial and municipal police report to their respective provincial authorities
1.4% of GDP (2024)
1.3% of GDP (2023)
1.2% of GDP (2022)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.4% of GDP (2020)
Approximately 70,000 active armed forces personnel (23,000 Army; 12,000 Navy; 12,000 Air Force; 23,000 other) (2024)
Note: the Army also has approximately 19,000 part-time volunteer soldiers in the Reserve Force, including about 5,500 Rangers
The CAF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced equipment and imported weapons systems from Australia, Europe, Israel, and the US; in recent years, the leading supplier has been the US; Canada's defense industry develops, maintains, and produces a range of equipment, including aircraft, combat vehicles, naval vessels, and associated components (2023)
17 years of age for voluntary male and female 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 (2023)
Note 1: Canada opened up all military occupations to women in 2001; women in 2023 comprised about 16% of the CAF
Note 2: the CAF offers waivers to foreign nationals applying for military service only in exceptional cases — to individuals on international military exchanges, for example, or to candidates who have specialized skills in high demand
The CAF has approximately 1,000 military personnel forward deployed for NATO air, land, and sea missions in the European theater, including a ground task force in Latvia; it also contributes smaller numbers of air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of other NATO and international missions (2024)
Note: in 2024, Canada announced plans to have a full 2,000-person brigade deployed to Latvia by 2026
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for external security; the CAF’s core missions include detecting, deterring, and defending against threats to or attacks on Canada; the military also provides assistance to civil authorities and law enforcement as needed for such missions as counterterrorism, search and rescue, and responding to natural disasters or other major emergencies; it regularly participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of partners, including NATO (Canada is one of the original members) and the US; the CAF also contributes to international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity building operations with the UN, NATO, and other security partners
Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established 1958); NORAD is a Canada-US bi-national military command responsible for monitoring and defending North American airspace; traditionally, a CAF officer has served as the deputy commander of NORAD; Canada’s defense relationship with the US extends back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, when the two countries formally agreed on military cooperation, including the establishment of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which continues to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US
British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the UK-US Treaty of Washington; following the withdrawal, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was organized in 1883 to protect Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, which it did in the South African War (1899-1902), Canada’s first overseas conflict; militia units formed the backbone of the more than 425,000 Canadian soldiers that went to Europe during World War I in what was called the Canadian Expeditionary Force; the Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924; the Canadian Army was officially founded in 1942; a unified Canadian Armed Forces was created in 1968 (2024)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA; established 1989) (2024)
Churchill Rocket Research Range (sounding rockets; Manitoba); constructing a private, commercial space launch site in Nova Scotia (2023)
Has a substantial program, a national space strategy, and a long history of developing space-related technologies; designs, builds, operates, and tracks communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, and scientific/testing satellites; has an astronaut program (train in the US); designs, builds, or contributes to a variety of other space-related programs, including space telescopes, planetary probes, sensors, and robotic systems (such as the Canadian-made robotic arms used on the US Space Shuttle and the International Space Station); participates in international space efforts and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Brazil, the European Space Agency (ESA)/EU (and their member states), India, and particularly the US; ESA Cooperating State since 1979; has a robust commercial space sector that is involved in satellite communications, optics, space exploration, navigation, and space science (2024)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Hizballah
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Refugees (country of origin): 22,400 (Venezuela) (refugees and migrants) (2020); 5,254 (Iran) (mid-year 2021)
Stateless persons: 4,323 (2022)
Transnational criminal organizations trafficked cocaine, opium, methamphetamine, other synthetic drugs, and prescription drugs (some of which transited the United States) to Canada for domestic consumption; a source of synthetic drugs (including synthetic opioids), cannabis, and MDMA trafficked to the United States; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics