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 separatist concerns in 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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Area:
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total: 9,984,670 sq km
country comparison to the world: 8
land:
9,093,507 sq km
water:
891,163 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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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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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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| 33,487,208 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 16.1% (male 2,761,711/female 2,626,836)
15-64 years:
68.7% (male 11,633,950/female 11,381,735)
65 years and over:
15.2% (male 2,220,189/female 2,862,787) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 40.4 years
male:
39.3 years
female:
41.5 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.817% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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Birth rate:
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10.28 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
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Death rate:
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7.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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Net migration rate:
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5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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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: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.78 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 189
male:
5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 81.23 years
country comparison to the world: 8
male:
78.69 years
female:
83.91 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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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.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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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)
country comparison to the world: 63
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