Canada

Broadcast media

2 public television broadcasting networks each with a large number of network affilates; 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 2,000 licensed radio stations in Canada (2008)

Internet country code

.ca

Internet hosts

7.77 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 13

Internet users

26.96 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 16

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

18.251 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 16

Telephones - mobile cellular

23.081 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 38

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 132 1.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.4% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 4.73% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$40.21 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 -$38.08 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.009 trillion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 15 $781.1 billion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.1 (2005) country comparison to the world: 100 31.5 (1994)

Economy - overview

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 about three-fourths 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. During 2010, Canada's economy grew only 3%, because of weak exports.

Electricity - consumption

536.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity - exports

55.73 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

23.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

620.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Exchange rates

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0346 (2010), 1.1431 (2009), 1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006)

Exports

$406.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $323.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners

US 75.02%, UK 3.37%, China 3.09% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.564 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.335 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $1.297 trillion (2009 est.) $1.33 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.3% industry: 26.4% services: 71.3% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$39,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $38,700 (2009 est.) $40,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 -2.5% (2009 est.) 0.5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)

Imports

$406.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $327.3 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 51.1%, China 10.88%, Mexico 4.56% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

5.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Industries

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 0.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Labor force

18.59 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2% manufacturing: 13% construction: 6% services: 76% other: 3% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.681 trillion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 10 $1.002 trillion (31 December 2008) $2.187 trillion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

94.62 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Natural gas - exports

94.67 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas - imports

16.59 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas - production

161.3 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.754 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Oil - consumption

2.151 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Oil - exports

2.001 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Oil - imports

1.192 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Oil - production

3.289 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Oil - proved reserves

175.2 billion bbl country comparison to the world: 2 note: includes oil sands (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

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)

Public debt

82.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 82.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $54.36 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.469 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.144 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$602.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $576.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$528.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $494.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.963 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $2.606 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$560.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 10 $470.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 8.3% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 9,984,670 sq km country comparison to the world: 2 land: 9,093,507 sq km water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than the US

Climate

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline

202,080 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%) per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)

Geographic coordinates

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

7,850 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Land use

arable land: 4.57% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 94.78% (2005)

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

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

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 volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant

Natural resources

iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Total renewable water resources

3,300 cu km (1985)

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*

Capital

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

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David JOHNSTON (since 1 October 2010) 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 theWorld 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

Flag description

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

Government type

a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional monarchy

Independence

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, EAPC, EBRD, 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, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 Queen's Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

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

Legislative branch

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

National anthem

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 Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business groups; chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector; energy industry; environmentalists; public administration groups; steel industry; trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,051,656 females age 16-49: 7,780,644 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,642,190 females age 16-49: 6,402,896 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 220,538 female: 208,033 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Military service age and obligation

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)

Age structure

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Death rate

7.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 75

Ethnic groups

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

73,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 186 male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

English (official) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006 Census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.29 years country comparison to the world: 10 male: 78.72 years female: 84 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 40.7 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.8 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian

Net migration rate

5.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Population

33,759,742 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Population growth rate

0.804% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Religions

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2004)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.58 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Urbanization

urban population: 80% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

1,404 (2010) country comparison to the world: 4

Airports - with paved runways

total: 514 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 148 914 to 1,523 m: 249 under 914 m: 79 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 890 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 377 under 914 m: 440 (2010)

Heliports

12 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 184 country comparison to the world: 36 by type: bulk carrier 66, cargo 12, carrier 1, chemical tanker 14, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6 foreign-owned: 15 (France 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 4, US 9) registered in other countries: 223 (Australia 7, Bahamas 102, Barbados 13, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 70, Liberia 4, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 1, Panama 5, Spain 5, US 1, Vanuatu 5) (2010)

Pipelines

crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

Railways

total: 46,688 km country comparison to the world: 5 standard gauge: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

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)

Waterways

636 km country comparison to the world: 78 note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008)