1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal 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. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
Geography
Area
total: 9,976,140 sq km land: 9,220,970 sq km water: 755,170 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than the US
Climate
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Coastline
243,791 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
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; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border
Irrigated land
7,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 38% (1993 est.)
Location
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
Map references
North America
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Natural resources
nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Terrain
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,105,944; female 2,960,171) 15-64 years: 68% (male 10,587,553; female 10,461,455) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,652,044; female 2,239,180) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
11.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Infant mortality rate
5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), French (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.37 years male: 76.12 years female: 82.79 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% (1986 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian
Net migration rate
5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
31,006,347 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.06% (1999 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%, other 35% (1991)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.65 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Capital
Ottawa
Constitution
17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada
Data code
CA
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Romeo Le BLANC (since 8 February 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: none; the monarch 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 in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister
Flag description
three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
Government type
federation with parliamentary democracy
Independence
1 July 1867 (from UK)
International organization participation
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN];
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 (a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Commons--last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Party 38%, Reform Party 19%, Tories 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%, other 2%; seats by party--Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative Party 20, independents 1
National holiday
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Budget
revenues: $121.3 billion expenditures: $112.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1998)
Currency
1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$253 billion (1996)
Economic aid--donor
ODA, $2.1 billion (1995)
Economy--overview
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between Englishand French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
Electricity--consumption
511.586 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
45.28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
7.705 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
549.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 20.34% hydro: 63.59% nuclear: 16.05% other: 0.02% (1996)
Exchange rates
Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.5192 (January 1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994)
Exports
$210.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment
Exports--partners
US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1997)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$688.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (1998)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Imports
$202.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports--partners
US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
0.8% (1998 est.)
Industries
processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.9% (1998)
Labor force
15.8 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation
services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
7.8% (December 1998)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 334, FM 35, shortwave 7 (one of the shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia) (1998)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Telephones
15.3 million (1990)
Television broadcast stations
80 (in addition, there are many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
11.53 million (1983 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1,395 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 154 914 to 1,523 m: 238 under 914 m: 91 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 880 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 353 under 914 m: 454 (1998 est.)
Heliports
16 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 912,200 km paved: 246,400 km (including 16,600 km of expressways) unpaved: 665,800 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,489,110 GRT/2,205,274 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 56, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Railways
total: 67,773 km; note--there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own standard gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified) (1996)
Waterways
3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Military and Security
Military branches
Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$7.1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.2% (FY97/98)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 8,243,859 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,061,937 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
17 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 210,884 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market