2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. 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 5,959 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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 signed, but not ratified: Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic coordinates
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Irrigated land
7,200 sq km (1998 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% other: 95% (1998 est.)
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
contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 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 east of the mountains
Natural resources
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Terrain
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 3,059,023; female 2,910,203) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 10,975,701; female 10,857,869) 65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,743,654; female 2,355,818) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
11.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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
0.3% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
400 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
49,000 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate
4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Life expectancy at birth
83.25 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2002 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
6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
31,902,268 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
0.96% (2002 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18% note: based on the 1991 census
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 (2002 est.)
Government
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
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740 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
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999) elections: 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 head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993); Deputy Prime Minister John MANLEY (since NA January 2002) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
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
confederation with parliamentary democracy
Independence
1 July 1867 (from UK)
International organization participation
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, 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 Queens 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 (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age ; 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 27 November 2000 (next to be held by 2005) election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 41%, Conservative Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Conservative Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note - percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%, Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12
National holiday
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Political parties and leaders
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Alexa McDONOUGH]; Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Budget
revenues: $178.6 billion expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code
CAD
Debt - external
$1.9 billion (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
31.5 (1994)
Economic aid - donor
ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)
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. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic downturn in the United States in 2001 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in 2001. Unemployment is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors. Nevertheless, with its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas, which has been raising the possibility of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure.
Electricity - consumption
499.766 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
48.802 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
12.685 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
576.218 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 25.3% hydro: 61.22% other: 1.56% (2000) nuclear: 11.92%
Exchange rates
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997)
Exports
$273.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 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 86%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1999)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity - $875 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 2% industry: 29% services: 69% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $27,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.9% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Imports
$238.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners
US 74%, EU 9%, Japan 3% (2000)
Industrial production growth rate
0.5% (2001 est.)
Industries
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force
16.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
7.2% (2001 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.ca
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
760 (2000 est.)
Internet users
14.44 million (2001)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios
32.3 million (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: 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 - main lines in use
18.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4.207 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
21.5 million (1997)
Transportation
Airports
1,419 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 519 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 244 under 914 m: 90 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 900 1,524 to 2,437 m: 74 914 to 1,523 m: 364 under 914 m: 462 (2001)
Heliports
18 (2001)
Highways
total: 901,902 km paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways) unpaved: 583,531 km (1999)
Merchant marine
total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,797,240 GRT/2,680,223 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 66, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United States 1 (2002 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: 36,114 km standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified) note: Canada has two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service is provided by the government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own (2000 est.)
Waterways
3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)
Military and Security
Military branches
Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$7,860,500,000 (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.1% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 8,361,475 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 7,139,068 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age
17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 217,516 (2002 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; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Cambodia