2006 Edition

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*

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388) 15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

1,337 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151 914 to 1,523 m: 248

total

509

under 914 m

77 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

828 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m: 355

under 914 m

407 (2006)

Area

land

9,093,507 sq km

total

9,984,670 sq km

water

891,163 sq km

Area - comparative

somewhat larger than the US

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's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces questions about integrity in government following revelations regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone Quebec. Geography Canada

Birth rate

10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$152.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004)

revenues

$159.6 billion

Canadian Forces

Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

geographic coordinates

45 25 N, 75 40 W

name

Ottawa

note

Canada is divided into six time zones

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline

202,080 km

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

Currency (code)

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency code

CAD

Current account balance

$24.96 billion (2005 est.)

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$439.8 billion (30 November 2005)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David H. WILKINS

embassy

490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8

mailing address

P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430

telephone

[1] (613) 238-5335, 4470

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael WILSON

telephone

[1] (202) 682-1740

Disputes - international

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.1 (1998)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)

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. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.

Electricity - consumption

520.9 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

22 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

33 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

566.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

28%

hydro

57.9%

nuclear

12.9%

other

1.3% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Logan 5,959 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001)

Executive branch

cabinet

Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005)

elections

none; 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 is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006)

Exports

$364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 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 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 682-7701

[1] (613) 688-3082

consulate(s)

Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)

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) general

Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Canada

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 official colors of Canada are red and white Economy Canada

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.2%

industry

29.4%

services

68.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$33,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.035 trillion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.111 trillion (2005 est.)

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 People Canada

Government type

constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Heliports

319 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

56,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.8% (1994)

lowest 10%

2.8%

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; transit point for ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Imports

$317.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.6% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.15 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.ca

Internet hosts

3,934,223 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

760 (2000 est.)

Internet users

21.9 million (2005) Transportation Canada

Investment (gross fixed)

20.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Irrigated land

7,850 sq km (2003)

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)

Labor force

16.3 million (December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries

US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

total

8,893 km

Land use

arable land

4.57%

other

94.78% (2005)

permanent crops

0.65%

Languages

English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

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 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms)

election results

House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party 17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party - Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 103, New Democratic Party 29, Bloc Quebecois 51, other 1

elections

House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.74 years (2006 est.)

male

76.86 years

total population

80.22 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government Canada

male

99%

total population

99%

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

8,034,939 (2005 est.)

males age 16-49

8,216,510

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

6,580,868 (2005 est.)

males age 16-49

6,740,490

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 16-49

212,900 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

223,821

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

39.9 years (2006 est.)

male

37.8 years

total

38.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 8

foreign-owned

7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)

registered in other countries

111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18, Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)

total

173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$9,801.7 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (2003) Transnational Issues Canada

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

National holiday

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Nationality

adjective

Canadian

noun

Canadian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

90.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports

8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.673 trillion cu m (2004)

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, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Net migration rate

5.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

2.3 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports

1.6 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

963,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

2.4 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

178.9 billion bbl

note

includes oil sands (2004 est.)

Pipelines

crude and reined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2005)

Political parties and leaders

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party [Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.9%; 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 (2003)

Population growth rate

0.88% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver Military Canada

Public debt

69.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Radios

32.3 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

total

48,467 km

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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$33.02 billion (2005 est.)

Roadways

paved

415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)

total

1,042,300 km

unpaved

626,700 km (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations

general assessment

excellent service provided by modern technology

international

country code - 1-xxx; 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

18.276 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16.6 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

21.5 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.8% (2005 est.)

Waterways

631 km

note

Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)