2020 Edition

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. Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, 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.

Area

land

9,093,507 sq km

total

9,984,670 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

highest point

Mount Logan 5,959 m

lowest point

Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m

mean elevation

487 m

Geographic coordinates

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Geography - note

note 1: second-largest country in the world (after Russia) and largest in the Americas; strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border note 2: Canada has more fresh water than any other country, and almost 9% of Canadian territory is water; Canada has at least 2 million and possibly over 3 million lakes, more than all other countries combined

Irrigated land

9,045 sq km (2015)

Land boundaries

border countries

US 8,891 km (includes 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland) 1.3 km

total

8,892 km

Land use

agricultural land

6.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2.1% (2023 est.)

forest

42% (2023 est.)

other

51.4% (2023 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

Major aquifers

Northern Great Plains Aquifer

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Huron* - 35,972 sq km; Great Bear Lake - 31,328 sq km; Superior* - 28,754 sq km; Great Slave Lake - 28,568 sq km; Lake Winnipeg - 24,387 sq km; Erie* - 12,776 sq km; Ontario* - 9,790 sq km; Lake Athabasca - 7,935 sq km; Reindeer Lake - 6,650 sq km; Nettilling Lake - 5,542 sq km note - Great Lakes* area shown as Canadian waters

Major rivers (by length in km)

Mackenzie - 4,241 km; Yukon river source (shared with the US [m]) - 3,185 km; Saint Lawrence river mouth (shared with US) - 3,058 km; Nelson - 2,570 km; Columbia river source (shared with the US [m]) - 1,953 km; Churchill - 1,600 km; Fraser - 1,368 km; Ottawa - 1,271 km; Athabasca - 1,231 km; North Saskatchewan - 1,220 km; Liard - 1,115 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Arctic Ocean drainage

Mackenzie (1,706,388 sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Mississippi* (Gulf of America) (3,202,185 sq km, Canada only 32,000 sq km), Nelson (Hudson Bay) (1,093,141 sq km), Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 sq km, Canada only 839,200 sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage

Yukon* (847,620 sq km, Canada only 823,800 sq km), Columbia* (657,501 sq km, Canada only 103,000 sq km)

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

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

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

Population distribution

vast majority of the population lives in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia

Terrain

mostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years

15.5% (male 3,098,478/female 2,929,148)

15-64 years

63.4% (male 12,382,422/female 12,227,512)

65 years and over

21% (2024 est.) (male 3,753,829/female 4,403,424)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

9.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.6% (2021 est.)

Death rate

7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

33.9 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

2.9 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

57.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

23.8 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.7% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Canadian 15.6%, English 14.7%, Scottish 12.1%, French 11%, Irish 12.1%, German 8.1%, Chinese 4.7%, Italian 4.3%, First Nations 1.7%, Indian 3.7%, Ukrainian 3.5%, Metis 1.5% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.7 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.2% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

19.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

English (official) 87.1%, French (official) 29.1%, Chinese languages 4.2%, Spanish 3.2%, Punjabi 2.6%, Arabic 2.4%, Tagalog 2.3%, Italian 1.5% (2022 est.)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

Life expectancy at birth

female

86.6 years

male

81.9 years

total population

84.2 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

6.372 million Toronto, 4.308 million Montreal, 2.657 million Vancouver, 1.640 million Calgary, 1.544 million Edmonton, 1.437 million OTTAWA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

43.8 years

male

41.4 years

total

42.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.4 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Canadian

noun

Canadian(s)

Net migration rate

5.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.4% (2016)

Physician density

2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

19,671,739

male

19,515,416

total

39,187,155 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.73% (2025 est.)

Religions

Christian 53.3%, Muslim 4.9%, Hindu 2.3%, Sikh 2.1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 0.9%, Traditional (North American Indigenous) 0.2%, other religions and traditional spirituality 0.6%, none 34.6% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2022 est.)

male

15 years (2022 est.)

total

16 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.85 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

8% (2025 est.)

male

12.3% (2025 est.)

total

10.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

81.9% of total population (2023)

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, Québec, Saskatchewan, Yukon*

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the city lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River, from which it derives its name; the river name comes from the Algonquin word adawe, meaning "to trade"

geographic coordinates

45 25 N, 75 42 W

name

Ottawa

time difference

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

time zone note

Canada has six time zones

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

minimum of 3 of last 5 years resident in Canada

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by either house of Parliament or by the provincial legislative assemblies; there are 5 methods for passage though most require approval by both houses of Parliament, approval of at least two thirds of the provincial legislative assemblies and assent and formalization as a proclamation by the governor general in council; the most restrictive method is reserved for amendments affecting fundamental sections of the constitution, such as the office of the monarch or the governor general, and the constitutional amendment procedures, which require unanimous approval by both houses and by all the provincial assemblies, and assent of the governor general in council

history

consists of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions dating from 1763; 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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Canada

etymology

the name is probably derived from the Huron or Iroquois word kanata, meaning village or camp

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Pete HOEKSTRA (since 29 April 2025)

consulate(s)

Winnipeg

consulate(s) general

Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver

email address and website

OttawaNIV@state.gov https://ca.usembassy.gov/

embassy

490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8

FAX

[1] (613) 241-7845

mailing address

5480 Ottawa Place, Washington DC 20521-5480

telephone

[1] (613) 688-5335

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

chief of mission

Ambassador Kirsten HILLMAN (since 17 July 2020)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

email address and website

ccs.scc@international.gc.ca https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/washington.aspx?lang=eng

FAX

[1] (202) 682-7738

telephone

[1] (844) 880-6519

trade office(s)

Houston, Palo Alto (CA), San Diego; note - there are trade offices in the Consulates General

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Mary SIMON (since 26 July 2021)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a 5-year term; after legislative elections, the governor general usually designates the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Commons as prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Mark CARNEY (since 14 March 2025)

Flag

description: two vertical bands of red on each side, with a white square between them; a large 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square meaning: the maple leaf is a national symbol

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Canada (consists of the chief justice and 8 judges)

judge selection and term of office

chief justice and judges appointed by the prime minister in council; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 75

subordinate courts

federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts

Legal system

common law system except in Quebec, where civil law based on the French civil code prevails

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Commons

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

October 2029

most recent election date

4/28/2025

number of seats

343 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Liberal Party (169); Conservative Party (144); Bloc Québécois (BQ) (22); Other (30)

percentage of women in chamber

30.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate

number of seats

105 (all appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

54.8%

National anthem(s)

history

royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National coat of arms

The current design of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada was adopted in 1921 and references the four nations that helped found Canada. England is represented with royal lions, a union flag, and a rose, and Scotland with a royal lion, a unicorn, and a thistle. Ireland’s symbols include a harp and a shamrock, and France’s symbols are a royal fleur-de-lis and a royal flag. The maple leaves are the Canadian national symbol. A red circle displays the motto Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (Desiring a Better Country), and a blue ribbon displays A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea to Sea).

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

L'Anse aux Meadows (c); Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (n); Dinosaur Provincial Park (n); Historic District of Old Quebec (c); Old Town Lunenburg (c); Wood Buffalo National Park (n); Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (c); Gros Morne National Park (n); Pimachiowin Aki (m)

total World Heritage Sites

22 (10 cultural, 11 natural, 1 mixed) (2021)

National holiday

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

National symbol(s)

maple leaf, beaver

Political parties

Bloc Québécois Conservative Party of Canada or CPC Green Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada New Democratic Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

9.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$417.421 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$428.312 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$6.318 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$13.764 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$10.349 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income economy and second-largest US trading partner; key timber, oil, and gas industries; trade uncertainties and weak business investments contributing to economic slowdown; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above target range

Exchange rates

Currency

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.341 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.254 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.302 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.35 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.369 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$743.782 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$724.754 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$727.831 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, gold, natural gas, refined petroleum (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 71%, China 5%, UK 3%, Japan 2%, Mexico 2% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

33.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.9% (2023 est.)

household consumption

54.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-33.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.6% (2021 est.)

industry

25.3% (2021 est.)

services

66.4% (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.241 trillion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

29.9 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.4% (2020 est.)

lowest 10%

3.5% (2020 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$731.058 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$723.399 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$733.778 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, trucks, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 51%, China 11%, Mexico 6%, Germany 3%, Japan 3% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

22.868 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$2.271 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$2.305 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$2.341 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$58,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$57,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$56,700 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$106.952 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$117.551 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$119.778 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

12.1% (2024 est.)

male

13.8% (2024 est.)

total

13% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

20.092 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

35.447 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

7.03 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

50.687 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

6.582 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

555.683 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

49.444 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

21.77 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

161.988 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

31.784 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

58.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

131.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

82.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

29.058 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

194.105 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

12.71GW (2025 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

8 (2025)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

17 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

13.7% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

2.377 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

5.688 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2023 est.)

total

17 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

2 public TV broadcasting networks, 1 in English and 1 in French, each with a large number of network affiliates; several private commercial networks, also with multiple network affiliates; a total of about 150 TV stations, accessible via multi-channel satellite and cable systems; mix of public and commercial radio, with over 1,000 licensed stations; public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) provides 4 radio networks, Radio Canada International, and radio services to ethnic populations in the north (2016)

Internet country code

.ca

Internet users

percent of population

94% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

11 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

94 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

37.4 million (2024 est.)

Airports

1,459 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C

Heliports

506 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 78, oil tanker 15, other 600

total

716 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Argentia, Canaport (St. John), Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Pond Inlet, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Sept Iles, St. John, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Trois Rivieres, Vancouver, Victoria Harbor, Windsor

large

4

medium

14

ports with oil terminals

59

size unknown

59

small

58

total ports

284 (2024)

very small

149

Railways

standard gauge

49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge

total

49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)

Military - note

the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for external security; the CAF’s core missions include detecting, deterring, and defending against threats to or attacks on Canada; the military also provides assistance to civil authorities and law enforcement as needed for such missions as counterterrorism, search and rescue, and responding to natural disasters or other major emergencies; it regularly participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of partners, including NATO (Canada is one of the original members) and the US; the CAF also contributes to international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity building operations, principally through NATO, but also with the UN and other security partners Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established 1958); NORAD is a Canada/US bi-national military command responsible for monitoring and defending North American airspace; traditionally, a CAF officer has served as the deputy commander of NORAD; Canada’s defense relationship with the US extends back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, when the two countries formally agreed on military cooperation, including the establishment of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which continues to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the US-UK Treaty of Washington; following the withdrawal, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was organized in 1883 to protect Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, which it did in the South African War (1899-1902), Canada’s first overseas conflict; militia units formed the backbone of the more than 425,000 Canadian soldiers that went to Europe during World War I in what was called the Canadian Expeditionary Force; the Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924; the Canadian Army was officially founded in 1942; a unified Canadian Armed Forces was created in 1968 (2025)

Military and security forces

Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 75,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military deployments

approximately 2,000 Latvia (NATO); the CAF also has air and naval assets supporting NATO missions (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the CAF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons systems from Australia, Europe, Israel, the UK, and the US; in recent years, the leading supplier has been the US; Canada's defense industry develops, maintains, and produces a range of equipment, including aircraft, combat vehicles, naval vessels, and associated components; it also collaborates with the defense industries of allied countries such as the UK (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for Reserve and Military College applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; service obligation 3-9 years depending on the position (2025)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

1,981 (2024 est.)

refugees

561,551 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

8,166 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1959-1962 - launched first domestically built sounding rocket (Black Brant 1); first domestically designed and built satellite (Alouette) launched by US 1972-1973 - first domestic communications satellites (Anik A-1 and Anik A-2) launched by US, making Canada first country to employ satellites for domestic communications 1970s - began participating in US Space Shuttle (first Canadian in space on Shuttle in 1984) and US Mars probe/exploration programs 1995 - first Canadian-built, radar-capable remote sensing satellite (Radarsat-1) launched by US 2019 - began participating in US/NASA Lunar Gateway orbital station program; launched constellation of remote sensing satellites (RADARSAT Constellation Mission) 2020 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration (active participant in planned Moon missions under the Artemis program)

Space agency/agencies

Canadian Space Agency (CSA; established 1989) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

developing commercial space port sites in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (2025)

Space program overview

has a national space strategy and a long history of developing space-related technologies; designs, builds, operates, and tracks communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, and scientific/testing satellites; has an astronaut program; involved in the development and production of advanced communications systems, lunar rovers, planetary probes, robotics, sensors, and space telescopes; participates in international space programs, including the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope, and the James Webb Space Telescope; Cooperating State of the ESA since 1979 and participates in a variety of ESA programs, such as the Copernicus Earth observation project; works with numerous foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Brazil, individual ESA and EU member states, Japan, India, and particularly the US; has an active commercial space sector (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Hizballah; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

32.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

259.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

294.196 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

585.853 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution and acid rain from vehicle emissions, coal-burning, and metal smelting severely affecting lakes and forests; seawater pollution from agriculture, industry, mining, and forestry

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Perce; Stonehammer; Tumbler Ridge; Cliffs of Fundy; Discovery (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

5

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

Methane emissions

agriculture

1,049.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

2,787.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

39.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

816.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

2.902 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.859 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

27.357 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

4.869 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

25.103 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

23.1% (2022 est.)