Legend:
Definition of Term
 Arranged
by Countries Field Listing
| 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.
|
| 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 |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
60 00 N, 95 00 W |
| Map
references: |
North America |
| Area: |
total: 9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
somewhat larger than the US |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
|
| Coastline: |
202,080 km |
| 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 |
| Climate: |
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
|
| Terrain: |
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
|
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m |
| Natural
resources: |
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,
silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas,
hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 4.94%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.04% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
7,200 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation |
| Geography
- note: |
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85%
of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada
border
|
| Population: |
31,902,268 (July 2002 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.96% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
11.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.69 years
female: 83.25 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.3 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.6 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.3% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
49,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
400 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%,
Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background
26% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%
note: based on the 1991 census |
| Languages: |
English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
|
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
|
| Country
name: |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada |
| Government
type: |
confederation with parliamentary democracy |
| Capital: |
Ottawa |
| 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* |
| Independence: |
1 July 1867 (from UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Canada Day, 1 July (1867) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since
7 October 1999)
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 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
|
| 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 (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%, Canadian Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois
11%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%;
seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian 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
|
| 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) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER];
Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON];
Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5T1
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec,
Toronto, and Vancouver |
| 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
|
| 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 the 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 sluggishness
in the United States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian
economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but
declined in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment
is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource
sectors. Nevertheless, given 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 spectre 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.
A key strength in the economy is the substantial trade surplus.
|
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $923 billion (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
3.4% (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $29,400 (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 2%
industry: 27%
services: 71% (2001 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24% (1994) (1994) |
| Distribution
of family income - Gini index: |
32 (1994) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
2.2% (2002 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
16.4 million (2001 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture
3%, other 3% (2000) (2000) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
7.6% (2002 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $178.6 billion
expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (FY00/01 est. ) |
| Industries: |
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products,
petroleum and natural gas |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
2.2% (2002 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
576.22 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 25%
hydro: 61%
other: 2% (2000)
nuclear: 12% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
499.77 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
48.802 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
12.685 billion kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products;
forest products; fish |
| Exports: |
$260.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 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 84.6%, Japan 2.2%, UK 1.6%, other EU 2.2% (2000) |
| Imports: |
$229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 72.7%, UK 3.4%, other EU 3.2%, Japan 3.0% (2001) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.9 billion (2000) (2000) |
| Economic
aid - donor: |
ODA, $1.3 billion (1999) (1999) |
| Currency: |
Canadian dollar (CAD) |
| Currency
code: |
CAD |
| 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)
|
| Fiscal
year: |
1 April - 31 March
|
| 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.) |
| Highways: |
total: 901,902 km
paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)
unpaved: 583,531 km (1999) |
| Waterways: |
3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway) |
| 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 |
| 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.) |
| Airports: |
1,419 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 507
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 245
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149 |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 882
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 363
under 914 m: 446 (2002) |
| Heliports: |
12 (2002)
|
| Military
branches: |
Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime
Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)
|
| Military
manpower - military age: |
17 years of age (2002 est.) |
| 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 - reaching military age annually: |
males: 217,516 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$7,860.5 million (FY01/02) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.1% (FY01/02)
|
|
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