| 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
|
| Area |
total:
9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km |
| Area - comparative |
somewhat larger than the
US |
| 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: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount
Logan 5,959 m |
| Natural resources |
iron
ore, nickel, zinc,
copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber,
wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower |
| Land use |
arable
land: 4.96%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.02% (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 |
| 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 |
| Population |
32,507,874
(July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure |
0-14
years: 18.2% (male 3,038,800; female 2,890,579); 15-64 years: 68.7% (male
11,225,686; female 11,111,941); 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,807,472;
female 2,433,396) (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate |
0.92%
(2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate |
4.82
deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth |
total
population: 79.96 years
female: 83.5 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.59 years |
| 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 |
| Government type |
confederation
with parliamentary democracy |
| Capital |
Ottawa |
| Independence |
1
July 1867 (from UK) |
| 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 |
| 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 - 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 2002-03. 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 specter 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. Roughly 90% of the population
lives within 160 kilometers of the US border. |
| GDP - per capita |
purchasing
power parity - $29,800 (2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line |
NA |
| Labor force |
17.04
million (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate |
7.8%
(2003 est.) |
| Industries |
transportation
equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products;
wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas |
| Agriculture - products |
wheat,
barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products;
fish |
| Exports - commodities |
motor
vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications
equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum,
natural gas, electricity, aluminum |
| Imports - commodities |
machinery
and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity,
durable consumer goods |
