{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "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."
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "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": {
"text": "60 00 N, 95 00 W"
},
"Map references": {
"text": "North America"
},
"Area": {
"total ": {
"text": "9,984,670 sq km"
},
"land": {
"text": "9,093,507 sq km"
},
"water": {
"text": "891,163 sq km"
}
},
"Area - comparative": {
"text": "slightly larger than the US"
},
"Land boundaries": {
"total": {
"text": "8,892 km"
},
"border countries": {
"text": "US 8,891 km (includes 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland) 1.3 km"
},
"note": " "
},
"Coastline": {
"text": "202,080 km",
"note": "note: the Canadian Arctic Archipelago - consisting of 36,563 islands, several of them some of the world's largest - contributes to Canada easily having the longest coastline in the world"
},
"Maritime claims": {
"territorial sea": {
"text": "12 nm"
},
"contiguous zone": {
"text": "24 nm"
},
"exclusive economic zone": {
"text": "200 nm"
},
"continental shelf": {
"text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin"
}
},
"Climate": {
"text": "varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north"
},
"Terrain": {
"text": "mostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast"
},
"Elevation": {
"highest point": {
"text": "Mount Logan 5,959 m"
},
"lowest point": {
"text": "Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m"
},
"mean elevation": {
"text": "487 m"
}
},
"Natural resources": {
"text": "bauxite, iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, uranium, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower"
},
"Land use": {
"agricultural land": {
"text": "6.5% (2022 est.)"
},
"agricultural land: arable land": {
"text": "arable land: 4.4% (2022 est.)"
},
"agricultural land: permanent crops": {
"text": "permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)"
},
"agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
"text": "permanent pasture: 2.1% (2022 est.)"
},
"forest": {
"text": "39.5% (2022 est.)"
},
"other": {
"text": "54% (2022 est.)"
}
},
"Irrigated land": {
"text": "9,045 sq km (2015)"
},
"Major lakes (area sq km)": {
"fresh water lake(s)": {
"text": "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)": {
"text": "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)": {
"text": "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)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Mackenzie (1,706,388 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)
note - watersheds shared with the US shown with *"
},
"Major aquifers": {
"text": "Northern Great Plains Aquifer"
},
"Population distribution": {
"text": "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"
},
"Natural hazards": {
"text": "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"
},
"Geography - note": {
"text": "
note 1: second-largest country in 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
" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "38,794,813 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "19,234,729" }, "female": { "text": "19,560,084" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Canadian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Canadian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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.)", "note": "note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "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)": { "text": "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
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$2.242 trillion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$2.215 trillion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$2.133 trillion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "1.25% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.82% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "5.29% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$55,900 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$56,900 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$55,800 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$2.142 trillion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { "text": "2.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "3.9% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "6.8% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.8% (2020 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "22.5% (2020 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "69.6% (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "55.2% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "21.2% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "22.8% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "1.2% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "33.4% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-33.8% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-0.94% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "22.426 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "6.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "5.4% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "5.3% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "13% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "13.8% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "12.1% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": { "text": "31.7 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "9.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3% (2019 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "24% (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.04% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.04% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$393.642 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$399.8 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2023": { "text": "62.2% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2024": { "text": "-$11.425 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$13.764 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$6.318 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2024": { "text": "$727.453 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Exports 2023": { "text": "$724.754 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$743.782 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "USA 71%, China 5%, UK 3%, Japan 2%, Mexico 2% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, cars, gold, natural gas, refined petroleum (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2024": { "text": "$733.234 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Imports 2023": { "text": "$723.399 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$731.058 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "USA 51%, China 11%, Mexico 6%, Germany 3%, Japan 3% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, trucks, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$117.551 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$106.952 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$106.615 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "1.369 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "1.35 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "1.302 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "1.254 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "1.341 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "161.988 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "555.683 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "49.444 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "21.77 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "31.784 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "58.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Nuclear energy": { "Number of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "17 (2025)" }, "Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "12.71GW (2025 est.)" }, "Percent of total electricity production": { "text": "13.7% (2023 est.)" }, "Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down": { "text": "8 (2025)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "50.687 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "20.092 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "35.447 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "7.03 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "6.582 billion metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "5.688 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "2.377 million bbl/day (2024 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "194.105 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "131.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "82.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "29.058 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "585.853 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "32.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "294.196 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "259.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "10.897 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "28 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "36.5 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "91 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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": { "text": ".ca" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "94% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "17 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "43 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "C" }, "Airports": { "text": "1,459 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "506 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "716 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 78, oil tanker 15, other 600" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "284 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "4" }, "medium": { "text": "14" }, "small": { "text": "58" }, "very small": { "text": "149" }, "size unknown": { "text": "59" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "59" }, "key ports": { "text": "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" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force (2025)", "note": "note 1: the CAF is comprised of both a Regular Force and a Reserve Force; the Reserve Force is comprised of the Primary Reserve, Canadian Rangers, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service, and the Supplementary Reserve; the Canadian Rangers are part of the Army Reserve Force and provide a limited presence in Canada's northern, coastal, and isolated areas for sovereignty, public safety, and surveillance roles