CapitalOttawa
Population39,187,155
Area9,984,670 km²
GDP per capita$56,700
LanguagesEnglish, French, Chinese languages, Spanish, Punjabi, Arabic, Tagalog, Italian
CurrencyCanadian dollars
Life Expectancy84.2 yr
Governmentoperates as a federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; classified as a Commonwealth realm; the distribution of federal and state powers and responsibilities is outlined in the constitution
Introduction
Background
Characterized by extensive expanses and abundant natural resources, Canada achieved self-governance as a dominion in 1867, while still maintaining connections to the British monarchy. In 1931, Canada attained legislative autonomy from Britain and solidified its constitutional independence from the United Kingdom with the enactment of the Canada Act in 1982. In terms of economic and technological advancement, the country has progressed alongside its southern neighbor, the United States, across the longest international border in the world. Canada confronts political challenges related to fulfilling public expectations for enhancements in health care, education, social services, and economic viability, in addition to addressing the specific issues of the largely francophone province of Quebec. Furthermore, Canada seeks to optimize its varied energy resources while upholding its environmental commitments.
Geography
Area
land
9,093,507 sq km
water
891,163 sq km
total
9,984,670 sq km
Climate
ranges from temperate in the southern regions to subarctic and arctic in the northern regions
Terrain
predominantly plains with mountainous areas in the west and lowlands in the southeast
Land use
other
51.4% (2023 est.)
forest
42% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
Located in Northern North America, it is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean to the east, the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north, lying north of the contiguous United States
Coastline
202,080 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m
highest point
Mount Logan 5,959 m
mean elevation
487 m
Irrigated land
9,045 sq km (2015)
Major aquifers
Northern Great Plains Aquifer
Map references
North America
Land boundaries
total
8,892 km
border countries
US: 8,891 km (including 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland): 1.3 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
Natural hazards
The presence of continuous permafrost in the northern regions poses significant challenges for development; cyclonic storms develop east of the Rocky Mountains due to the interaction of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and the North American interior, generating most of the precipitation in the form of rain and snow east of the mountains.
volcanism: The majority of volcanoes within Western Canada's Coast Mountains are currently dormant
Geography - note
note 1: It is the second-largest nation in the world (after Russia) and the largest in the Americas; its strategic position between Russia and the United States via the northern polar route is notable; around 90% of the populace resides within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border.
note 2: Canada possesses more freshwater than any other nation, with nearly 9% of its territory consisting of water; it is home to at least 2 million lakes, and possibly over 3 million, surpassing the total of all other countries combined
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
Area - comparative
slightly greater in size than the United States
Geographic coordinates
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Population distribution
The overwhelming majority of the population resides in a discontinuous band approximately 300 km (186 mi) from the southern border with the United States; Ontario is the most populous province, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
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 watersheds (area sq km)
Arctic Ocean drainage
Mackenzie (1,706,388 sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage
Yukon* (847,620 sq km, with Canada covering only 823,800 sq km), Columbia* (657,501 sq km, with Canada covering only 103,000 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)
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
People & Society
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 estimate)
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)
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 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.85 male(s)/female
Birth rate
9.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
41.4 years
total
42.8 years (2025 est.)
female
43.8 years
Population
male
19,515,416
total
39,187,155 (2025 est.)
female
19,671,739
Nationality
noun
Canadian(s)
adjective
Canadian
Tobacco use
male
12.3% (2025 est.)
total
10.1% (2025 est.)
female
8% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
81.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
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.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
57.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
23.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
33.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
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.)
Net migration rate
5.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.43 children born/woman (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.)
Infant mortality rate
male
4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
4 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.73% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.7 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the vast majority of the populace resides in a non-contiguous band situated within roughly 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; Ontario is the province with the highest population, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
Life expectancy at birth
male
81.9 years
female
86.6 years
total population
84.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
2.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
29.4% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.4 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.6% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
15 years (2022 est.)
total
16 years (2022 est.)
female
17 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
ranges from temperate in the southern regions to subarctic and arctic in the northern areas
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Perce; Stonehammer; Tumbler Ridge; Cliffs of Fundy; Discovery (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
5
Land use
other
51.4% (2023 est.)
forest
42% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
81.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
39.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
816.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
2,787.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,049.8 kt (2019-2021 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.)
Environmental issues
atmospheric contamination and acid precipitation stemming from automobile emissions, coal combustion, and metal production significantly impacting lakes and woodlands; marine pollution due to agricultural practices, industrial activities, mining, and forestry
Total water withdrawal
municipal
4.869 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
27.357 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
3.859 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
585.853 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
259.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
32.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
294.196 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
2.902 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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 Quality - Volatile Organic Compounds, Conservation of Marine Ecosystems
Government
Flag
description: featuring two vertical red bands flanking a central white square; within the white square is a prominent 11-pointed red maple leaf
meaning: the maple leaf serves as a national emblem
Capital
name
Ottawa
etymology
the city is situated on the southern bank of the Ottawa River, which is the source of its name; the river's name originates from the Algonquin term adawe, translating to "to trade"
time zone note
Canada encompasses six distinct time zones
time difference
UTC-5 (coinciding with Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commencing on the second Sunday of March and concluding on the first Sunday of November
geographic coordinates
45 25 N, 75 42 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
history
comprises both unwritten and written components, customs, judicial rulings, and traditions tracing back to 1763; the documented segment of the constitution includes the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which established a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982
amendment process
can be introduced by either house of Parliament or by the provincial legislative assemblies; there are five methods for passage, though the majority necessitate approval from both houses of Parliament, endorsement by at least two-thirds of the provincial legislative assemblies, and formalization as a proclamation by the governor general in council; the most stringent method is reserved for amendments impacting fundamental aspects of the constitution, such as the roles of the monarch or the governor general, and the constitutional amendment procedures, which demand unanimous consent from both houses and all provincial assemblies, along with the governor general's assent in council
Country name
etymology
the term is likely derived from the Huron or Iroquois word kanata, which means village or camp
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Canada
Independence
1 July 1867 (unification of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by the UK under the Statute of Westminster)
Legal system
follows a common law system, except in Quebec, where civil law based on the French civil code is practiced
Government type
operates as a federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; classified as a Commonwealth realm; the distribution of federal and state powers and responsibilities is outlined in the constitution
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Canada (consists of the chief justice and 8 judges)
subordinate courts
at the federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; at the provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice and judges are appointed by the prime minister in council; all judges serve for life, with mandatory retirement at the age of 75
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)
head of government
Prime Minister Mark CARNEY (since 14 March 2025)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch based on the prime minister's recommendation for a term of five years; following legislative elections, the governor general typically designates the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Commons as prime minister
National holiday
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
22 (10 cultural, 11 natural, 1 mixed) (2021)
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)
Political parties
Bloc Québécois
Conservative Party of Canada or CPC
Green Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
New Democratic Party
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
maple leaf, beaver
National coat of arms
The present design of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada was officially adopted in 1921 and acknowledges the four nations that contributed to the founding of Canada. England is represented by royal lions, a union flag, and a rose, while Scotland is depicted with a royal lion, a unicorn, and a thistle. The symbols of Ireland include a harp and a shamrock, and France is represented by a royal fleur-de-lis and a royal flag. The maple leaves symbolize Canada nationally. A red circle showcases the motto Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (Desiring a Better Country), and a blue ribbon features A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea to Sea).
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*
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Commons
term in office
4 years
number of seats
343 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/28/2025
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
30.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Party (169); Conservative Party (144); Bloc Québécois (BQ) (22); Other (30)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
number of seats
105 (all appointed)
percentage of women in chamber
54.8%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 682-7738
chancery
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone
[1] (844) 880-6519
trade office(s)
Houston, Palo Alto (CA), San Diego; note - trade offices are also located in the Consulates General
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
[email protected]
https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/washington.aspx?lang=eng
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[1] (613) 241-7845
embassy
490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
telephone
[1] (613) 688-5335
consulate(s)
Winnipeg
mailing address
5480 Ottawa Place, Washington DC 20521-5480
chief of mission
Ambassador Pete HOEKSTRA (since 29 April 2025)
consulate(s) general
Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver
email address and website
[email protected]
https://ca.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$428.312 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$417.421 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$743.782 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$724.754 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$727.831 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$731.058 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$723.399 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$733.778 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
transportation apparatus, chemicals, both processed and unprocessed minerals, food items, wood and paper products, seafood, petroleum, natural gas
Labor force
22.868 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0% of GDP (2024 est.)
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.)
Economic overview
classified as a high-income economy and the second-largest trading partner of the US; significant timber, oil, and gas sectors; economic deceleration attributed to trade uncertainties and diminished business investment; rising public debt; inflation is easing but is still above the targeted range
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
6.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 71%, China 5%, UK 3%, Japan 2%, Mexico 2% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 51%, China 11%, Mexico 6%, Germany 3%, Japan 3% (2023)
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.)
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.)
Agricultural products
wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, automobiles, gold, natural gas, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports - commodities
automobiles, trucks, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
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.)
Taxes and other revenues
13.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.241 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
54.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption
20.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
22.9% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
33.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-33.3% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
9.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
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.)
Industrial production growth rate
0% (2024 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.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
13.8% (2024 est.)
total
13% (2024 est.)
female
12.1% (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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
25.3% (2021 est.)
services
66.4% (2021 est.)
agriculture
1.6% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.5% (2020 est.)
highest 10%
23.4% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
29.9 (2020 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
35.447 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
7.03 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
50.687 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
20.092 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
6.582 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
5.688 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
2.377 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
49.444 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
21.77 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
555.683 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
161.988 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
31.784 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
82.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
29.058 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
194.105 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
131.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
17 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
13.7% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
12.71GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
8 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
13.7% 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.)
biomass and waste
1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
94% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
There are 2 public television broadcasting networks, one operating in English and the other in French, both of which have numerous network affiliates. Additionally, there are several private commercial networks, each with a variety of affiliates, resulting in approximately 150 television stations available through multi-channel satellite and cable systems. The radio landscape features a combination of public and commercial stations, totaling more than 1,000 licensed entities. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the public broadcaster, offers 4 radio networks, Radio Canada International, and provides radio services tailored for ethnic communities in the northern regions (2016).
Internet country code
.ca
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
11 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
28 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
37.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
94 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
17 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
43 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
4
small
58
medium
14
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
very small
149
total ports
284 (2024)
size unknown
59
ports with oil terminals
59
Airports
1,459 (2025)
Railways
total
49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)
standard gauge
49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
506 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
716 (2023)
by type
22 bulk carriers, 1 container ship, 78 general cargo vessels, 15 oil tankers, and 600 other types of ships
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C
Military & Security
Military - note
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are tasked with safeguarding external security; their primary missions encompass the detection, deterrence, and defense against threats or assaults on Canada. Additionally, the military provides support to civil authorities and law enforcement for tasks such as counterterrorism, search and rescue operations, and responding to significant natural disasters or emergencies. The CAF regularly engages in bilateral and multinational training exercises with diverse partners, including NATO, of which Canada is an original member, as well as the United States. Furthermore, the CAF plays a role in international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity-building missions, mainly through NATO and also in collaboration with the UN and other security allies.
Canada participates in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established in 1958), a binational military command shared with the US that is responsible for observing and defending North American airspace. Traditionally, a CAF officer has held the position of deputy commander at NORAD. The defense relationship between Canada and the US dates back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, which marked the formal agreement on military cooperation, including the creation of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which remains the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US.
British forces completed their withdrawal from Canada in 1871 due to the US-UK Treaty of Washington. Following this, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was established in 1883 to safeguard Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, participating in the South African War (1899-1902), which was Canada's inaugural overseas conflict. Militia units were integral to the over 425,000 Canadian soldiers who served in Europe during World War I as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Royal Canadian Navy was formed in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was created in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924. The Canadian Army was officially constituted in 1942, and a unified Canadian Armed Forces was established in 1968 (2025).
Military deployments
Approximately 2,000 personnel in Latvia (NATO); the CAF also maintains air and naval resources that support NATO operations (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 and security forces
Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force (2025).
Military service age and obligation
The minimum age for voluntary military service is 17 for both men and women (with parental consent); applicants for the Reserve and Military College must be at least 16 years old. Canadian citizenship or permanent residency is required, and the service obligation varies between 3 to 9 years depending on the role (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The CAF's arsenal comprises both domestically manufactured and imported weapon systems from Australia, Europe, Israel, the UK, and the US, with the US being the leading supplier in recent years. Canada's defense industry is responsible for developing, maintaining, and producing an array of equipment, which includes aircraft, combat vehicles, naval ships, and related components. It also collaborates with allied countries' defense industries, such as the UK (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 75,000 active-duty military personnel (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Hizballah; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
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.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
developing commercial space port sites in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (2025)
Space agency/agencies
Canadian Space Agency (CSA; founded in 1989) (2025)
Space program overview
possesses a national space strategy and a rich history of developing technologies related to space; is responsible for the design, construction, operation, and tracking of communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, and scientific/testing satellites; has an astronaut program; engages in the advancement and manufacturing of sophisticated communication systems, lunar rovers, planetary probes, robotics, sensors, and space telescopes; takes part in international space initiatives, including the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope, and the James Webb Space Telescope; has been a Cooperating State of the ESA since 1979 and engages in various ESA programs, including the Copernicus Earth observation initiative; collaborates with numerous international space agencies and commercial partners, including those from Argentina, Brazil, individual ESA and EU member countries, Japan, India, and especially the US; features a vibrant commercial space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1959-1962 - the first domestically manufactured sounding rocket (Black Brant 1) was launched; the first satellite designed and built in Canada (Alouette) was launched by the US.
1972-1973 - the first domestic communications satellites (Anik A-1 and Anik A-2) were launched by the US, establishing Canada as the first nation to utilize satellites for domestic communications.
1970s - began involvement with the US Space Shuttle program (the first Canadian in space on the Shuttle occurred in 1984) and US Mars probe/exploration initiatives.
1995 - the first Canadian-built radar-capable remote sensing satellite (Radarsat-1) was launched by the US.
2019 - commenced participation in the US/NASA Lunar Gateway orbital station program; launched a constellation of remote sensing satellites (RADARSAT Constellation Mission).
2020 - entered into the US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration (an active participant in the anticipated Moon missions under the Artemis program).
