Geography
Area: 9.9 million sq. km. (3.8 million sq. mi.); second-largest
country in the world.
Cities: Capital--Ottawa (pop. 1 million). Other major cities--Toronto
(4.5 million), Montreal (3.4 million), Vancouver (2.0 million).
Terrain: Mostly plains with mountains in the west and lowlands in the
southeast.
Climate: Temperate to arctic.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Canadian(s).
Population (2002 census): 31.4 million.
Ethnic groups: Anglophone 28%, Francophone 23%, other European 15%,
Asian/Arab/African 6%, indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed background 26%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Roman Catholic 44.4%, Protestant 29%,
other Christian 4.2%, Muslim 2%, other 4%.
Languages: English, French.
Education: Literacy--99% of population aged 15 and over has at
least a ninth-grade education.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.2/1,000. Life expectancy—77.1
yrs. male, 82.2 yrs. female.
Work force (15.4 million): Goods-producing sector: 25%, of which:
Manufacturing 15%; construction 6%; agriculture 2%; natural resources
2%; utilities 1%. Service-producing sector: 75%, of which: trade 16%;
health care and social assistance 10%; educational services 7%,
accommodation and food services 7%; professional, scientific, and
technical services 6%; finance 6%; public administration 5%;
transportation and warehousing 5%; information, culture, and
recreation 5%; other services 5 %; management, administrative, and
other support 4%.
Government
Type: Confederation with parliamentary democracy.
Confederation: July 1, 1867.
Constitution: The amended British North America Act of 1867 patriated
to Canada on April 17, 1982, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and
unwritten custom.
Branches: Executive--Queen Elizabeth II (head of state
represented by a governor general), prime minister (head of
government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral parliament
(308-member House of Commons; 105-seat Senate). Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Federal-level political parties: Liberal Party, Bloc Quebecois, New
Democratic Party, Conservative Party of Canada.
Subdivisions: 10 provinces, 3 territories.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2003): $869.2 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2003): 5.3%.
Nominal per capita GDP (2003): $27,682.
Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas, hydroelectric power,
metals and minerals, fish, forests, wildlife, abundant fresh water.
Agriculture: Products--wheat, livestock and meat, feed grains,
oil seeds, dairy products, tobacco, fruits, vegetables.
Industry: Types--motor vehicles and parts, machinery and
equipment, aircraft and components, other diversified manufacturing,
fish and forest products, processed and unprocessed minerals.
Trade: Merchandise exports (2003)--$313.8 billion: motor
vehicles and spare parts, lumber, wood pulp and newsprint, crude and
fabricated metals, natural gas, crude petroleum, wheat. In 2003, 83%
of Canadian exports went to the United States. Merchandise
imports (2003)--$289.7 billion: motor vehicles and parts,
industrial machinery, crude petroleum, chemicals, agricultural
machinery. In 2003, 70% of Canadian imports came from the United
States.
