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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 900, FM 29, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

18,000,000 telephones; excellent service provided by modern media local: NA intercity: about 300 earth stations for domestic satellite communications international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; 5 INTELSAT earth stations (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 53 (repeaters 1,400) televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $9.0 billion, 1.6% of GDP (FY95/96) CAPE VERDE

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 7,570,877; males fit for military service 6,522,092; males reach military age (17) annually 151,590 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported

Budget [time series]

revenues: $85 billion (Federal) expenditures: $115.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 108,090,000 kW production: 511 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,133 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4129 (January 1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$164.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts; telecommunications equipment partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$243 billion (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market

Imports [time series]

$151.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and parts partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.8% (1993)

Industries [time series]

processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.2% (1994)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $639.8 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$22,760 (1994)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

4.5% (1994)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. 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. In the 1980s, Canada registered one of the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations, averaging about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects, although the country still faces high unemployment and a growing debt. Moreover, the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas has observers discussing a possible split in the confederation; foreign investors have become edgy.

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.6% (December 1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 9,976,140 sq km land area: 9,220,970 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than US

Climate [time series]

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline [time series]

243,791 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 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 American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

maritime boundary disputes with the US; Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France

Irrigated land [time series]

8,400 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 8,893 km, US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 35% other: 57%

Location [time series]

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Map references [time series]

North America

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas

Note [time series]

second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated in the region near the US/Canada border

Terrain [time series]

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Capital [time series]

Ottawa

Constitution [time series]

amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A.J. CHRETIEN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC (since 8 February 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) was elected on 25 October 1993, replacing Kim CAMBELL; Deputy Prime Minister Sheila COPPS cabinet: Federal Ministry; chosen by the prime minister from members of his own party sitting in Parliament

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 682-7726 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle consulate(s): Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver

Flag [time series]

three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

Legislative branch (House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)) [time series]

elections last held 25 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent of votes by party NA; seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 178, Bloc Quebecois 54, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive Conservative Party 2, independents 1

Independence [time series]

1 July 1867 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament (Parlement)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

National holiday [time series]

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc Quebecois, Lucien BOUCHARD; Reform Party, Preston MANNING; New Democratic Party, Audrey McLAUGHLIN; Progressive Conservative Party, Jean CHAREST

Legislative branch (Senate (Senat)) [time series]

consisting of a body whose members are appointed to serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit 104 senators

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

confederation with parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Johnston BLANCHARD embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21% (female 2,874,705; male 3,016,050) 15-64 years: 67% (female 9,529,272; male 9,531,107) 65 years and over: 12% (female 2,022,324; male 1,461,087) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.74 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

13.38 million by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.29 years male: 74.93 years female: 81.81 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1986) total population: 97%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian

Net migration rate [time series]

4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

28,434,545 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.09% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%, other 28%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.83 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 1,386 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 17 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 147 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 234 with paved runways under 914 m: 550 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 69 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 353

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 849,404 km paved: 253,692 km (15,983 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel 595,712 km (1991)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 617,010 GRT/878,819 DWT ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 23, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes

Pipelines [time series]

crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km

Ports [time series]

Becancour, Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 78,148 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by VIA (government operated) standard gauge: 78,148 km 1.435-m gauge (185 km electrified) (1994)