Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

750 (1999 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios [time series]

32.3 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

18.5 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3 million (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

21.5 million (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $121.8 billion expenditures: $115.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1998)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$253 billion (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]

ODA, $2.1 billion (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With 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 possibility of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professional persons lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

484.515 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

39.502 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

11.725 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

550.852 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 27.18% hydro: 59.77% nuclear: 12.25% other: 0.8% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4489 (January 2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$277 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity

Exports - partners [time series]

US 84%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $722.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (1998)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Imports [time series]

$259.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electricity

Imports - partners [time series]

US 77%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.3% (1999 est.)

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]

1.7% (1999)

Labor force [time series]

15.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.6% (1999)

Area [time series]

total: 9,976,140 sq km land: 9,220,970 sq km water: 755,170 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than the US

Climate [time series]

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline [time series]

243,791 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Geography - 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 within 160 km of the US/Canada border

Irrigated land [time series]

7,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 38% (1993 est.)

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]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Capital [time series]

Ottawa

Constitution [time series]

17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

Data code [time series]

CA

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

confederation with parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1 July 1867 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general

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 or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Commons - last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 38%, Reform Party 19%, Progressive Conservative Party 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%, other 2%; seats by party - Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative Party 20, independents 1 note: seats by party as of December 1999 - Liberal Party 157, Reform Party 57, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 20, Progressive Conservative Party 19, independents 4

National holiday [time series]

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

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

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Alexa MCDONOUGH]; Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK]; Reform Party [Preston MANNING]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Canadian 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 - dollar figure [time series]

$7.4 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 8,282,846 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,086,335 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 212,701 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19% (male 3,077,994; female 2,932,821) 15-64 years: 68% (male 10,714,305; female 10,591,494) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,683,704; female 2,280,774) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.41 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.39 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.43 years male: 76.02 years female: 83 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% (1986 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian

Net migration rate [time series]

6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

31,281,092 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.02% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.64 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island)

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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

1,411 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 152 914 to 1,523 m: 240 under 914 m: 90 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 896 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 362 under 914 m: 461 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

15 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 901,902 km paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways) unpaved: 583,531 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,602,275 GRT/2,371,146 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 61, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor

Railways [time series]

total: 36,114 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified) (1998)

Waterways [time series]

3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway