View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2003 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

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

760 (2000 est.)

Internet country code [time series]

.ca

Internet users [time series]

16.84 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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]

20,802,900 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8,751,300 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $178.6 billion expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CAD

Debt - external [time series]

$1.9 billion $NA (2000)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

31.5 (1994)

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

ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)

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. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the United States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors. Nevertheless, given 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 specter of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure. A key strength in the economy is the substantial trade surplus.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

504.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

38.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

16.11 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

566.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 28% hydro: 57.9% other: 1.3% (2001) nuclear: 12.9%

Exchange rates [time series]

Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.57 (2002), 1.55 (2001), 1.49 (2000), 1.49 (1999), 1.48 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$260.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners [time series]

US 87.7%, Japan 2%, UK 1.1% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $934.1 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 2.3% industry: 26.5% services: 71.2% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)

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

3.3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 62.6%, China 4.6%, Japan 4.4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.2% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

16.4 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

82.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

109 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

4.46 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

186.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.691 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

1.703 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

2.008 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

1.145 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

2.738 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

5.112 billion bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.6% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 9,984,670 sq km land: 9,093,507 sq km water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

somewhat larger than the US

Climate [time series]

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline [time series]

202,080 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-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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 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; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US border

Irrigated land [time series]

7,200 sq km (1998 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: 4.94% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 95.04% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

North America

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [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 east of the mountains

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, 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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 688-3097 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726 telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740 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) elections: none; the monarchy 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 or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general head of government: Prime Minister Paul MARTIN (since 12 December 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Anne MCLELLAN (since 12 December 2003) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

Government type [time series]

confederation with parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1 July 1867 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

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 (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms) elections: House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be held by 2005) election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 41%, Canadian Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note - percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%, Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12

National holiday [time series]

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

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

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]; Progressive Conservative Party [Peter MACKAY]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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

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

Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$7.861 billion (FY01/02)

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

1.1% (FY01/02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 8,391,120 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,158,016 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

16 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 216,488 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 3,052,005; female 2,903,007) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 11,099,907; female 10,984,903) 65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,774,262; female 2,393,029) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.99 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

55,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.83 years male: 76.44 years female: 83.38 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 37.8 years male: 36.9 years female: 38.8 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian

Net migration rate [time series]

6.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

32,207,113 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.94% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18% note: based on the 1991 census

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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; uncontested dispute with Denmark over Hans Island sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

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; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1,389 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 507 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 245 under 914 m: 80 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 149

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 882 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 363 under 914 m: 446 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

12 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1.408 million km paved: 497,306 km (including 16,900 km of expressways) unpaved: 911,494 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,840,272 GRT/2,740,864 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 64, cargo 11, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United States 1 (2002 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: 49,422 km standard gauge: 49,422 km 1.435-m gauge (129 km electrified) (2002)

Waterways [time series]

3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)