Canada Travel Podcast with Nathan Beaulieu

Location

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

Terrain

Mostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast

Climate

Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Elevation

Highest point

Mount Logan 5,959 m

Lowest point

Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m

Mean elevation

487 m

Area

Total

9,984,670 sq km

Land

9,093,507 sq km

Water

891,163 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly larger than the US

Coastline

202,080 km

Land borders

Total

8,892 km

Border countries

US 8,891 km (includes 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland) 1.3 km

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

Land use

Agricultural land

6.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land

4.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

2.1% (2023 est.)

Forest

42% (2023 est.)

Other

51.4% (2023 est.)

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 North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains

Volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant

Note

Note 1: second-largest country in the world (after Russia) and largest in the Americas; strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border

Note 2: Canada has more fresh water than any other country, and almost 9% of Canadian territory is water; Canada has at least 2 million and possibly over 3 million lakes, more than all other countries combined

Population

Total

39,187,155 (2025 est.)

Male

19,515,416

Female

19,671,739

Nationality

Noun

Canadian(s)

Adjective

Canadian

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.)

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 est.)

Major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

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 est.)

Median age

Total

42.8 years (2025 est.)

Male

41.4 years

Female

43.8 years

Life expectancy

Total population

84.2 years (2024 est.)

Male

81.9 years

Female

86.6 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

81.9% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Vast majority of the population lives in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia

Largest cities

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)

Background

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867, while retaining ties to the British crown. Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Government

Federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution

Capital

Ottawa

Time zone

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Independence

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)

National day

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Overview

High-income economy and second-largest US trading partner; key timber, oil, and gas industries; trade uncertainties and weak business investments contributing to economic slowdown; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above target range

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$56,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$57,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$58,300 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

6.5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

1.369 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.35 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.302 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.254 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.341 (2020 est.)

Main industries

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

Agriculture

Wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023)

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

Ports

Total ports

284 (2024)

Large

4

Medium

14

Small

58

Very small

149

Size unknown

59

Ports with oil terminals

59

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

Internet domain

.ca

Internet users

Percent of population 94% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

37.4 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

94 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Air pollution and acid rain from vehicle emissions, coal-burning, and metal smelting severely affecting lakes and forests; seawater pollution from agriculture, industry, mining, and forestry

Fresh water

2.902 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

5

Global geoparks and regional networks

Perce; Stonehammer; Tumbler Ridge; Cliffs of Fundy; Discovery (2023)