Canada

Statistics and Market Data on Canada

Canada is the largest country in North America, as well as the second biggest in the world after Russia. It is administratively divided into ten provinces and three territories. The total population of Canada, which amounts to about 34.3 million, is very small in relation to the dimensions of the country. Canada also has one of the lowest population densities in the world, of only about 3.87 inhabitants per square kilometer, as compared to 89.5 in the neighboring U.S. or almost 7,500 per square kilometer in Singapore, the world’s third most densely populated country. Most Canadians live in cities, which tend to be concentrated in the southern part of the country, along the U.S. border. As of 2013, Toronto is the largest city in Canada, with 5.96 million inhabitants, while the capital Ottawa is fifth, with 1.31 million. Although the unemployment rate in Canada increased noticeably in 2009, as a result of the global economic crisis, it started to slowly decrease the following year and it is estimated to reach 6.6% in 2018. As of 2013, Canada ranks amongst the 20 countries with the highest life expectancy in the world, with an average of 81.2 years.

Canada’s form of government is a federal parliamentary democracy within the context of a constitutional monarchy under the rule of Queen Elizabeth II. The highest position in state is occupied by the Queen’s representative, the Governor General of Canada, followed by the head of the government. The country is considered to have one of the most stable politics in the world, third after Norway and Denmark. It is also considered one of the least corrupt countries in the world, next to Switzerland and Luxemburg. Canada is a founding member of the United Nations, member of NATO, the World Trade Organization, the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Both French and English are official languages at a federal level in Canada. A number of regional languages are also recognized, such as Inuktitut, Chipewyan or Cree, which belong to Aboriginal groups. Additionally, Canada is home to a large immigrant population, including inhabitants of Scottish, Chinese, German or Indian descent. In 1988, the federal government passed The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, a law which aims to preserve and enhance the country’s multiculturalism.

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest countries and a high-tech industrial society with a very high living standard. In 2014, Canada’s GDP per capita reached almost 52 thousand U.S. dollars, one of the highest in the world, while its GDP growth rate was 2.2 percent. The average inflation rate for the same year was 1.94 percent. Some of the most important Canadian industries are chemicals, minerals, food products, wood and paper products. Canada is also considered the country with the third most oil reserves in the world, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The Canadian agriculture produces wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish and forest products, including maple syrup, a staple Canadian food. The biggest import, as well as export partner of Canada is the U.S., but Canada has been strengthening its economical relations with Asia. The goods most imported by Canada are machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals and electricity. As of 2013, the value of these imports amounted to 474 billion U.S. dollars. Among the commodities most exported by Canada are motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals, petroleum and natural gas.