Statistical information Canada 1989
Canada in the World
top of pageBackground: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 8,893 km with US (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
ElevationNatural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, crude oil, natural gas
Land use: 5% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 57% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: second-largest country in world (after USSR; strategic location between USSR and US via north polar route
top of pagePopulation: 26,310,836 (July 1989), growth rate 0.8% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Canadian(s; adjective - Canadian
Ethnic groups: 40% British Isles origin, 27% French origin, 20% other European, 1.5% indigenous Indian and Eskimo
Languages: English and French (both official)
Religions: 46% Roman Catholic, 16% United Church, 10% Anglican
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 14 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US border; continuous permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 81 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: federal state recognizing Elizabeth II as sovereign
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Jeanne SAUVE (since 14 May 1984; Head of Government - Prime Minister (Martin) Brian MULRONEY (since 4 September 1984; Deputy Prime Minister Donald Frank MAZANKOWSKI (since NA 19 )
Legislative branch: Mobile Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Canadian Forces Europe, Training Commands
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, DAC, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICES, ICO, ICRC, IDA, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC - International Whaling Commission, IWC - International Wheat Council, La Francophonie, NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, PAHO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG
Diplomatic representationIn the us:@m IWC - International Wheat Council, La Francophonie, NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, PAHO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG
Ambassador Derek BURNEY; Chancery at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,036; telephone (202) 785-1400; there are Canadian Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle; US - Ambassador Thomas M. T. NILES; Embassy at 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa (mailing address is P. O. Box 5,000, Ogdensburg, NY 13,669; telephone (613) 238-5,335; there are US Consulates General in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Canada ranks seventh in the world in total GNP, and is one of the largest producers and exporters of both grains and minerals. The mineral industry has been a major factor in Canada's economic development. Over the past 30 years, the impressive growth of the manufacturing sector has transformed the nation from a rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban; the industrial sector employs about 25% of the labor force. Since 1983 Canada has registered one of the highest rates of growth among the OECD nations, annually averaging nearly 4% for 1984-87.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: livestock, grains (principally wheat), dairy products, feedgrains, oilseeds, tobacco
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (1988)
Labor force: 13,380,000; services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (1988)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $75.2 billion; expenditures $89.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY88)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, grain, crude petroleum, natural gas, ferrous and nonferrous ores, motor vehicles
Partners: US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, USSR
Imports: $102.1 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: processed foods, beverages, crude petroleum, chemicals, industrial machinery, motor vehicles, durable consumer goods, electronic computers
Partners: US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $18.8 billion (1986)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.1914 (January 1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity productionElectricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $9.615 billion, 9.3% of central government budget (FY88 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1,254 total, 1,026 usable; 431 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 312 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelines: oil, 23,564 km total crude and refined; natural gas, 74,980 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 3,000 km, including St. Lawrence Seaway
Merchant marine: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 662,067 GRT/936,017 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 6 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 13 cargo, 2 railcar carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container, 30 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 chemical tanker, 1 specialized carrier, 14 bulk
Ports and terminalsCanada - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: maritime boundary disputes with France (St. Pierre and Miquelon) and US
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs