Statistical information Canada 1993

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 pageLocation:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
North Pacific Ocean north of the US
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
AreaTotal: 9,976,140 km²
Land: 9,220,970 km²
Land boundaries:
total 8,893 km, US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with
Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: 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, petroleum, natural gas
Land useArable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 3%
Forest and woodland: 35%
Irrigated land: 8,400 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 27,769,993 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 1.28% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Canadian(s)
Adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups:
British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%, other 28%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.28% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 14.48 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.68 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US border; continuous permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development
Current issues note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.98 years
Male: 74.54 years
Female: 81.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
Total population: 99%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Canada
Government type: confederation with parliamentary democracy
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: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador John DE CHASTELAIN
In the us chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,001
In the us telephone: (202) 682-1740
In the us fax: (202) 682-7,726
In the us consulates general:Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and
Seattle
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Governor James J. BLANCHARD
From the us embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 5,000, Ogdensburg, NY 13,669-0430
From the us telephone: (613) 238-5,335 or (613) 238-4,470
From the us fax: (613) 238-5,720
From the us consulates general: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: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. 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. In the 1980s, Canada registered one of the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations, averaging about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects. However, the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas has observers discussing a possible split in the confederation; foregn investors have become edgy.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0.9% (1992)
Real gdp per capita: $19,600 (1992)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley; key source of US agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 1% (1992; accounts for 34% of GDP
Labor force: 13.38 million
By occupation services: 75%
By occupation manufacturing: 14%
By occupation agriculture: 4%
By occupation construction: 3%
By occupation other: 4% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (December 1992)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $111.8 billion; expenditures $138.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation 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: $124.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts; telecommunications equipment
Partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports: $118 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
Commodoties: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and parts
Partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.2776 (January 1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 109,340,000 kW capacity; 493,000 million kWh produced, 17,900 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $11.3 billion, 2% of GDP (FY92/93)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1,420
Usable: 1,142
With permanentsurface runways: 457
With runways over 3659 m: 4
With runways 2440-3659 m: 30
With runways 1220-2439 m: 330
HeliportsPipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine:
63 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 454,582 GRT/646,329
DWT; includes 1 passenger, 3 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 2 railcar carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 24 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 9 bulk; note - does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
Ports and terminalsCanada - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international:
maritime boundary disputes with the US; Saint
Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and
France
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: 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