Country Profile: Canada

Canada is a vast and resource-rich country located in Northern North America, sharing the world's longest international border with the United States. As of 2024, Canada has a population of approximately 38.8 million, with a diverse cultural fabric reflecting its historical ties to British and French colonialism. The economy is classified as high-income, heavily reliant on sectors such as timber, oil, and gas, while facing challenges common in developed nations, including public debt and inflation. Governed as a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, Canada maintains strong democratic traditions and a commitment to social services, health care, and education.

Geography

Canada has a total area of 9,984,670 sq km, making it the second-largest country in the world after Russia. It has coastlines along the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, featuring the world's longest coastline at 202,080 km due to its many islands. The country showcases a variety of terrains, including plains, mountains, and forests, with rich natural resources abundant throughout its vast landscape.

8,892 km of land borders, predominantly with the US.
Over 2 million lakes, accounting for nearly 9% of its territory.
Contains notable geographical features like Mount Logan, the highest point at 5,959 m.
39.5% of land is covered by forest (2022 est.).
Canada has a variety of climates, ranging from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

People and Society

Canada's estimated population in 2024 is 38,794,813, characterized by a multicultural society with significant representation from various ethnic groups, including English, Scottish, French, and Indigenous peoples. The country is bilingual, with a substantial percentage speaking both English and French. Urbanization is high, with 81.9% of the population living in urban areas, primarily concentrated near the US border.

Life expectancy stands at 84.2 years (2024 est.).
The median age is 42.6 years (2024 est.).
Annual population growth rate is 0.71% (2024 est.).
Over 63% of the population is aged between 15-64 years.
Approximately 34.6% of the population identifies as having no religion (2021 est.).

Economy

Canada possesses a high-income economy and is the second-largest trading partner of the United States. The economy has seen fluctuations due to trade uncertainties and business investment challenges. In 2024, the GDP is projected to be $2.341 trillion (PPP), with a real GDP per capita of $56,700.

6.5% of GDP is contributed by agriculture (2021 est.).
The unemployment rate is expected to be 6.5% (2024 est.).
Inflation rate projected at 2.4% for 2024.
25.3% of the economy is driven by industrial production (2021 est.).
54.4% of household consumption constitutes GDP (2023 est.).

Government

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy, with a bicameral legislature comprised of the House of Commons and the Senate. The Prime Minister serves as the head of government, while the King of the United Kingdom serves as the monarch, represented by the Governor General.

National holiday: Canada Day on 1 July.
Citizens can hold dual citizenship.
The voting age is 18 years.
The Parliament of Canada has a total of 343 elected members in the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister, Mark Carney, took office on 14 March 2025.

Military and Security

The Canadian Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, focusing on both national defense and international missions. Military expenditures in 2024 are projected to be 1.4% of GDP, while the CAF maintains a target strength of 71,500 personnel.

Approximately 1,000 military personnel are deployed for NATO missions in Europe (2024).
Military service is voluntary, starting at 17 years of age.
Canada plays a significant role in NORAD, a bi-national defense command with the US.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police serves as the national law enforcement agency.
The CAF participates in numerous international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

Energy

Canada is a major producer and consumer of energy, with a diverse energy portfolio that includes nuclear, hydroelectricity, and fossil fuels. The country has achieved 100% electrification of its population by 2022.

58.6% of total installed electricity capacity is from hydroelectric sources (2023 est.).
Petroleum production is at 5.688 million bbl/day (2023 est.).
Total energy consumption per capita is 311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
Canada possesses 170.3 billion barrels of crude oil in estimated reserves (2021).
Total proven natural gas reserves stand at 2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.).

Environment

Canada faces environmental challenges such as air pollution and acid rain, significant due to industrial activities. However, it is committed to international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

Air pollution from vehicles and industrial emissions is a concern.
Approximately 39.5% of land is forested (2022).
Canada is a party to multiple international environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Holds 2.9 trillion cubic meters of total renewable water resources (2020 est.).
Urban areas are home to 81.9% of the population, contributing to an increase in environmental strain.

Transportation

Canada has a well-developed transportation network with extensive railways, highways, and civil aviation systems. The merchant marine fleet is diverse, supporting trade and travel.

49,422 km of railway lines are operational (2021).
Canada boasts 1,459 airports as of 2025.
The merchant marine consists of 716 vessels (2023).
284 ports are active in Canada, facilitating trade.
Civil aircraft registration is identified with the prefix C.

Communications

Canada has a high level of connectivity, with a majority of its population utilizing modern communication technologies. Internet usage stands at around 94% of the population.

Fixed-line telephone subscriptions reach nearly 10.897 million (2023).
There are approximately 36.5 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2023).
Broadband access is present in 43% of households (subscriptions per 100 inhabitants).
The public broadcasting service includes both English and French networks.
The internet country code is .ca.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	38,794,813	2024 estimate
Area	9,984,670 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$2.341 trillion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	84.2 years	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	10 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Urban Population Ratio	81.9%	2023 estimate
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	311.599 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Military Expenditure	1.4% of GDP	2024 estimate
Electricity Access	100%	2022 estimate