# Canada

> country in North America

**Wikidata**: [Q16](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/canada

## Summary

Canada is a country located in North America [1]. Its capital is Ottawa [2]. The head of state is Charles III [3][4], and the head of government is Mark Carney [5]. The population was 40.0 million in 2023 [6].

## Summary
Canada is a sovereign state and federation located in North America. It operates as a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth realm. The country is composed of ten provinces and three territories, with Ottawa as its capital city.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Sovereign state, country, federation, constitutional monarchy, Commonwealth realm.
- **Inception**: July 1, 1867 (Canadian Confederation).
- **Capital**: Ottawa (since May 15, 1867).
- **Area**: 9,984,670 square kilometers.
- **Population**: 36,991,981 (2021 census, most recent preferred); reached 40,000,000 in June 2023.
- **Official Languages**: English and French (since September 11, 1972).
- **Head of State**: Charles III (since September 8, 2022).
- **Head of Government**: Mark Carney (since March 14, 2025).
- **Currency**: Canadian dollar.
- **Time Zones**: Spans multiple zones, including Newfoundland Time (UTC−03:30), Atlantic Time, Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, and Pacific Time (UTC−08:00).
- **ISO Codes**: Alpha-2: CA; Alpha-3: CAN; Numeric: 124.
- **Internet Domain**: .ca and .quebec.
- **Unemployment Rate**: 7% (2014).
- **Democracy Index**: 8.69 (2024).
- **Human Development Index**: 0.936 (2021).

## FAQs
### What is the political structure of Canada?
Canada is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The legislative body is the Parliament of Canada, which includes the House of Commons, the Senate of Canada, and the monarch of Canada. The executive body is the Government of Canada, with the Prime Minister as head of government. The head of state is the monarch of Canada, currently Charles III, represented by the Governor General of Canada.

### What are the key geographic and demographic features?
Canada is located in North America and borders the United States to the south and northwest, the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland) to the northeast, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon to the southeast. Its highest point is Mount Logan (5,959 meters), and its lowest point is sea level at the Arctic Ocean. The population is 36,991,981 (2021 census), with a life expectancy of 83.62 years (2021) and a literacy rate of 99% (2014).

### What organizations is Canada a member of?
Canada is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations (joined November 9, 1945), NATO (joined April 4, 1949), the Commonwealth of Nations (since 1931), the G7 (since 1977), the G20, the World Trade Organization, the Arctic Council, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (since 1970).

### What are the official languages and cultural symbols?
The official languages are English and French. The national motto is "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (From Sea to Sea). The national anthem is "O Canada" (official since July 1, 1980). The official symbols include the Canadian beaver and the maple leaf (Acer saccharum). The national tartan is the maple leaf tartan.

### What are the economic and social indicators?
The nominal GDP was 2,206,764,000,000 Canadian dollars in 2020. The median income was 70,336 Canadian dollars in 2016. The Gini coefficient was 33.3 in 2017. The total fertility rate was 1.57 in 2021. The birth rate was 9.0 per 1,000 in 2022, and the death rate was 8.6 per 1,000 in 2022.

## Why It Matters
Canada is the second-largest country by total area, spanning 9,984,670 square kilometers. Its vast territory includes extensive coastlines along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, making it a critical geopolitical player in North America and the Arctic region. As a founding member of the United Nations and NATO, Canada has played a significant role in international diplomacy and peacekeeping. Its economy is one of the largest globally, with a high Human Development Index of 0.936 (2021). The country's commitment to multiculturalism, with two official languages (English and French) and a diverse population, shapes its domestic and foreign policy. Canada's natural resources, stable democracy, and high standard of living make it a major destination for immigration and a key partner in global trade.

## Notable For
- Being the second-largest country by land area (9,984,670 km²).
- Having the longest coastline in the world.
- Sharing the world's longest international border with the United States.
- Receiving the Nansen Refugee Award in 1986.
- Being a Commonwealth realm with a constitutional monarchy.
- Having two official languages: English and French.
- Hosting the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Being a member of the G7, G20, NATO, and the United Nations.
- Having a high Human Development Index (0.936 in 2021).
- Inventing the sport of basketball (James Naismith).

## Body
### Political System and Government
Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the monarch of Canada, currently King Charles III, who is represented by the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon (since July 26, 2021). The head of government is the Prime Minister of Canada, currently Mark Carney (since March 14, 2025). The legislative body is the Parliament of Canada, which consists of the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada. The country's foundational text is the Constitution Act, 1867, and the Constitution of Canada serves as the main regulatory text. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court of Canada (since 1933), with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council serving as the highest court until 1949.

### Administrative Divisions
Canada comprises ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba (since July 15, 1870), Saskatchewan (since September 1, 1905), Alberta (since September 1, 1905), British Columbia (since July 20, 1871), Prince Edward Island (since July 1, 1873), and Newfoundland and Labrador (since March 31, 1949). The territories are Yukon (since June 13, 1898), Northwest Territories (since July 15, 1870), and Nunavut (since April 1, 1999).

### Geography and Climate
Located in North America, Canada spans from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north. It shares a land border with the United States (south and northwest) and maritime boundaries with the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland, northeast) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (southeast). The country's coordinates are approximately 56°N, 109°W. The highest point is Mount Logan at 5,959 meters, and the lowest point is sea level at the Arctic Ocean. The highest temperature recorded was 49.6°C in Lytton on June 29, 2021, and the lowest was -63.0°C in Snag on February 3, 1947.

### Population and Demographics
The estimated population reached 40,000,000 in June 2023. The 2021 census recorded a population of 36,991,981. The population is predominantly urban, with an urban population of 31,833,457 in 2022 and a rural population of 7,105,599 in the same year. The male population in 2022 was 19,351,209, and the female population was 19,587,848. The largest ethnic groups include Canadians (32.2%), English Canadians (19.8%), French Canadians (15.5%), Scottish Canadians (14.4%), and Irish Canadians (13.8%) (2011 data).

### Language and Culture
Canada has two official languages: English (58.1% first language, 2016) and French (21.4% first language, 2016). Numerous indigenous languages are spoken, including Cree, Inuktitut, Ojibwe, and many others. The country's culture is characterized by multiculturalism, with the motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (From Sea to Sea). The national anthem is "O Canada," and the national symbols include the Canadian beaver and the maple leaf.

### International Relations
Canada maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, India, and many others. It is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, the Commonwealth of Nations, the G7, the G20, the World Trade Organization, the Arctic Council, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Organization of American States (since 1990).

### Economy
Canada has a highly developed mixed economy. The nominal GDP was 2,206,764,000,000 Canadian dollars in 2020. The median income was 70,336 Canadian dollars in 2016. The unemployment rate was 7% in 2014. The currency is the Canadian dollar, and the central bank is the Bank of Canada.

### Infrastructure and Technology
The country uses the metric system for measurements. The driving side is right (switched from left in various provinces between 1922 and 1947). The mains voltage is 120 volts at 60 Hz. The emergency phone number is 911. The country has extensive railway networks, with railway traffic on the right side.

### Education and Health
The literacy rate is 99% (2014). The retirement age is 65. Compulsory education begins at age 6. Life expectancy at birth is 83.62 years (2021). The total fertility rate is 1.57 (2021).

### Significant Events
Key events in Canadian history include the Canadian Confederation in 1867, the Statute of Westminster in 1931 (granting legislative independence), the Patriation of the Constitution in 1982, and the admission of Newfoundland in 1949.

### Environment and Nature
Canada is known for its vast wilderness, including the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes, and boreal forests. The country has numerous national parks and is home to diverse wildlife. The tartan is the maple leaf tartan, and the arboreal emblem is the Acer saccharum (sugar maple).

## References

1. [Source](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-voting-results-polls-1.3278537)
2. [Source](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-trudeau-liberal-cabinet-ministers-1.3302743)
3. [Source](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/primeMinisters)
4. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/canada)
5. [Source](https://www.state.gov/independent-states-in-the-world/)
6. [King Charles officially proclaimed as Canada's new monarch](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/accession-proclamation-king-charles-1.6578457)
7. Constitution Act, 1867
8. Source
9. Constitution Act, 1982
10. [Source](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-denmark-divide-small-arctic-island-ending-ownership-dispute-2022-06-14/)
11. National Anthem Act
12. The World Factbook
13. BnF authorities
14. [Source](https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/canada)
15. [Source](http://mtcr.info/partners/)
16. [Interpol](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
17. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Americas/CANADA)
18. [Nuclear Suppliers Group](http://www.nuclearsuppliersgroup.org/en/participants1)
19. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
20. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/canada)
21. [Source](https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/76043.pdf)
22. [Source](https://www.alu.army.mil/alog/issues/sepoct11/ABCA_Coalition_Works.html)
23. [Source](https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/partnership/technical-cooperation-program)
24. [Source](https://www.acq.osd.mil/ttcp/overview/)
25. [Source](http://jitc.fhu.disa.mil/projects/pki/pke_lab/partner_pki_testing/cceb_pki_status.aspx)
26. [Source](http://www.airstandards.org/about-asic.html)
27. [Movement Coordination Centre Europe](http://mcce-mil.com/wp-content/uploads/glance/MCCE-AT-A-Glance-September-2017.pdf)
28. [International Hydrographic Organization](https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=452&lang=en)
29. [International Energy Agency](https://www.iea.org/countries/membercountries/)
30. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
31. [Source](http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries.html)
32. [Source](https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Member-Countries?csid=-1&cid=11)
33. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
34. [Source](https://public.wmo.int/en/members/canada)
35. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
36. [Source](https://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/global/pdf/about-us/wco-members/list-of-members-with-membership-date.pdf)
37. [Source](https://holocaustremembrance.com/countries/canada)
38. [Qu'est ce que le G7 ?. 2019](https://www.elysee.fr/g7/2019/01/01/qu-est-ce-que-le-g7)
39. [Source](https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf)
40. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
41. FIPS 10-4
42. MusicBrainz
43. [2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
44. [Estimated population of Canada, 1605 to present](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/98-187-x/4151287-eng.htm)
45. [Population of Canada, by province, census dates, 1851 to 1976](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-516-x/sectiona/A2_14-eng.csv)
46. World Bank Open Data
47. [Source](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/98-187-x/4151287-eng.htm)
48. Canada 2011 Census
49. [Source](http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130926/dq130926a-eng.htm)
50. [Source](http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?&id=0510005)