Country Profile
Canada is a country of vast open spaces, remarkable mountains, pristine forests, and awesome lakes (there are more lakes in Canada than in the rest of the world combined containing 1/5th of the world’s freshwater reserves). It is a warm, welcoming, progressive & open-minded nation. Canada is truly a multicultural, multi-ethnic & richly diverse country where 1.6 million aboriginals from more than 100 tribes reside with people from over 250 ethnicities. It is also one of the least densely populated countries on the planet. However, most of its population (approximately 86%) is concentrated in the South of the country within 300 km of its border with the United States (it shares an 8891 km land border with the USA – the longest in the world).
Key Facts
- Area: 9.98 million sq. km. (2nd largest in the world)
- Capital: Ottawa
- Government: Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
- Climate: Canada has a wide variety of climates. The northern two-thirds of the country have very cold winters and short, cool summers. The central southern area of the interior plains has a typical continental climate—very cold winters, hot summers & relatively sparse precipitation. Southern Ontario and Quebec have a climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, similar to that of some portions of the American Midwest. Except for the west coast, all of Canada has a winter season with average temperatures below freezing and with continuous snow cover.
- Healthcare System: Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. It is a universal healthcare system, where most basic healthcare and medical services are covered under the public healthcare system known as MEDICARE for all permanent residents & citizens. Guidelines and standards are set by the federal government. This ensures that a consistent level of care exists across the country.
- National Holiday: Canada Day – 1st July
- Population (2021): 38.2 million (1/5th immigrants)
- Official languages: English & French. New Brunswick is bilingual, whereas French is the official language in Quebec
- Legal System: Common law, except in Quebec where civil law is predominant
- Personal Income Tax Rate: 15 – 33%
- Corporate Tax Rate: 15% flat (10% for “small businesses”)
- Life Expectancy: Male – 81.1 years / Female – 85.9 years (2020)
- Ranked amongst the top 10 countries in the “Quality of Life Index” by the United Nations
- Ranks in the top 10 on the United Nations “Human Development Index”, a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, standards of living, and quality of life
- Ranked among the top 10 most peaceful countries in the world by the Global Peace Index (2018)
- Placed 7th in the United Nations’ 2018 “World Happiness Report”
- The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 “Liveability Report”, has 3 of its largest cities (Calgary, Toronto & Vancouver) in the top 10 ideal destinations in the world to live in
- Dual Citizenship allowed
- Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Time :
Newfoundland Time Zone : GMT – 3.5 hrs
Atlantic Time Zone : GMT – 4 hrs
Eastern Time Zone : GMT – 5 hrs
Central Time Zone : GMT – 6 hrs
Mountain Time Zone : GMT – 7 hrs
Pacific Time Zone : GMT – 8 hrs - Calling Code : + 1
- Canada is a member of the G8, G7, G20, NATO, the Commonwealth, United Nations, OECD, WTO & many other international bodies.
Canada is divided into 10 Provinces and 3 Territories :
PROVINCES | CAPITAL |
---|---|
Alberta | Edmonton |
British Columbia | Victoria |
Manitoba | Winnipeg |
New Brunswick | Fredericton |
Newfoundland & Labrador | St. John’s |
Nova Scotia | Halifax |
Ontario | Toronto |
Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown |
Quebec | Quebec City |
Saskatchewan | Regina |
TERRITORIES | CAPITAL |
---|---|
Northwest Territories | Yellowknife |
Nunavut | Iqaluit |
Yukon | Whitehorse |