Canada
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What is Canada?
Canada is the world's second-largest country by area, occupying the northern part of North America. Despite its size, it's sparsely populated, fostering a strong sense of national identity. Canada is known for its multicultural society, welcoming immigrants from around the globe. The country is officially bilingual, with English and French reflecting its historical ties to both Britain and France.
Canada's name comes from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement.". It shares a large border with the United States, and the majority of Canadians live within 185 miles (300 km) of this border. Canada is rich in natural resources and has a diverse economy with key industries in manufacturing, services, and mining.
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Where is Canada located on the world map?
Canada is located in the northern part of North America. It stretches from approximately 42° to 83° N in latitude and from 52° to 141° W in longitude, spanning six time zones. Canada is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It shares its southern border with 12 U.S. states and Alaska to the west, while Greenland lies to the northeast.
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What are some major provinces and territories in Canada?
Canada is the world's second-largest country with ten provinces and three territories. Regional terms often overlap due to its vast area and discontinuous settlement.
Major provinces and territories include:
* Alberta Located in the western part of Canada, known for its energy resources and natural beauty.
* British Columbia Situated on the west coast, characterized by its mountains and Pacific coastline.
* Manitoba One of the prairie provinces in central Canada.
* New Brunswick Located in the Atlantic region with a resource-based economy.
* Newfoundland and Labrador The easternmost province of Canada.
* Northwest Territories One of the three territories in northern Canada.
* Nova Scotia An Atlantic province with a diversified economy.
* Nunavut The newest and largest territory in northern Canada.
* Ontario The most populous province, located in central Canada.
* Prince Edward Island The smallest province, located in the east.
* Quebec The second-most populous province, with a distinct French-Canadian culture.
* Saskatchewan Another prairie province known for its agriculture.
* Yukon A territory in northwestern Canada.5 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the capital city of Canada and why is it important?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Chosen by Queen Victoria in 1857, Ottawa's location on the boundary between English-speaking Ontario and French-speaking Quebec made it an ideal compromise. The city was originally a trading and lumbering community. Today, Ottawa is one of the most bilingual cities in the country.
As the national capital, Ottawa is home to federal institutions such as the Bank of Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mint. Parliament Hill, with its iconic Gothic Revival architecture, stands overlooking the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, highlights the city's blend of historical significance and modern culture.
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What languages are commonly spoken in Canada?
Canada has two official languages, English and French. English is the most common language throughout Canada. However, French is the official provincial language in Quebec, where it is the first language for about four-fifths of the population. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Approximately half to three-fifths of Canadians speak English as their first language, while about one-fifth identify French as their primary language. For over one-fifth of Canadians, their mother tongue is neither English nor French, with many speaking other European languages like Italian or German. The largest immigrant group speaks Chinese.
Inuktitut is the language of the Inuit, and Cree is the most common Indigenous language. Of the Indigenous languages in Canada, only Atikamekw and two variants of Cree are not considered endangered.
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How has Canada's history influenced its culture and population today?
Canada's history has significantly shaped its culture and population. The country's culture is a blend of British, French, and American influences. In 1971, Canada embraced multiculturalism as an official policy, promoting the integration of immigrants while preserving their heritage.
Canada's population reflects its history of immigration, with people from all over the world settling there. While the initial population was primarily of British and French descent, it has evolved to include diverse groups from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This mix of cultures has resulted in unique traditions in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The First Nations have also played a role in Canada's cultural identity through their art, traditions, and activism.
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News •
Canada, the second largest country in the world in area (after Russia), occupying roughly the northern two-fifths of the continent of North America.
Despite Canadaâs great size, it is one of the worldâs most sparsely populated countries. This fact, coupled with the grandeur of the landscape, has been central to the sense of Canadian national identity, as expressed by the Dublin-born writer Anna Brownell Jameson, who explored central Ontario in 1837 and remarked exultantly on âthe seemingly interminable line of trees before you; the boundless wilderness around you; the mysterious depths amid the multitudinous foliage, where foot of man hath never penetratedâŚthe solitude in which we proceeded mile after mile, no human being, no human dwelling within sight.â Although Canadians are comparatively few in number, they have crafted what many observers consider to be a model multicultural society, welcoming immigrant populations from every other continent. In addition, Canada harbours and exports a wealth of natural resources and intellectual capital equaled by few other countries.
- Head Of Government:
- Prime Minister: Mark Carney
- Capital:
- Ottawa
- Population:
- (2026 est.) 42,194,000
- Currency Exchange Rate:
- 1 USD equals 1.425 Canadian dollar
- Head Of State:
- King of Canada (British Monarch): Charles III, represented by Governor-General: Louise Arbour
- Form Of Government:
- federal multiparty parliamentary state with two legislative houses (Senate [1051, 2]; House of Commons [338])
- Official Languages:
- English; French
- Official Religion:
- none
- Official Name:
- Canada
- Total Area (Sq Km):
- 9,968,242
- Total Area (Sq Mi):
- 3,848,758
- Monetary Unit:
- Canadian dollar (Can$)
- Population Rank:
- (2026) 37
- Population Projection 2030:
- 41,364,000
- Density: Persons Per Sq Mi:
- (2026) 11
- Density: Persons Per Sq Km:
- (2026) 4.2
- Urban-Rural Population:
- Urban: (2024) 76.3%
- Rural: (2024) 23.7%
- Life Expectancy At Birth:
- Male: (2024) 80 years
- Female: (2024) 84.3 years
- Gni (U.S.$ â000,000):
- (2024) 2,204,813
- Gni Per Capita (U.S.$):
- (2024) 53,400
- Statutory number.
- All seats are nonelected.
Canada is officially bilingual in English and French, reflecting the countryâs history as ground once contested by two of Europeâs great powers. The word Canada is derived from the Huron-Iroquois kanata, meaning a village or settlement. In the 16th century, French explorer Jacques Cartier used the name Canada to refer to the area around the settlement that is now Quebec city. Later, Canada was used as a synonym for New France, which, from 1534 to 1763, included all the French possessions along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. After the British conquest of New France, the name Quebec was sometimes used instead of Canada. The name Canada was fully restored after 1791, when Britain divided old Quebec into the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada (renamed in 1841 Canada West and Canada East, respectively, and collectively called Canada). In 1867 the British North America Act created a confederation from three colonies (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada) called the Dominion of Canada. The act also divided the old colony of Canada into the separate provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Dominion status allowed Canada a large measure of self-rule, but matters pertaining to international diplomacy and military alliances were reserved to the British crown. Canada became entirely self-governing within the British Empire in 1931, though full legislative independence was not achieved until 1982, when Canada obtained the right to amend its own constitution.
Canada shares a 5,525-mile- (8,890-km-) long border with the United States (including Alaska)âthe longest border in the world not patrolled by military forcesâand the overwhelming majority of its population lives within 185 miles (300 km) of the international boundary. Although Canada shares many similarities with its southern neighbourâand, indeed, its popular culture and that of the United States are in many regards indistinguishableâthe differences between the two countries, both temperamental and material, are profound. âThe central fact of Canadian history,â observed the 20th-century literary critic Northrop Frye, is âthe rejection of the American Revolution.â Contemporary Canadians are inclined to favour orderly central government and a sense of community over individualism; in international affairs, they are more likely to serve the role of peacemaker instead of warrior, and, whether at home or abroad, they are likely to have a pluralistic way of viewing the world. More than that, Canadians live in a society that in most legal and official matters resembles Britainâat least in the English-speaking portion of the country. Quebec, in particular, exhibits French adaptations: more than three-fourths of its population speaks French as their primary language. The French character in Quebec is also reflected in differences in religion, architecture, and schooling. Elsewhere in Canada, French influence is less apparent, confined largely to the dual use of French and English for place names, product labels, and road signs. The French and British influences are supplemented by the cultures of the countryâs Native American peoples (in Canada often collectively called the First Nations) and Inuit peoples, the former being far greater in number and the latter enjoying semiautonomous status in Canadaâs newest territory, Nunavut. In addition, the growing number of immigrants from other European countries, Southeast Asia, and Latin America has made Canada even more broadly multicultural.
Canada has been an influential member of the Commonwealth and has played a leading role in the organization of French-speaking countries known as La Francophonie. It was a founding member of the United Nations and has been active in a number of major UN agencies and other worldwide operations. In 1989 Canada joined the Organization of American States and signed a free trade agreement with the United States, a pact that was superseded in 1992 by the North American Free Trade Agreement (which also includes Mexico). A founding member (1961) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada is also a member of the Group of Seven (G7), which includes the worldâs seven largest industrial democracies and, as the Group of Eight (G8), had included Russia until it was indefinitely suspended from membership in 2014.
The national capital is Ottawa, Canadaâs fourth largest city. It lies some 250 miles (400 km) northeast of Toronto and 125 miles (200 km) west of Montreal, respectively Canadaâs first and second cities in terms of population and economic, cultural, and educational importance. The third largest city is Vancouver, a centre for trade with the Pacific Rim countries and the principal western gateway to Canadaâs developing interior. Other major metropolitan areas include Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; Quebec city, Quebec; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.