Canada

Canada
Motto: A mari usque ad mare (Latin)
"From Sea to Sea"
Anthem: "O Canada"
A projection of North America with Canada highlighted in green
CapitalOttawa
45°24′N 75°40′W / 45.400°N 75.667°W / 45.400; -75.667
Largest cityToronto
Official languages
Demonym(s)Canadian
GovernmentFederal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Charles III
Mary Simon
Justin Trudeau
LegislatureParliament
Senate
House of Commons
Independence 
July 1, 1867
December 11, 1931
April 17, 1982
Area
• Total area
9,984,670 km2 (3,855,100 sq mi) (2nd)
• Water (%)
11.76 (2015)[2]
• Total land area
9,093,507 km2 (3,511,023 sq mi)
Population
• 2024 Q1 estimate
Neutral increase 40,769,890[3] (36th)
• 2021 census
36,991,981[4]
• Density
4.2/km2 (10.9/sq mi) (236th)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $2.379 trillion[5] (16th)
• Per capita
Increase $59,813[5] (28th)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Decrease $2.118 trillion[5] (10th)
• Per capita
Decrease $53,247[5] (18th)
Gini (2018)Positive decrease 30.3[6]
medium
HDI (2022)Increase 0.935[7]
very high (18th)
CurrencyCanadian dollar ($) (CAD)
Time zoneUTC−3.5 to −8
• Summer (DST)
UTC−2.5 to −7
Calling code+1
Internet TLD.ca

Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's second-largest country by total area, with the world's longest coastline. Its border with the United States is the world's longest international land border. The country is characterized by a wide range of both meteorologic and geological regions. It is a sparsely inhabited country of 40 million people, the vast majority residing south of the 55th parallel in urban areas. Canada's capital is Ottawa and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Indigenous peoples have continuously inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years. Beginning in the 16th century, British and French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast. As a consequence of various armed conflicts, France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom, highlighted by the Statute of Westminster, 1931, and culminating in the Canada Act 1982, which severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy in the Westminster tradition. The country's head of government is the prime minister, who holds office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons and is "called upon" by the governor general, representing the monarch of Canada, the head of state. The country is a Commonwealth realm and is officially bilingual (English and French) in the federal jurisdiction. It is very highly ranked in international measurements of government transparency, quality of life, economic competitiveness, innovation, education and gender equality. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration. Canada's long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its history, economy, and culture.

A developed country, Canada has a high nominal per capita income globally and its advanced economy ranks among the largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in international affairs, with a tendency to pursue multilateral and international solutions. Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has had a significant influence on its global image. Canada is part of multiple international organizations and forums.

  1. ^ "Royal Anthem". Government of Canada. August 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "Surface water and surface water change". OECD. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Population estimates, quarterly". Statistics Canada. December 19, 2023. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Canada)". International Monetary Fund. October 10, 2023. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Income inequality". OECD. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Human Development Report 2023/24" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.