Canada

Canada is a country in North America. Its land reaches from the Atlantic Ocean to the east to the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Arctic Ocean is to the north of Canada. Canada's land area is 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85×10^⁶ sq mi). It is the world's second-largest country by total area, behind Russia, but only the fourth-largest country by land area. It has the world's longest coastline.

Canada
Motto:
Anthem:  Royal anthem: "God Save the King"
Capital	Ottawa 45°24′N 75°40′W
Official languages	English French
Ethnic groups (2016)	List of ethnicities 72.9% European 17.7% Asian 4.9% Indigenous 3.1% African 1.3% Latin American 0.2% Oceanian
Religion (2011)	List of religions 67.2% Christianity 23.9% No religion 3.2% Islam 1.5% Hinduism 1.4% Sikhism 1.1% Buddhism 1.0% Judaism 0.6% Other
Demonym(s)	Canadian
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Charles III
• Governor General	Louise Arbour
• Prime Minister	Mark Carney
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Commons
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Confederation	July 1, 1867
• Statute of Westminster	December 11, 1931
• Patriation	April 17, 1982
Area
• Total area	9,984,670 km2 (3,855,100 sq mi) (2nd)
• Water (%)	11.76 (as of 2015)
• Total land area	9,093,507 km2 (3,511,023 sq mi)
Population
• 2025 Q4 estimate	41,575,585 (37th)
• 2021 census	36,991,981
• Density	4.2/km2 (10.9/sq mi) (230th)
GDP (PPP)	2025 estimate
• Total	$2.730 trillion (16th)
• Per capita	$65,707 (24th)
GDP (nominal)	2025 estimate
• Total	$2.225 trillion (9th)
• Per capita	$53,558 (20th)
Gini (2024)	▼ 29.2 low
HDI (2023)	0.939 very high · 16th
Currency	Canadian dollar ($) (CAD)
Time zone	UTC−3.5 to −7
• Summer (DST)	UTC−2.5 to −7
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd (AD)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
ISO 3166 code	CA
Internet TLD	.ca

Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Most parts of the country are cold or severely cold in the winter. Areas in the south of Canada are warm in the summer. Much of the land is covered in forest or tundra. Most of the people in Canada live in urban areas, near the southern border with the US. This border is the longest between any two countries in the world. The national capital is Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city is Toronto. Other major Canadian cities include Montreal, Quebec; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; Quebec City, Quebec; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Hamilton, Ontario.

The name "Canada" comes from the Huron-Iroquois word "Kanata", meaning "village" or "settlement". In 1535, two Aboriginal youths told an explorer from France, named Jacques Cartier, about the route to Kanata. They were actually referring to the village named Stadacona, which is near present-day city of Québec.

Aboriginal people lived in the places (that are now Canada) for a long time. In 1537, the French started a colony. The British Empire soon followed. The two empires fought several wars. In the late 18th century, only British North America remained with what is more or less Canada today. The country was formed from several colonies with the British North America Act on July 1, 1867. Over time, more provinces and territories became part of Canada. In 1931, Canada achieved nearly total independence with the Statute of Westminster 1931, and became completely independent when the Canada Act 1982 removed the last remaining ties of legal dependence with the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as its head of state. The country is officially bilingual at the federal level. That means that citizens have the right to communicate with the government in two languages: English or French. Immigration to Canada has made it one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations. Its economy is the eleventh largest in the world, and relies mainly on natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Canada's relationship with its neighbor and biggest trading partner, the U.S., has a big impact on its economy and culture.

Canada is a developed country and has the tenth highest nominal per capita income globally as well as the sixteenth highest ranking in the Human Development Index. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education. Canada is a Commonwealth realm member of the Commonwealth of Nations, a member of the Francophonie, and part of several major international and intergovernmental institutions or groupings including the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the G7, the G20, the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Geography and climate

Northern mountains in Canada. Because of its northern geography, most of Canada is very cold, making much of the land difficult for humans to live in. For this reason, Canada has a small population for its large size, and most people live in limited areas of the south where temperatures are less severe and people, buildings and other infrastructure can more easily survive.

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, after Russia. By land area alone, it is the fourth-largest country. Canada lies between the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean. It has the longest coastline of any country. The country uses six main time zones.

Canada has ten provinces and three territories. It shares its southern and northwestern land border with the United States. Canada also shares a land boundary with Greenland on Hans Island, while the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon lie near Newfoundland. Most large Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, are in the southern part of the country. The northern regions are much less populated because they are colder, more remote and harder to reach.

The geography of Canada is very different in each region. Canada has high alpine areas, mountains and valleys in the west, flat grasslands and prairies in the middle, and forests, hills and ancient shield rocks in the east. Canada also has some of the last largely untouched boreal forest in the world.

The Canadian Shield is a vast area of ancient Precambrian rock lying in an arc around Hudson Bay. It covers more than one third of Canada's land area. It is a unique land of lakes, bogs, swamps, trees and exposed rocks. In many places, it is dangerous and difficult to travel across the land because lakes, wetlands, forests and rocks block direct routes. The region also contains many mineral deposits. Canada has more lakes than any other country and is often said to contain about 60% of the world's lakes.

The Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River form an important water system in southeastern Canada. The Saint Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean and allows large ships to travel far inland. Canada's rivers and lakes provide drinking water, transport routes, fish and hydroelectricity.

Because Canada is very far north and much of its land has severe weather, most Canadians live in the southern parts, where the climate is much milder. In some cities, especially those far inland, the temperature becomes very cold during winter.

Canada has many kinds of climate because of its large size. Northern Canada has long, extremely cold winters and short summers. Southern areas generally have warmer summers and less severe winters, although inland cities can still become very cold. Warm, moist air systems moving in from the Pacific Ocean bring more rain than snow to much of the Pacific coast. Colder temperatures farther inland cause more precipitation to fall as snow. The Prairies and central Canada often have large differences between summer and winter temperatures. Parts of southern Canada can become quite hot in summer, with temperatures often rising above 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F).

Climate affects where people live, how homes and roads are built, and how people travel and work. Most Canadians live in the southern part of the country, where the weather is milder and communities are closer to major roads, farms, industries and the United States. Snow, ice and freezing temperatures can make travel dangerous and increase the cost of heating and maintaining homes, roads and other buildings.

Canada's geography and climate also shape recreation and culture. Popular winter activities include ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding. During the warmer months, people take part in hiking, camping, swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities.

History

Main page: History of Canada

Aboriginal people

Indigenous people lived in what is now Canada for thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived. The indigenous groups that live in Canada are the First Nations, the Inuit, and the Métis. The Métis are people that come from both First Nations and European families. Together, these three groups are called "Indigenous", "Aboriginal", or "First Peoples". They used to be called "Indians" by the Europeans, but this is now considered rude.

Many people think the first people to live in Canada came from Siberia at least 14,000 years ago, using the Bering land bridge. The land bridge connected Asia and North America.

When European people first settled in Canada, the number of Indigenous people living in Canada was between 200,000 and two million.

European colonization

The Vikings were the first Europeans to land in Canada, in what is now Newfoundland. The exploration was led by the Viking explorer Leif Erikson. They did not stay for a long time. In the early 16th century, Europeans started exploring Canada's eastern coast. The first of these explorers was John Cabot from England, in 1497, and later Jacques Cartier from France, in 1534. Alexander Mackenzie later reached the Pacific coast over land, where captains James Cook and George Vancouver went by sea. The Europeans also traded beaver furs to the First Nations.

Some parts of Canada were settled by France. Other parts of the country were settled by Great Britain. In 1605, Port-Royal was built in Acadia (today called Nova Scotia) by the French, led by Samuel de Champlain. In 1608, he settled in Quebec. The British took control of the French areas after a battle of the French and Indian War on the Plains of Abraham, near Quebec City, in 1759.

Thousands of people came north to Canada and settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. They were called United Empire Loyalists.

Confederation and expansion

On July 1, 1867, Canada was united under a federal government. At first, Canada was only made up of the provinces Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first prime minister. Manitoba, the Yukon territory, and the Northwest Territories became part of Canada in 1870. British Columbia joined in 1871, and Prince Edward Island in 1873.

There were two Red River Rebellions, in 1869-70 and 1885, both led by Louis Riel. He fought for more rights for the Métis people, a mix between French and First Nations. A railroad across the country, the Canadian Pacific Railway, finished in 1885, making it easier for Canadians to move to the west. Many Europeans came to the prairies, so Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces in 1905.

Early 20th century

Canadian soldiers fought in World War I for the British Empire. More Canadians died in this war than any other war. Canada became better known as a country after its success in capturing Vimy Ridge from the Germans in France in 1917. Women were given the right to vote by the end of the war, partly because of the help they gave making weapons while the men fought in Europe. In 1931, Canada became fully independent. The government of Canada made all the decisions about Canada.

A Canadian crew during the battle of Normandy in June 1944

Canadians also fought in World War II. The Dieppe Raid, in 1942, went very badly. Most soldiers were killed, wounded, or imprisoned. Canadians helped capture soldiers at Normandy in 1944. They also liberated the Netherlands from Germany.

Modern times

In 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador became the 10th province of Canada. In 1956, Canadian Lester Pearson, who later became prime minister, helped end the Suez Crisis. Because of this, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1965, Pearson helped change the design of Canada's flag. This design is known as the Maple Leaf today. Before that, the Red Ensign was Canada's flag. In 1982, Canada changed its constitution. The change introduced a new Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The main part of the Constitution is the 1867 Constitution Act.

Some French Canadians today wish to form their own country, separate from the rest of Canada. The province of Quebec held a referendum (vote) in 1980, but only about 40% wanted to separate. Another referendum was held in 1995, with almost 50% voting in favour of leaving Canada. Since then, fewer people in Quebec have wanted to leave Canada, but it is still important to Quebec politics.

Today, about 25% of Canadians speak French as their first language. Many people in Canada speak both French and English. Although most French Canadians live in the province of Quebec, there are French-speaking communities and people all across Canada. For example, 40% of the people in the province of New Brunswick and 20% of those in Manitoba have a strong French background, as some people do in Ontario, mainly along its border with Quebec.

In 1999, Nunavut was created as Canada's third territory, out of the eastern Northwest Territories, in an agreement with the Inuit people.

Government and public institutions

Parliament Hill

Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. This means that Canada has a monarch, but elected representatives make most political decisions. King Charles III is the King of Canada and the country's head of state. The King is represented in Canada by the governor general, who is appointed by the King on the advice of the prime minister. The governor general is expected to remain outside party politics and normally acts on the advice of the prime minister and other ministers. The current governor general is Louise Arbour.

The prime minister is the head of government. The current prime minister is Mark Carney, who was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister in March 2025. The prime minister chooses the ministers who form the Cabinet. The Cabinet manages the daily work of the federal government and must keep the support, or confidence, of the elected House of Commons. Each province has a premier who leads its provincial government. The territories also have premiers, although their governments receive their powers from the federal government rather than directly from the Constitution.

The Parliament of Canada makes federal laws. It has three parts: the King, the Senate and the House of Commons. Members of the House of Commons are elected by voters, while senators are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister. A bill normally becomes law after it is passed by the House of Commons and the Senate and receives royal approval. The federal and provincial governments have different areas of responsibility. For example, the federal government is responsible for matters such as national defence and criminal law, while provinces are responsible for areas such as education and most healthcare services.

Several political parties have members in the House of Commons, including the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and the Green Party. Some members sit as independents. Other smaller political parties are registered with Elections Canada, even when they do not have members in Parliament.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, equality before the law and the right of Canadian citizens to vote. These rights can be limited by laws that governments can show are reasonable in a free and democratic society. Federal elections are managed by Elections Canada, an independent agency that does not work for any political party. Canada is generally rated highly for political rights and civil freedoms, although concerns have been raised about government openness, prison conditions, discrimination and some restrictions on religious clothing.

Canada uses laws and independent public bodies to help prevent corruption and hold governments responsible for their actions. The Auditor General of Canada examines federal programs and government spending and reports the findings to Parliament. Other rules cover access to government information, conflicts of interest, lobbying and reports of wrongdoing in the public service. In Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, Canada received a score of 75 out of 100. This was the highest score in the Americas that year, but it also showed that concerns about public-sector corruption had not completely disappeared.

Provinces and territories

Main page: Provinces and territories of Canada

Below is a list of provinces and territories. They are listed by population.

Provinces
Name	Capital	Largest city	Entered Confederation	Population (2025)	Area (km2)	Official language
Ontario	Toronto	Toronto	1867	16,258,260	1,076,395	English
Quebec	Quebec City	Montreal	1867	9,058,297	1,542,056	French
British Columbia	Victoria	Vancouver	1871	5,697,536	944,735	English
Alberta	Edmonton	Calgary	1905	5,029,346	661,848	English
Manitoba	Winnipeg	Winnipeg	1870	1,509,702	647,797	English
Saskatchewan	Regina	Saskatoon	1905	1,266,959	651,036	English
Nova Scotia	Halifax	Halifax	1867	1,093,245	55,284	English
New Brunswick	Fredericton	Moncton	1867	869,682	72,908	English and French
Newfoundland and Labrador	St. John's	St. John's	1949	549,911	405,212	English
Prince Edward Island	Charlottetown	Charlottetown	1873	182,657	5,660	English
Territories
Yukon	Whitehorse	Whitehorse	1898	48,278	482,443	English and French
Northwest Territories	Yellowknife	Yellowknife	1870	45,950	1,346,106	multiple
Nunavut	Iqaluit	Iqaluit	1999	41,830	2,093,190	multiple

Natural resources and economy

Peyto Lake in Alberta

Canada has large supplies of water, forests, fish, farmland, minerals, oil and natural gas. Its many rivers are used to produce hydroelectricity. Forests provide wood, paper and other products, while mines produce metals and minerals used in buildings, transport and modern technology. A 2014 mining-industry report described Canada as a leading exporter of zinc, uranium, gold, nickel, aluminum, steel and lead.

Natural resources are an important part of Canada's economy and support many jobs and communities. Canada exports energy, forest products, minerals and metals to countries around the world. In 2024, exports of mineral and metal products were worth about C$153 billion and made up about 21 per cent of Canada's merchandise exports. Resource development can also affect the land, water, climate and Indigenous communities, so governments and businesses are expected to follow environmental rules and consult affected communities.

Population and demographics

Canada had an estimated population of about 41.4 million people on 1 April 2026. Although Canada is very large, most people live in cities and towns in the southern part of the country, especially near the border with the United States. In the 2021 Census, about 82.2 per cent of the population lived in population centres, while 17.8 per cent lived in rural areas.

Canada has people from many cultural, ethnic, religious and language groups. English and French are the country's official languages, and many Indigenous and immigrant languages are also spoken. In the 2021 Census, about 8.4 million people, or 23 per cent of the population, were or had been landed immigrants.

Society, relationships, and social support

Family, friends, neighbours and community groups are important parts of social life in Canada, they can support well-being during hard experiences. Statistics Canada measures whether people have someone they can count on, feel close to friends and family, trust other people and feel that they belong to their local community. Canadians also support their communities by volunteering, donating money and helping relatives, friends and neighbours.

Health, healthcare, and healthy life expectancy

Canada has a universal healthcare system paid for mainly through taxes. Each province and territory runs its own public health insurance plan. These plans must cover medically necessary hospital and doctor services and must meet the rules of the Canada Health Act to receive full federal funding. Public insurance does not cover every service. Coverage for medicines, dental care, eye care, home care and other services may depend on the province, age, income or private insurance.

Life expectancy at birth in Canada was 81.7 years in 2023. Healthy life expectancy means the number of years a person may expect to live in reasonably good health, not only the total number of years lived. Canada's health-adjusted life expectancy at birth was 66.9 years in 2023, lower than it had been before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Culture and everyday life

Canadian culture has been shaped by Indigenous peoples, French and British settlement, immigration and the country's different regions. Everyday life may include sports, outdoor activities, music, television, festivals, religious practices and community events. Culture is not the same everywhere: life in a large city may be different from life in a northern, coastal, rural or Indigenous community.

Quality of life and national well-being

Quality of life in Canada is measured through more than income. Statistics Canada also studies health, safety, housing, the environment, life satisfaction, loneliness, trust, family and friend relationships, community belonging and confidence in institutions. Canada ranked 25th in the 2026 World Happiness Report, down from sixth place in 2013. The report compares people's own ratings of their lives and studies factors such as income, health, social support, freedom, generosity and trust. Findings on migration also show that immigrants often move closer to the average happiness level of the country where they settle. This means that a person's quality of life is shaped partly by the society around them.

Canada Media

• "O Canada"-«Ô Canada», performed by the National Band of the Naval Reserve

• Royal anthem of Canada. "God Save the Queen" is in the public domain and may be used without having to obtain permission from the Government [of Canada]. ogg file created from mp3 file using ffmpeg software.

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  A map of Canada showing the percent of self-reported indigenous identity (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) by census division, according to the 2021 Canadian census

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  Map of territorial claims in North America by 1750. Possessions of British America (pink), New France (blue), and New Spain (orange); California, Pacific Northwest, and Great Basin not indicated.

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  Benjamin West's The Death of General Wolfe (1771) dramatizes James Wolfe's death during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Quebec City.

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  War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord warning British commander James FitzGibbon of an impending American attack at Beaver Dams

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  A copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

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  A topographic map of Canada, in polar projection (for 90° W), showing elevations shaded from green to brown (higher)

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  Köppen climate classification types of Canada

Other websites

• Official Government of Canada website
• CIA World Factbook - Canada Archived 2019-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
• Yahoo - Definition of Canada