About Canada
If you are planning a trip or relocation to a new country it is often useful to know more about the destination that you are visiting. With this in mind we have provided some general background information about Canada to make your stay more enjoyable.
Please be advised that the information contained on this page is for reference purposes only and may be liable to change at any time without prior warning. For up to date information on Canada, please consult an expert before you depart.
Official Name: Canada.
Capital: The capital of Canada is Ottawa, located in the province of Ontario, is the country's fourth largest city behind Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. Ottawa is located in the South East part of the country in close proximity to the USA.
Location : Situated on the North American continent, Canada occupies most of the northern part of the continental mass.
Size: With a total area of 9,984,670 square kilometers, Canada is the second largest country in the world behind Russia and ahead of the USA.
Climate: Due to the country's large size the climate in Canada can change quite dramatically depending on where you are. The southern parts of the country experience a temperate climate while the weather in the north is typically Sub-Artic or Artic in its nature.
Population: With a total estimated population of 33,390,000 Canada is the 39 th most populated country in the world after Mexico. Due to its large size however, Canada has one of the lowest population densities in the world.
Life expectancy at birth: The life expectancy at birth for a child born in Canada is 80.34 years, the 13 th highest in the world. This is primarily due to the nations excellent social service and healthcare networks.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: There is an HIV/Aids rate in Canada of 0.3%. In real terms this is equivalent to approximately 56,000 people in the country who are living with the disease.
Major illnesses: The disease risk in Canada is fairly low, and most health concerns come from outdoor activities. During the summer the major health risk is dehydration and in winter Hypothermia has killed many people.
Ethnic Groups: Canada has an extremely diverse ethnic background. Approximately 28% of the population came to the country from the British Isles, 23% are French in origin, and a further 15% come from a range of other European countries. Native American/Canadians consist of 2% of the population, while other immigrants (Asian, African, and Arab) make up 6% of the total population. 26% of Canadians identify their ethnicity as being of ‘mixed' origin.
Languages: The official language of Canada is English, which is spoken by 59% of the population. In Quebec, French is also considered to be an additional official language and is spoken by 23.2% of the Canadian population. 17.5% of Canadians speak other languages.
Religion: There are a number of religions practiced in Canada. Major religions in the country include Catholicism, Protestant, Islam, and a range of others.
Government: Canada is a constitutional monarchy, which is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation. Officially, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the head of the Canadian State, however the country has an extremely strong democratic system, and the Canadian constitution is the ultimate rule of law. The Canadian government is similar to Australia in that while both are independent in nature, the Queen is still the head of state.
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II represented in Canada by Governor General Michaelle Jean. The Queen holds no political power in Canadian politics.
Head of Government : The head of the Canadian government is Prime Minster Stephen Harper, who is essentially the un-official head of state.
Economy : Canada has an extremely strong economy, as is proven by its high affluence and standards of living. The Canadian economy operates much in the same way as the USA, revolving around markets. With an abundance of natural resources, and the high technological ability to successfully harvest these materials, Canada has gained a reputation as an international economic powerhouse.
In addition to the nation's financial success, Canada also boasts one of the highest standards of living in the world. Something which, due to the success Canada has had across all industry sectors, the nation has been able to develop to such an extent that the country has one of the lowest unemployment figures in the world; a key factor for many foreign nationals seeking to emigrate to the country.
GDP: With a purchasing power parity of US$ 1.274 trillion, and an actual GDP of US$ 1.406 trillion, Canada boasts the world's 11 th strongest economy.
For more information about Canada, the international health insurance plans that we can offer there, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.