Canada | History, Population, Immigration, Capital, & Currency

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class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="91513"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada">Canada</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Canada">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref43262"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Land">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43263"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief">Relief</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43264"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43264">The Canadian Shield</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43265"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43265">The interior plains</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43266"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43266">The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43267"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43267">The Appalachian region</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43268"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43268">The Western Cordillera</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43269"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Relief#ref43269">The Arctic Archipelago</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43270"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Drainage">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43271"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Climate">Climate</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43272"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Climate#ref43272">Temperatures</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43273"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Climate#ref43273">Rainfall</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43274"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Climate#ref43274">Snowfall</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43275"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life">Soils and plant and animal life</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43276"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43276">Tundra</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43277"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43277">Forest regions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43278"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43278">Grasslands</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref43280"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43280">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43281"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43281">Principal ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43283"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Soils-and-plant-and-animal-life#ref43283">U.S. immigration</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237196"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Indigenous-peoples">Indigenous peoples</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43285"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Indigenous-peoples#ref43285">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43286"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Indigenous-peoples#ref43286">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43279"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Settlement-patterns">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43287"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Demographic-trends">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref43288"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43295"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43296"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref43296">Agriculture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43297"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref43297">Forestry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43298"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref43298">Fishing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43289"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43290"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Resources-and-power#ref43290">Minerals</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43294"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Resources-and-power#ref43294">Energy</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43299"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Resources-and-power#ref43299">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43303"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Resources-and-power#ref43303">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43304"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Trade">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43302"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Trade#ref43302">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237197"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Labour-and-taxation">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43305"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications">Transportation and telecommunications</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43306"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref43306">Roads and highways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43307"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref43307">Railways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43308"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref43308">Waterways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43309"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref43309">Airways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43310"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref43310">Pipelines</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237198"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Transportation-and-telecommunications#ref237198">Telecommunications</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref43311"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237199"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Government-and-society#ref237199">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43312"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Government-and-society#ref43312">Provincial government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43316"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Local-government">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43317"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Local-government#ref43317">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237200"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Political-process">Political process</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237201"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Political-process#ref237201">Suffrage and elections</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237202"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Political-process#ref237202">Political parties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237203"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Political-process#ref237203">The Quebec question</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237204"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Security">Security</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43318"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Security#ref43318">Police</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237205"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Security#ref237205">Defense</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43320"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Health-and-welfare">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43319"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Education">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref43321"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237206"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Daily-life-and-social-customs">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237207"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-arts">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43322"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-arts#ref43322">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43323"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Visual-arts">Visual arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43325"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-performing-arts">The performing arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43326"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-performing-arts#ref43326">Filmmaking</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43324"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43327"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Sports-and-recreation">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43330"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Media-and-publishing">Media and publishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43331"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Media-and-publishing#ref43331">Press</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43332"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Media-and-publishing#ref43332">Broadcasting</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref93704"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42973"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History#ref42973">Prehistory to early European contact</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42974"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History#ref42974">Precontact aboriginal history</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42975"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History#ref42975">European contact and early exploration</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42976"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History#ref42976">The settlement of New France</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42977"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/History#ref42977">Jacques Cartier</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42978"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Samuel-de-Champlain">Samuel de Champlain</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42979"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Company-of-New-France">The Company of New France</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42980"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-character-of-French-settlement">The character of French settlement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42981"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Royal-control">Royal control</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42982"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-growth-of-Anglo-French-rivalry">The growth of Anglo-French rivalry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42983"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-French-and-Indian-Seven-Years-War">The French and Indian (Seven Years’) War</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42985"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-British-rule-1763-91">Early British rule, 1763–91</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42986"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-British-rule-1763-91#ref42986">The Quebec Act</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42987"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-British-rule-1763-91#ref42987">The influence of the American Revolution</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42988"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-British-rule-1763-91#ref42988">The Constitutional Act of 1791</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42989"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/National-growth-in-the-early-19th-century">National growth in the early 19th century</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42990"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/National-growth-in-the-early-19th-century#ref42990">Population trends</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42991"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Montreal-fur-traders">The Montreal fur traders</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42992"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-War-of-1812">The War of 1812</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42993"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-rebellions-of-1837-38">The rebellions of 1837–38</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42994"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-union-of-Canada">The union of Canada</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref42996"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/From-confederation-through-World-War-I">From confederation through World War I</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42997"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/From-confederation-through-World-War-I#ref42997">The first Riel rebellion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42998"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-transcontinental-railway">The transcontinental railway</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref42999"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-transcontinental-railway#ref42999">Reaction of Quebec</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43000"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Klondike-gold-rush">The Klondike gold rush</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43001"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Klondike-gold-rush#ref43001">The land rush in the west</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43002"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Laurier-era">The Laurier era</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43003"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Foreign-relations">Foreign relations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43004"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/World-War-I">World War I</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43006"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interwar-wars">The interwar wars</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43007"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interwar-wars#ref43007">Turmoil at home</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43008"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interwar-wars#ref43008">Commonwealth relations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43009"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interwar-wars#ref43009">The Great Depression</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43010"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interwar-wars#ref43010">Growing international tension</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43011"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/World-War-II">World War II</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref43012"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-postwar-developments">Early postwar developments</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43013" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-postwar-developments#ref43013">Domestic affairs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43014"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-postwar-developments#ref43014">Postwar prosperity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43015"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-postwar-developments#ref43015">Ethnic minorities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43016"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Early-postwar-developments#ref43016">Internal politics</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43017" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Foreign-affairs">Foreign affairs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43018"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Foreign-affairs#ref43018">Multilateral commitments</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43019"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/U-S-Canadian-relations">U.S.-Canadian relations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43020"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Canada-and-the-Commonwealth">Canada and the Commonwealth</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43021"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Franco-Canadian-affairs">Franco-Canadian affairs</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43022"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Quebec-separatism">Quebec separatism</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237208"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Trudeau-years-1968-84">The Trudeau years, 1968–84</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237209" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Trudeau-years-1968-84#ref237209">First premiership</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43024"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Trudeau-years-1968-84#ref43024">Domestic policies</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43025"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Trudeau-years-1968-84#ref43025">Foreign affairs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref43026"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-Trudeau-years-1968-84#ref43026">Indigenous affairs</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43027"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-interregnum-Progressive-Conservative-government-1979-80">The interregnum: Progressive Conservative government, 1979–80</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237210"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/Second-premiership">Second premiership</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref237211"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-late-20th-and-early-21st-centuries">The late 20th and early 21st centuries</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref43028"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-late-20th-and-early-21st-centuries#ref43028">The administration of Brian Mulroney, 1984–93</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref237212"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administrations-of-Jean-Chretien-and-Paul-Martin-1993-2006">The administrations of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, 1993–2006</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref336677" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Stephen-Harper-2006-15">The administration of Stephen Harper, 2006–15</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref336678"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Stephen-Harper-2006-15#ref336678">First premiership</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref336679"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Stephen-Harper-2006-15#ref336679">Second premiership</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref336680"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Stephen-Harper-2006-15#ref336680">Third premiership</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref336681" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau">The administration of Justin Trudeau</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref342264"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref342264">First Nations suicide epidemic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref342265"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref342265">Legalization of marijuana, environmental protection, and Quebec mosque attack</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref342266"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref342266">Response to the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref342267"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref342267">SNC-Lavalin affair</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref342268"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref342268">Diplomatic dispute with China</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref343866"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref343866">The 2019 Canadian federal elections</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref347263"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Canada/The-administration-of-Justin-Trudeau#ref347263">The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the 2021 snap 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Lumber and Wood Industries</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/womens-movements-in-canada-196085" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Women's Movements in Canada</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-at-the-1952-olympic-winter-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada at the 1952 Olympic Winter Games</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2017/11/the_second_battleofypres22april-25may1915.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Government of Canada - The Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-ypres" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada and the Second Battle of Ypres</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/the-invasion-of-sicily/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Juno Beach Centre - Canada in the Second World War - The Invasion of Sicily</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-and-weapons-of-mass-destruction" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada and Weapons of Mass Destruction</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/canada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Canada</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/south-african-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada and the South African War (Boer War)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Canada/345661" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Canada/273474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/David-J-Bercuson/3667" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">David J. Bercuson</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of History, University of Calgary, Alberta; Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. Author of <i>Maple Leaf Against the Axis: Canada's Second World War </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> David J. Bercuson</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Norman-L-Nicholson/2141" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Norman L. Nicholson</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Senior Professor of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London. Author of <i>The Boundaries of the Canadian Confederation </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Norman L. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-23T00:00:00CST" >Nov 23, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm 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js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/91513/fa29352ff219a4ab76a8f158d72d2651" rel="nofollow">Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 9:42 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/91513/de2f999332e6cc8be1ea78c7fdfb6590" rel="nofollow">2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 6:28 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/91513/3975bb6bbd0c089e0c56cebbe9187fd2" rel="nofollow">Prominent figure from Canada's trucker protests against COVID-19 restrictions found guilty</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 2:02 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/91513/1b58ab8575944f3b1584141acd50c2d5" rel="nofollow">Canoeist is paddling the 6,000-mile Great Loop out of gratitude for life</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 6:11 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="201289" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/178125-050-4AA6ED25/Mount-Assiniboine-Canada-Alberta.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/201289"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/178125-050-4AA6ED25/Mount-Assiniboine-Canada-Alberta.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/178125-050-4AA6ED25/Mount-Assiniboine-Canada-Alberta.jpg?w=300" alt="Mount Assiniboine" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/178125-050-4AA6ED25/Mount-Assiniboine-Canada-Alberta.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/201289">Mount Assiniboine</a><span>Mount Assiniboine in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref478031"></span>Canada</strong>, the second largest <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> in the world in area (after <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Russia</a>), occupying roughly the northern two-fifths of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/continent" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">continent</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North America</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Despite Canada’s great size, it is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. This fact, coupled with the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="grandeur" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/grandeur" data-type="EB">grandeur</a> of the landscape, has been central to the sense of Canadian national identity, as expressed by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dublin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dublin</a>-born writer <span id="ref841479"></span>Anna Brownell Jameson, who explored central <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ontario-province" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ontario</a> in 1837 and remarked exultantly on “the 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 penetrated…the solitude in which we proceeded mile after mile, no <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-being" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">human being</a>, no human dwelling within sight.” 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 <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="intellectual" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual" data-type="MW">intellectual</a> capital equaled by few other countries.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/7068-050-54679E29/Flag-Canada.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/62284" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/7068-050-54679E29/Flag-Canada.jpg" alt="Canada" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Canada">flag of Canada</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <audio src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/142143-005-97A9D3FE/O-Canada-version-Canadian.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="text-center font-12 mt-5"> <span>Audio File:</span> Anthem of Canada (<a href="/topic/O-Canada">see article</a>)</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of Government: </dt> <dd>Prime Minister: <a href="/biography/Justin-Trudeau">Justin Trudeau</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Ottawa">Ottawa</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2024 est.) 42,069,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Currency Exchange Rate: </dt> <dd>1 USD equals 1.377 Canadian dollar</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State: </dt> <dd>King of Canada (British Monarch): <a href="/biography/Charles-III-king-of-the-United-Kingdom">Charles III</a>, represented by Governor-General: Mary May Simon</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>federal multiparty parliamentary state with two legislative houses (Senate [105<sup>1, 2</sup>]; House of Commons [338])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Languages: </dt> <dd>English; French</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>none</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Canada</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>9,984,670</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>3,855,081</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>Canadian dollar (Can$)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2023) 37</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>41,364,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2024) 10.9</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2024) 4.2</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2018) 81.4%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2018) 18.6%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2020–2022) 79.3 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2020–2022) 83.8 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: (2006) 100%</dd> <dd>Female: (2006) 100%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 2,162,633</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 53,930</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>Statutory number.</li> <li>All seats are nonelected.</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Canada"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="212825" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/183610-050-07053EDD/World-Data-Locator-Map-Canada.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/212825"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/183610-050-07053EDD/World-Data-Locator-Map-Canada.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/183610-050-07053EDD/World-Data-Locator-Map-Canada.jpg?w=300" alt="Canada" data-width="1600" data-height="1533" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/183610-050-07053EDD/World-Data-Locator-Map-Canada.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/212825">Canada</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="24324" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/7081-050-CE7C1C6E/Place-Royale-Chateau-Frontenac-Quebec-regime-appearance.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/24324"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/7081-050-CE7C1C6E/Place-Royale-Chateau-Frontenac-Quebec-regime-appearance.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/7081-050-CE7C1C6E/Place-Royale-Chateau-Frontenac-Quebec-regime-appearance.jpg?w=300" alt="Château Frontenac, Quebec city" data-width="1539" data-height="1225" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/7081-050-CE7C1C6E/Place-Royale-Chateau-Frontenac-Quebec-regime-appearance.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/24324">Château Frontenac, Quebec city</a><span>Château Frontenac, Quebec city, Quebec.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Canada is officially bilingual in English and French, reflecting the country’s history as ground once contested by two of Europe’s great powers. The word Canada is derived from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Huron-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Huron</a>-<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iroquois-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iroquois</a> <em>kanata</em>, meaning a village or settlement. In the 16th century, French explorer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacques-Cartier" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jacques Cartier</a> used the name Canada to refer to the area around the settlement that is now <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Quebec" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Quebec</a> city. Later, Canada was used as a synonym for <span id="ref478036"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New France</a>, which, from 1534 to 1763, included all the French possessions along the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Lawrence-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">St. Lawrence River</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Lakes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Great Lakes</a>. After the British conquest of New France, the name <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Quebec-province" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Quebec</a> was sometimes used instead of Canada. The name Canada was fully restored after 1791, when <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain</a> divided old Quebec into the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada (renamed in 1841 <span id="ref841485"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada-West" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canada West</a> and <span id="ref841490"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada-East" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canada East</a>, respectively, and collectively called Canada). In 1867 the <span id="ref478037"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/British-North-America-Act" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British North America Act</a> created a confederation from three colonies (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nova-Scotia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nova Scotia</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Brunswick-province" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Brunswick</a>, and Canada) called the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/dominion-British-Commonwealth" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dominion</a> 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 <span id="ref841500"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British crown</a>. Canada became entirely self-governing within the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British Empire</a> in 1931, though full legislative independence was not achieved until 1982, when Canada obtained the right to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="amend" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amend" data-type="MW">amend</a> its own constitution.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="160116" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/150941-050-B8236E18/Moraine-Lake-Banff-National-Park-Canada-Alberta.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/160116"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/150941-050-B8236E18/Moraine-Lake-Banff-National-Park-Canada-Alberta.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/150941-050-B8236E18/Moraine-Lake-Banff-National-Park-Canada-Alberta.jpg?w=300" alt="Moraine Lake in Banff National Park" data-width="776" data-height="600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/150941-050-B8236E18/Moraine-Lake-Banff-National-Park-Canada-Alberta.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/160116">Moraine Lake in Banff National Park</a><span>Moraine Lake at dawn, Banff National Park, southwestern Alberta, Canada.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Canada shares a 5,525-mile- (8,890-km-) long border with the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a> (including Alaska)—the longest border in the world not patrolled by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/armed-force" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">military forces</a>—and the overwhelming majority of its population lives within 185 miles (300 km) of the international boundary. Although Canada shares many similarities with its southern neighbour—and, indeed, its popular <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> and that of the United States are in many regards indistinguishable—the differences between the two countries, both temperamental and material, are profound. “The central fact of Canadian history,” observed the 20th-century literary critic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Northrop-Frye" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Northrop Frye</a>, is “the rejection of the American Revolution.” Contemporary Canadians are inclined to favour orderly central government and a sense of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="community" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community" data-type="MW">community</a> 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 Britain—at least in the English-speaking portion of the country. Quebec, in particular, exhibits <span id="ref841514"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">French</a> 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 <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cultures" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultures" data-type="MW">cultures</a> of the country’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Native-American" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Native American</a> peoples (in Canada often collectively called the First Nations) and <span id="ref841516"></span>Inuit peoples, the former being far greater in number and the latter enjoying semiautonomous status in Canada’s newest territory, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nunavut" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nunavut</a>. In addition, the growing number of immigrants from other European countries, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Southeast-Asia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Southeast Asia</a>, and Latin America has made Canada even more broadly multicultural.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Canada has been an influential member of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commonwealth-association-of-states" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Commonwealth</a> and has played a leading role in the organization of French-speaking countries known as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Organisation-Internationale-de-la-Francophonie" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">La Francophonie</a>. It was a founding member of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations</a> and has been active in a number of major UN agencies and other worldwide operations. In 1989 Canada joined the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Organization-of-American-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Organization of American States</a> and signed a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/free-trade" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">free trade</a> agreement with the United States, a pact that was superseded in 1992 by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/North-American-Free-Trade-Agreement" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North American Free Trade Agreement</a> (which also includes Mexico). A founding member (1961) of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Organisation-for-Economic-Co-operation-and-Development" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development</a>, Canada is also a member of the Group of Seven (G7), which includes the world’s seven largest industrial <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="democracies" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracies" data-type="MW">democracies</a> and, as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Group-of-Eight" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Group of Eight</a> (G8), had included Russia until it was indefinitely suspended from membership in 2014.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-area-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/168695-131-11055CC5/Geography-Something-globe-Europe-Eurasia-Africa.jpg" alt="7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz</div> </div> </a><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="98039" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/93676-050-5D2BCD3E/Parliament-Buildings-Ottawa.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/98039"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/93676-050-5D2BCD3E/Parliament-Buildings-Ottawa.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/93676-050-5D2BCD3E/Parliament-Buildings-Ottawa.jpg?w=300" alt="Ottawa: Parliament Buildings" data-width="1600" data-height="909" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/93676-050-5D2BCD3E/Parliament-Buildings-Ottawa.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/98039">Ottawa: Parliament Buildings</a><span>Parliament Buildings, Ottawa.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="100008" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/76031-050-162E5900/CN-Tower-rest-skyline-Toronto-world-structure.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/91513/100008"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/76031-050-162E5900/CN-Tower-rest-skyline-Toronto-world-structure.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/76031-050-162E5900/CN-Tower-rest-skyline-Toronto-world-structure.jpg?w=300" alt="Toronto" data-width="1600" data-height="1130" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/76031-050-162E5900/CN-Tower-rest-skyline-Toronto-world-structure.jpg" data-href="/media/1/91513/100008">Toronto</a><span>Skyline of Toronto.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The national capital is <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ottawa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ottawa</a>, Canada’s fourth largest city. It lies some 250 miles (400 km) northeast of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Toronto" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Toronto</a> and 125 miles (200 km) west of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Montreal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Montreal</a>, respectively Canada’s first and second cities in terms of population and economic, cultural, and educational importance. The third largest city is <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Vancouver" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Vancouver</a>, a centre for trade with the Pacific Rim countries and the principal western gateway to Canada’s developing interior. Other major metropolitan areas include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Calgary" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Calgary</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Edmonton-Alberta" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Edmonton</a>, Alberta; Quebec city, Quebec; and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Winnipeg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Winnipeg</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Manitoba" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Manitoba</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":64,"pageId":91513,"pageLength":966,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Canada | History, Population, Immigration, Capital, & Currency | Britannica