Facts about Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world by area and one of the least densely populated, with much of its population living within about 150 kilometers of the American border. It is officially bilingual, formally multicultural and still working through its relationship with the Indigenous nations who were here first.
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Population (July 2026 estimate)
- 41.8 million
- Area
- 9,984,670 km²
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (C$)
- Official languages
- English and French
- Divisions
- 10 provinces, 3 territories
- Highest point
- Mount Logan, 5,959 m
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Canada spans six time zones and reaches from the Great Lakes to the high Arctic, organized as ten provinces and three northern territories. Ontario and Quebec hold the bulk of the population and industry, the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta supply the wheat belt and the oil sands, British Columbia sits behind the Rockies on the Pacific, and four Atlantic provinces face the sea in the east. North of all of it lies the Canadian Shield, and beyond that tundra and permafrost.
Toronto is the largest city and the financial center, Montreal the heart of French-speaking Canada, and Vancouver sits between mountains and ocean with the mildest weather in the country. Ottawa holds the federal government, Calgary the energy industry, and Quebec City is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors mostly divide between the Rocky Mountain parks around Banff and Jasper, the Atlantic coast, and the cities, with Niagara Falls and the autumn colors of Ontario and Quebec drawing crowds of their own.
Geography of Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world by area. Most people live in a narrow band close to the southern border.
- Which oceans border Canada?
- The Pacific to the west, the Atlantic to the east and the Arctic to the north. Its coastline is the longest of any country.
- What is the Canadian Shield?
- A vast area of ancient rock, lakes and forest curving around Hudson Bay. It covers roughly half the country.
- Which country does Canada border?
- Only the United States, along the longest land border between two countries, including the border with Alaska.
History of Canada
Indigenous peoples lived here for thousands of years before French and British colonies arrived. Canada was formed by Confederation in 1867.
- Who were the first Europeans to settle in Canada?
- Norse voyagers built a short-lived settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland around the year 1000.
- What happened on 1 July 1867?
- Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia united as the Dominion of Canada. The date is now celebrated as Canada Day.
- When did Canada fully control its own constitution?
- In 1982, when the Constitution Act brought it home from Britain and added the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Languages of Canada
English and French are the two official languages of the federal government. Dozens of Indigenous languages are also spoken.
- Where is French most widely spoken?
- In Quebec, where it is the only official language. There are also francophone communities in New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba.
- Which French does this guide teach?
- The linked lessons teach standard French. Quebec French has its own pronunciation and many words of its own.
- What is Inuktitut?
- The language of the Inuit of the eastern Arctic, written in syllabics or Latin letters. It is an official language of Nunavut.
Culture of Canada
Canadian culture mixes Indigenous, French, British and immigrant traditions. Hockey, music and writing are well known abroad.
- What are Canada’s national sports?
- Ice hockey is the national winter sport and lacrosse, which has Indigenous origins, is the national summer sport.
- Who is Alice Munro?
- A short story writer from Ontario awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013.
- What is a sugar shack?
- A cabin where maple sap is boiled into syrup each spring, often with a hearty meal. The tradition is strongest in Quebec.
Economy of Canada
Services employ most Canadians, while energy, mining, forestry and farming draw on huge natural resources. The United States is by far the largest trading partner.
- What currency does Canada use?
- The Canadian dollar, divided into one hundred cents. The one dollar coin is nicknamed the loonie after the bird on it.
- Where are Canada’s oil sands?
- Mainly in northern Alberta, around Fort McMurray. They hold one of the largest oil reserves in the world.
- What does Canada produce most of in the world?
- Among other things, maple syrup. Quebec alone produces most of the world’s supply.
Government of Canada
Canada is a federation and a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Power is shared between Ottawa and the provinces.
- Who is the head of state?
- The King of Canada, represented by the Governor General. The prime minister leads the government.
- What is the difference between a province and a territory?
- Provinces hold powers under the constitution. Territories exercise powers delegated by the federal parliament.
- What are the two houses of Parliament?
- The elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate, both meeting in Ottawa.
Nature of Canada
Tundra, boreal forest, prairie and temperate rainforest support very different wildlife. Canada holds a large share of the world’s fresh water.
- What is the boreal forest?
- A belt of conifers, wetlands and lakes across the north of the country. It is one of the largest intact forests on Earth.
- Why is the beaver a national symbol?
- The fur trade in beaver pelts drove early European exploration and settlement of Canada.
- Where can you see polar bears?
- Around Hudson Bay and in the Arctic. Churchill, Manitoba, is famous for bears waiting for the bay to freeze.
Food of Canada
Regional dishes reflect the fisheries of the coasts, the grain of the prairies and the French traditions of Quebec.
- What is poutine?
- Fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. It comes from rural Quebec in the 1950s.
- What is a butter tart?
- A small pastry filled with butter, sugar and eggs, sometimes with raisins or pecans. It is a classic of Ontario.
- What is bannock?
- A simple bread cooked in a pan or over a fire, widely made in First Nations and Métis communities.
Landmarks of Canada
National parks protect mountains and coasts, while historic towns keep the story of early settlement.
- Which Canadian side of Niagara Falls is larger?
- The Horseshoe Falls, most of which lies in Canada. The American and Bridal Veil falls are on the United States side.
- What is the CN Tower?
- A communications tower in Toronto, completed in 1976. At 553 metres it was the tallest free-standing structure in the world for over thirty years.
- What is special about Old Quebec?
- It is the only walled city north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
People and daily life
About forty million people live in Canada. A large share were born abroad, and most live in cities.
- Who are First Nations, Inuit and Métis?
- The three groups of Indigenous peoples recognized in the constitution. Métis people have mixed Indigenous and European ancestry.
- Which are the largest cities?
- Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Each is the centre of a metropolitan area of millions of people.
- Why do so many Canadians live near the southern border?
- The south has the mildest climate, the best farmland and the easiest transport links, including to the United States.
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