About Canada

• Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area (9 984 670 square kilometers) yet is ranked 33rd in terms of population.
• Population of 32,207,113 (July 2003 est.).
• There are 10 provinces and 3 territories
• Average life expectancy is 78.1 years
• The median age is 37.8 years
• The literacy rate is 97%
• In the early 1990's, the United Nations ranked Canada as the best country to live.
• The Canada-U.S. border is the longest open border in the world.
• Canada is officially bilingual: 66% English speaking and 24% French speaking.

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The Economy

Canada has a diversified, yet evolving, knowledge-based economy that sells goods and services around the world, with more than 80 percent exported to the U.S. Service industries now employ three out of four Canadians.

Canada's economic well-being is tied to many factors: a wealth of natural resources, strength in manufacturing and construction, and the health of its financial service sectors. Given its skilled labour force, ability to span distances using communication and transportation technologies and dynamic trade relationships with other nations, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects.