25 Amazing Facts about Canada
Our updated Facts about Canada will share 25 fascinating facts and interesting information about this wonderful North American country.
Canada is a huge country on the North American continent. The country is divided into ten provinces and three territories and is home to about 38 million people (2021).
Canada has lots of superlatives on offer as you will read below. Also have a look at our separate Canada country facts page with more information about the country here.
25 Canada Facts and Amazing Canada Superlatives
1. Canada is the largest country in the Western hemisphere and the second largest country in the world after Russia and borders only one country, the United States of America.
2. Canada has the longest coastline in the world with 202,080 km/ 125,567 miles.
3. Three Canadian islands are among the top ten biggest islands in the world. They are: Baffin Islands (more than double the size of Great Britain), Victoria Island and Ellesmere Island (both are roughly the size of England).
4. More than half of all the lakes in the world are located in Canada! The country counts more than 3 million lakes and 31,700 big lakes with an area over 300 hectares. Canada also includes two of the biggest lakes in the world: Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
5. Toronto is Canada's largest metropole with over 6 million people. Montreal, Canada's second largest city with over 4 million inhabitants, is also the second largest city in the world that has a French-speaking population - after Paris in France.
Montreal, the second most populated city in Canada
- Nine out of ten Canadians live in the US - Canada border region which includes the area up to 160 km/ 99 miles from the US - Canada border.
- The Bay of Fundi in eastern Canada has the highest tides in the world. The waves there are more than 13 m/ 42 ft high.
- Jasper Nationalpark in the Rocky Mountains spans over several vegetation zones.
- Canada's biggest bay is Hudson Bay which was discovered in 1610 by English explorer Henry Hudson. Hudson Bay is located in Eastern Canada and is frozen from about mid December and mid June every year.
- Nunavut territory in Northern Canada was only created in 1999 and is home to the Inuit population. Did you know that the number plate for cars, motorbikes and snowmobiles in the Northern State of Nunavut is the shape of a polar bear?
Canadian polar bear in the tundra at Hudson Bay
- Canada's longest river is McKenzie River in the North West. The river is 4,241 km/ 2,635 miles long.
- The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan with 5,959 m/ 19,551 ft. Mount Logan is located in the Yukon Territory at the border with Alaska/USA.
- About 38 million people live in Canada. Almost 82% of all Canadian live in urban areas. Life expectancy at birth is about 83 years. There are 26 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada.
- The Literacy Rate is 99%, so almost all Canadians can read and write.
- About 1.4 Million Canadians refer to themselves as belonging to the indigenous or Aboriginal people, among them First Nation people, Metis and Inuits. Did you know, that 21 June is celebrated as 'National Aboriginal Day' in Canada? This is a day of celebration for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
First Nations people celebrating - image by Anton Bielousov
- The national holiday is called Canada Day and is celebrated on 1 July.
- Canada is a popular country for immigration. The country is said to have the largest population growth of the industrialised countries (G-7).
- The most travellers arriving in Canada come from the USA, the United Kingdom and France.
- The most popular countries for travel for Canadians are the USA, Mexico and Cuba.
- There are more than 2,800 hockey rinks in Canada. However, almost twice as many kids under 14 years play soccer than hockey. Ice-Hockey is still the second most practised sport in Canada for all over 15 years of age. Ice hockey comes after golf, but before soccer!
Ice Hockey Match between Canada and the USA
- Canada is the world leader in uranium mining. Uranium is used in nuclear power plants for producing electricity. The largest uranium mine of the world is located at Cigar Lake in northern Saskatchewan/Canada. Canada is also the largest supplier of energy, also including oil and gas, to the USA!
- Canada is also the third largest oil reserve holder in the world after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The North American country is also the seventh largest producer of oil.
- Canada is fourth biggest producer of hydro electric power - after China, Brazil and the USA.
- The Trans-Canada highway is said to be the longest national highway in the world.
- About half of Canada's landmass is covered by forest. There are about 180 tree species in Canada. Timber is among the main exports of the country. Canada is the third most forested country in the world.
Canada - Forest as far as the eye can see
Did you know that Canada is taking part in NASA's Lunar Gateway project? Read more about Canada's role in the Moon exploration here.
Canada Facts | References
- Government of Canada. "Culture, History and Sport." Canada.ca 15 May 2020. Last accessed 11 February 2021.
- Central Intelligence Agency. "Canada." WorldFactBook. 5 February 2021. Last accessed 11 February 2021
- BBC News. "Canada Country Profile." BBC. 1 February 2019. Last accessed 11 February 2021
- Jasmin Gill. "Canada needs a lot more people, and soon. IRPP.org. 6 November 2019. Last accessed 11 February 2021
- World Nuclear Association. "Uranium Mining Overview." world-nuclear.org. May 2020. Last accessed 11 February 2021
- Government of Canada. "How much forest does Canada have." National Resources Canada. 20 May 2020. Last accessed 11 February 2021.
- CBC News. "Hockey, Canada's Game." Radio Canada. 30 September 2013. Last accessed 11 February 2021
- The Canadian Encyclopaedia. "Geography Quiz." Historica Canada. Last accessed 11 February 2021
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Image Credits on Canada Facts: Shutterstock.com, icehockey image by Iurii Osadchi, First Nations people by Anton Bielousov, Jamaica musicians by LostMountainStudio