Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area, occupying most of northern North America, bilingual in English and French, with the largest coastline of any country and a tiny population for its size.
Geography & landscape
Canada sits in Northern America, in the northern hemisphere of North America. With an area of approximately 9,984,670 km², it is one of the largest countries on Earth, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the cold-temperate climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Ottawa, lies near coordinates 60°, -95°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of North America, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Northern America region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Canada.
People & society
The population of Canada is around 40M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Canada recognises multiple official languages — English and French — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Canada is structured as a federal constitutional monarchy. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Ottawa, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Ottawa and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Canada shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Canada through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Ottawa, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +1, and clocks are set to the Various (UTC-3:30 to UTC-8) time zone. ISO standards identify Canada as CA (alpha-2) and CAN (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇨🇦, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Ottawa | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| Sub-region | Northern America | — |
| Population | 40M | people |
| Area | 9,984,670 | km² |
| Currency | Canadian Dollar (CAD) | — |
| Calling code | +1 | international dialling |
| Time zone | Various (UTC-3:30 to UTC-8) | standard time |
| Government type | Federal constitutional monarchy | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | CA | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | CAN | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 60 | degrees |
| Longitude | -95 | degrees |
Did you know?
Canada has the world's longest coastline at 202,080 km — more than the next six longest coastlines combined.
