Population

• The population of Canada is about 33 million people. It is the second largest country in the world by total area.

• Over the past 100 years, more than 13 million immigrants have arrived, making Canada one of the world’s most ethnically diverse countries.

• English and French are Canada’s two official languages.  More than 100 other languages are spoken.  Chinese is the most commonly spoken other language, followed by Italian and German.

• The three levels of government in Canada contribute to the economy – spending about USD 526 billion in 2005-2006 – and provide significant funding for research by government agencies, business and universities.

• Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 23 percent during the first half of the past decade, and then another 14 percent during the second half.  Real GDP rose 3.7 percent in the first quarter of 2007. 

• Canada is one of the world’s largest energy producers.  Most of Canada’s 180 billion barrels of crude oil reserves – a total second only to Saudi Arabia – is found in the oil sands of northern Alberta.

• Canada heavily invests in scientific research and development.  In 2006, Canadian universities, hospitals, government laboratories and businesses planned to spend more than USD 29 billion on R&D, more than double the spending of a decade earlier.