Statistics Canada is the nation’s central statistical agency. It is responsible for collecting demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade through a nation-wide census. Established in 1918 as the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, the agency collects, compiles, analyses, abstracts, and publishes statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic, and general activities and conditions of the people. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, the population of Canada was 35,151,728- an increase of 1.7 million people from May 2011. The majority of this increase was accounted for by immigrants.

Population

The Canada 2016 Census had a population of 35,151,728 which makes up approximately 0.5 percent of the world’s total population. The population has risen to 3.76 crores in 2019. Canada has one of the highest immigration rates in the world. Immigrants are mainly attracted by economic policy and family reunification. Also, Canada accepts large numbers of refugees. New immigrants mostly settle in major urban areas- Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver

According to the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD), the population in Canada increased by 5.6 million from 1990 to 2008 (20.4% growth in population).

Provincial and Territorial population (2016)

Age

According to the Census of 2016, the majority of the people fall under the age group of 15-64 years. Canada has a fairly older population which is one of the reasons why immigrants are attracted here. The younger workforce is always in demand in Canada.

Language

There are several languages and dialects used in Canada. English and French are the official languages, but Canada’s linguistic diversity extends beyond these as many indigenous languages and the mother tongue of immigrants from different countries are also spoken.

According to the 2016 Census, the mother tongue of 56% population is English and 21.4% population’s mother tongue is French. A total of 86.2% of Canadians has a working knowledge of English, while 29.8% have a working knowledge of French. 20% of the Canadian population speaks a language other than English or French at home.

Religion

In the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), Statistics Canada grouped responses of people into nine core religious categories- Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Aboriginal Spirituality, other religions, and no religious affiliation. 67 percent of the Canadians self-identified themselves as Christians. The second, third, and fourth largest categories were- No religious affiliation (24%), Muslims (3%), and Hindus (2%).

StatCan further grouped the responses under Christianity into nine subcategories- Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Christian Orthodox, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, United Church, and Other Christian. Among these 39% of Canadians were Catholic, followed by United Church- 6% and Anglican- 5%. Whereas 9% of Christians were grouped under Other Christian sub-category, which also comprises several denominations

Economy

The economy of Canada is a highly developed market economy. It has the 10th largest GDP by nominal and 16th largest GDP by purchasing power parity (PPP) in the world. Canada’s economy is dominated by the private sector, the service industry employs the majority of Canadians. Canada’s natural resources, valued at US$33.2 trillion in 2019, is the third highest in the world. It has the world’s third-largest proven petroleum reserves and is the fourth largest exporter of natural gas. Due to its small population and abundant natural resources, Canada is considered as ‘energy superpower’.

Canada is one of the least corrupt countries in the world and is one of the top 10 trading nations with a globalized economy. In 2018, Canada’s exports and imports were worth CA$585 billion and CA$607 billion, respectively. Canada is a member of the APEC, NAFTA, G7, G20, OECD, and WTO.

The logging and oil industries are the two most important primary industries of Canada. With the world’s longest coastline, Canada has the 8th largest commercial fishing and seafood industry in the world. The manufacturing sector is mainly based in Central Canada, with the automobile industry and aircraft industry being especially important.

Per capita income

Canada ranks above the U.S. and most Western European Nations on The Heritage Foundation’s Index of economic freedom and has relatively low level of income disparity. Canada’s average household disposable income per capita is well above the OECD average.

Per Capita Income is a measure of the amount of money earned per person in a nation. It can be used to determine the average per-person income for an area and to evaluate the standard of living and quality of life of the population.

All the provinces/territories of Canada have a high per capita GDP but there is a wide variation in them. Ontario is the manufacturing and trade centre with extensive linkages to north-eastern and mid-western U.S. States. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the territories’ economies rely majorly on natural resources, and produce highest per capita GDP in country. Manitoba, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces have the lowest per capita GDP values.