Area: total: 9,976,140 sq km

land: 9,220,970 sq km

water: 755,170 sq km

Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km

Natural resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 5%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 3%

forests and woodland: 54%

Geography - note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada border

Population: 31,592,805 Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.95% (male 3,067,102; female 2,918,839) 15-64 years: 68.28% (male 10,846,151; female 10,725,800) 65 years and over: 12.77% (male 1,715,071; female 2,319,842)

Population growth rate: 0.99%

Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18%

Languages: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%

National holiday: Independence Day/Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

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