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Writes the CIA World Factbook: "As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards."
Canada's prime minister since 2006, Stephen Harper, is a member of the Conservative Party, and he had an 91% approval rating among "decided conservative voters" in April 2009. He has not moved to privatize the nation's publicly funded health care system -- which offers universal coverage "for medically necessary health care services provided on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay."
One health indicator, the average life expectancy at birth, estimated for 2010, is 81.29 years, up a two or three weeks from last year's estimate -- typical of the gradual gains being made the world over. Canada in this category ranks 9th in the world. (The U.S. ranks 49th.)
Another health indicator is infant mortality. Canada's estimate for 2010 is 4.99 deaths for every 1,000 live births for infants under one-year-old. (The U.S. figure is 6.14 deaths.)
Canada's economy suffered negative growth in 2009 similar to the United States: -2.4% for both countries. Canada in 2009 had 8.5% officially unemployed, the U.S. 9.4%. Canada's public debt was worse than that of the United States: 72% of GDP for Canada, 52.9% of GDP for the United States.
Canada exports more oil than it consumes: 2.421 million barrels per day versus 2.26 million barrels. And it exports much more natural gas than it consumes.
For 2009, its exports are estimated at just short of imports measured in U.S. dollars: $323.4 billion in exports, $327 in imports.
It may take awhile for Canada to catch up to the United States in per capita GDP. The 2009 estimate for Canada is $38,400. The U.S. is eleventh in the world, at $48,500.
North of the United States. Canada has the second largest land mass, 9,984,670 square kilometers, after Russia with 17,075,200 square kilometers. Capital: Ottawa.
2009: $38,400
2008: $39,700
2007: $39,900
2009: -2.4%
2008: 0.4%
2007: 2.5%
2009: 72% of GDP (ranks 20th, worse than the U.S., at 42nd)
2008: 63.8%
2009: 8.5%
2008: 6.2%
3.35 million barrels per day
2009: 5%
Unlike the United States, Canada has been enjoying exports higher in cash value than imports. 2005: $364.8 million in exports, 317.7 million in imports.
2005: 1.1
The World Economic Forum lists Canada as seventh in the elimination of a gender gap. This is ahead of the United States, which is not among the top ten.
Living in an urban area: 80% (2008)
July 2010: 33.759 million. Growth rate: 0.804% per year
July 2009: 33.487 million.
July 2008: 33.21 million
July 2005: 32.8 million
2005: 72.7, compared to 168.7 for the United States
British Isles origin 28; French 23; other European 15; Amerindian 2; Asian, African or Arab 6; mixed 26.%
2010: More arriving than leaving. A net gain of 5.64 persons per 1,000 population.
2009: More arriving than leaving. A net gain of 5.63 persons per 1,000 population.
2010: 4.99 deaths.
2009: 5.04
2008: 5.08
2010: 81.29 years (ranks 9th in the world)
2009: 81.23
2008: 81.16
For a single worker without children, in the year 2001, including contributions to Social Security, a Canadian earning an average wage paid 30.2 percent of income for taxes. For U.S. citizens this was 30.0 percent.
Nationmaster.com gives Canada a 17th place ranking on its net-happiness scale, with a score of 75 percent. The U.S. ranks 13th with a score of 83 percent. Leading the list is Iceland at 94 percent.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php
Copyright © 2010 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.