4 GeoFroggy

Economy Overview

Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Canada has a large oil and natural gas sector with the majority of crude oil production derived from oil sands in the western provinces, especially Alberta. Canada now ranks third in the world in proved oil reserves behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia and is the world’s seventh-largest oil producer.

TThe 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (which includes Mexico) dramatically increased trade and economic integration between the US and Canada. Canada and the US enjoy the world’s most comprehensive bilateral trade and investment relationship, with goods and services trade totaling more than $680 billion in 2017, and two-way investment stocks of more than $800 billion. Over three-fourths of Canada’s merchandise exports are destined for the US each year. Canada is the largest foreign supplier of energy to the US, including oil, natural gas, and electric power, and a top source of US uranium imports.

Given its abundant natural resources, highly skilled labor force, and modern capital stock, Canada enjoyed solid economic growth from 1993 through 2007. The global economic crisis of 2007-08 moved the Canadian economy into sharp recession by late 2008, and Ottawa posted its first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada's major banks emerged from the financial crisis of 2008-09 among the strongest in the world, owing to the financial sector's tradition of conservative lending practices and strong capitalization. Canada’s economy posted strong growth in 2017 at 3%, but most analysts are projecting Canada’s economic growth will drop back closer to 2% in 2018.

Agriculture Products

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; fish; forest products

Industries

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas

Industrial Production Growth Rate

4.9% (2017 est.)

Labor Force

19.52 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force by Occupation

Agriculture: 2%

Industry: 13%

Services: 6%

Industry and services: 76%

Manufacturing: 3% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2017: 6.3%

2016: 7%

Population Below Poverty Line

9.4% (2008 est.)

Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share

Lowest 10: 2.6%

Highest 10: 24.8% (2000)

Distribution of Family Income Gini Index

2005: 32.1

1994: 31.5

Budget

Revenues: 649.6 billion (2017 est.)

Expenditures: 665.7 billion (2017 est.)

Public Debt

2017: 89.7% of GDP

2016: 91.1% of GDP

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2010: 1%

31 December 2009: 0.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2017: 3.2%

31 December 2016: 2.7%

Stock of Narrow Money

31 December 2017: $748.9 billion

31 December 2016: $637.6 billion

Stock of Broad Money

31 December 2017: $748.9 billion

31 December 2016: $637.6 billion

Stock of Domestic Credit

31 December 2017: $3.219 trillion

31 December 2016: $2.802 trillion

Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2015: $1.593 trillion

31 December 2014: $2.095 trillion

31 December 2013: $2.114 trillion

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

31 December 2017: $86.68 billion

31 December 2016: $82.72 billion

Debt External

31 March 2016: $1.608 trillion

31 March 2015: $1.55 trillion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2017: $1.039 trillion

31 December 2016: $1.004 trillion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2017: $1.371 trillion

31 December 2016: $1.277 trillion

Exchange Rates

Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

Year

GDP Official Exchange Rate

  • $1.653 trillion 2017 est.

Taxes and Other Revenues

  • 39.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus or Deficit

  • -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fiscal Year

  • 1 April - 31 March

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

  • 2017
    $1.774 trillion
  • 2016
    $1.721 trillion
  • 2015
    $1.697 trillion

GDP Real Growth Rate

  • 2017
    3%
  • 2016
    1.4%
  • 2015
    1%

GDP Per Capital

  • 2017
    $48,400
  • 2016
    $47,500
  • 2015
    $47,400

Gross National Saving

  • 2017
    20.8% of GDP
  • 2016
    20% of GDP
  • 2015
    20.5% of GDP

GDP Composition by end Use

  • Household consumption
    57.8% (2017 est.)
  • Government consumption
    20.8% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in fixed capital
    23% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in inventories
    0.7% (2017 est.)
  • Exports of goods and services
    30.9% (2017 est.)
  • Imports of goods and services
    -33.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition by Sector of Origin

  • Agriculture
    1.6% (2017 est.)
  • Industry
    28.2% (2017 est.)
  • Services
    70.2% (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

  • 2017
    1.6%
  • 2016
    1.4%

Current Account Balance

  • 2017
    -$48.75 billion
  • 2016
    -$49.32 billion

Exports

  • 2017
    $423.5 billion
  • 2016
    $393.5 billion

Exports Partners

  • US
    76.4%
  • China
    4.3%

Exports Commodities

    Motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Imports

  • 2017
    $442.1 billion
  • 2016
    $413.4 billion

Imports Partners

  • US
    51.5%
  • China
    12.6%
  • Mexico
    6.3%

Imports Commodities

    Machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods