Canada is the world’s second-largest country by total area, spanning from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and extending northward into the Arctic Ocean. It shares the world’s longest international land border with the United States. Canada’s capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
The nation operates as a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as the head of state. Canada is officially bilingual at the federal level, recognizing both English and French as official languages. It boasts a diverse and multicultural society, with a population of over 41 million people as of late 2024.
In recent political developments, former central banker Mark Carney has been elected leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and is set to succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister. Carney has pledged a swift transition of power, with official confirmation expected by the end of the week. His immediate challenges include addressing economic and political tensions with the United States, particularly concerning recent tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump.
These tensions have escalated with Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposing a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to several U.S. states in response to U.S. tariff threats. President Trump retaliated by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, further straining relations between the two countries.
Canada maintains a high nominal per capita income and an advanced economy, ranking among the largest globally. The country is known for its strong support of multilateralism and internationalism, participating actively in peacekeeping and aid for developing nations.