Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor-General Prime minister: Stephen Harper
Population
28,047,938
34,300,083
Life Expectancy
74.080 years
81.480 years
Capital City
Caracas
Ottawa
Largest city
Maracaibo (population: 2,225,000)
Toronto (population: 4,612,190)
Human Development Index
0.826
0.967
GDP per capita
$12,700 US
$41,100 US
Literacy Rate
93%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
8.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
18.6%
24.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Gustavo Cisneros & family ($3.8bn US)
David Thomson & family ($13.0bn US)
Unemployment Rate
8.200%
7.500%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
federal republic
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation
Independence date
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)
Religions
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)
Languages
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Exports
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.147 (2008 est.), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0364 (2008 est.), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.200%
1.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
18
Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Area
912,050 km sq
9,984,670 km sq
Coastline
2,800 km
202,080 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
