North America
Living in Canada
Photo: Moraine Lake, Banff National Park · Tobias Alt, Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The world's second-largest country by area, with most people living near the US border, long cold winters and an immigration-led population. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate-3° to 22°CColdest and warmest month averages, Toronto · 2020
Average temperature9.1°CToronto (whole country -4.2°C) · 2020
Price level90%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,872Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$66,700GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment6.9%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides2.0Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy82.1 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air7 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest42%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers83%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue13.7%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: English, French. English is an official language.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Ottawa.
Moving to Canada
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.canada.ca.
- Canada student visa guide
- Canada tourist / visit visa guide
- Canada work visa guide
- Study in Canada
- Scholarships in Canada
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 66,745.82 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 6.91 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 1.98 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.81 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 1.76 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.11 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 6,377.97 US$ per person | 2024 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 13.71 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 82.88 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 41.97 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 6.55 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.9 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,871.8 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | -4.2 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 9.1 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | -2.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 21.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 774 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Toronto are 2001–2020 averages.
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