Factbook
History of Canada — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Canada, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1867A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867, while retaining ties to the British crown.
1867Independence: 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster).
1931Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982.
2022Languages: English (official) 87.1%, French (official) 29.1%, Chinese languages 4.2%, Spanish 3.2%, Punjabi 2.6%, Arabic 2.4%, Tagalog 2.3%, Italian 1.5% (2022 est.) Religions: Christian 53.3%, Muslim 4.9%, Hindu 2.3%, Sikh 2.1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 0.9%, Traditional (North American Indigenous) 0.2%, other religions and traditional spirituality 0.6%, none 34.6% (2021 est.) Urban population: 81.9% of total population (2023).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); nuclear: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 58.6% of total install Energy use: 311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas Agriculture: wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 6.372 million Toronto, 4.308 million Montreal, 2.657 million Vancouver, 1.640 million Calgary, 1.544 million Edmonton, 1.437 million OTTAWA (capital) (2023) high-income economy and second-largest US trading partner; key timber, oil, and gas industries; trade uncertainties and weak business investments contributing to economic slowdown; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above target range Inflation: 2.4% (2024 est.).
2025Military spending: 2% of GDP (2025 est.).
2025Population: 39.2 million (2025 estimate).
