Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Canada: Ottawa

The capital of Canada is Ottawa. Canada sits in North America, has a population of 38,929,902, and uses the CAD. Official languages include English, French.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Ottawa
  • Continent: North America
  • Population: ~38,929,902
  • Area: 9,984,670 km²
  • Population density: 3.9 people per km²
  • Official languages: English, French
  • Currency: CAD
  • ISO code: CA

How big is Canada?

By population, Canada ranks 38th in the world, holding roughly 0.49% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 2nd.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Canada has 3.9 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within North America, Canada is the 3rd most populous country of 23.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Canada in population are Poland (39,857,145) and Ukraine (38,000,000).

By land area, its closest counterparts are United States (9,833,517 km²) and China (9,596,961 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.

Canada uses the CAD, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

Canada in North America

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are United States, Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — North America is the block Canada belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Canada and a page on the flag of Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Canada?

The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

What is the population of Canada?

About 38,929,902, making it the 38th most populous country in the world.

How big is Canada?

9,984,670 square kilometres, ranking 2nd by land area, at a density of 3.9 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Canada use?

The CAD, which no other country uses.

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