OECD Economic Surveys: Canada 2018

Abstract

This Survey is published on the responsibility of the Economic and Development Review Committee of the OECD, which is charged with the examination of the economic situation of member countries.

The economic situation and policies of Canada were reviewed by the Committee on 14 May 2018. The draft report was then revised in the light of the discussions and given final approval as the agreed report of the whole Committee on 28 May, 2018.

The Secretariat’s draft report was prepared for the Committee by Mr. David Carey and Mr. Andrew Barker under the supervision of Mr. Peter Jarrett. Research assistance was provided by Ms. Isabelle Luong. Ms. Heloise Wickramanayake formatted and produced the layout. The previous Survey of Canada was issued in June 2016.

Information about the latest as well as previous Surveys and more information about how Surveys are prepared is available at www.oecd.org/eco/surveys

Basic statistics of Canada, 2017

(Numbers in parentheses refer to the OECD average)^*

LAND, PEOPLE AND ELECTORAL CYCLE
Population (million)		36.6			Population density per km² (2016)	4.0	(37.2)
Under 15 (%, 2016)		16.0		(18.0)	Life expectancy (years, 20132)	81.7	(80.5)
Over 65 (%, 2016)		16.6		(16.5)	Men	79.6	(77.9)
Foreign-born (%, 2016)		21.9			Women	83.8	(83.1)
Latest 5-year average growth (%)		1.1		(0.6)	Latest general election	October 2015
ECONOMY
Gross domestic product (GDP)					Value added shares (%, 20141)
In current prices (billion USD)	1 653.3				Primary sector	1.8	(2.5)
In current prices (billion CAD)	2 144.4				Industry including construction	28.9	(26.6)
Latest 5-year average real growth (%)	2.1			(2.1)	Services	69.3	(70.9)
Per capita (000 USD PPP)	46.8			(43.9)
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Per cent of GDP
Expenditure1		40.3	(40.6)		Gross financial debt1	93.8	(110.2)
Revenue1		39.3	(37.7)		Net financial debt1	24.8	(71.2)
EXTERNAL ACCOUNTS
Exchange rate (CAD per USD)		1.297			Main exports (% of total merchandise exports)
PPP exchange rate (USA = 1)		1.251			Machinery and transport equipment	27.9
In per cent of GDP					Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials	20.2
Exports of goods and services		30.9	(55.0)		Manufactured goods	12.1
Imports of goods and services		33.2	(50.5)		Main imports (% of total merchandise imports)
Current account balance		-3.0	(0.4)		Machinery and transport equipment	44.0
Net international investment position		19.3			Miscellaneous manufactured articles	12.2
					Manufactured goods	12.0
LABOUR MARKET, SKILLS AND INNOVATION
Employment rate for 15-64 year-olds (%)		73.4	(67.7)		Unemployment rate, Labour Force Survey (age 15 and over) (%)	6.3	(5.8)
Men		76.3	(75.4)		Youth (age 15-24, %)	11.6	(11.9)
Women		70.6	(60.1)		Long-term unemployed (1 year and over, %, 2016)	0.8	(2.0)
Participation rate for 15-64 year-olds (%)		78.5	(72.0)		Tertiary educational attainment 25-64 year-olds (%, 2016)	56.3	(35.7)
Average hours worked per year (2016)		1 703	(1 763)		Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP)1	1.5	(2.3)
ENVIRONMENT
Total primary energy supply per capita (toe, 2015)		7.6	(4.1)		CO2 emissions from fuel combustion per capita (tonnes, 2015)	15.3	(9.2)
Renewables (%, 2015)		18.2	(9.6)		Water abstractions per capita (1 000 m³, 2013)	1.0
Exposure to air pollution (more than 10 μg/m³ of PM2.5, % of population, 2015)		21.0	(75.2)
SOCIETY
Income inequality (Gini coefficient, 20153)		0.318	(0.311)		Education outcomes (PISA score, 2015)
Relative poverty rate (%, 20153)		14.2	(11.3)		Reading	527	(493)
Median disposable household income (000 USD PPP, 20153)		31.5	(22.9)		Mathematics	516	(490)
Public and private spending (% of GDP)					Science	528	(493)
Health care (2016)		10.6	(9.0)		Share of women in parliament (%, 2016)	26.0	(28.7)
Pensions (2014d4)		4.6	(9.1)		Net official development assistance (% of GNI)	0.26	(0.38)
Education (primary, secondary, post sec. non tertiary, 2014)		3.6	(3.7)

Better life index: www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org

*Where the OECD aggregate is not provided in the source database, a simple OECD average of latest available data is calculated where data exist for at least 29 member countries.

1. 2016 data for the OECD.

2. 2015 data for the OECD.

3. 2014 data for the OECD.

4. 2013 data for the OECD.

Source: Calculations based on data extracted from the databases of the following organisations: OECD, International Energy Agency, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Inter-Parliamentary Union.