What is the difference between Canada and America?
America is the name often given to the US, especially by those from Europe and Asia. Therefore Canada and America are two countries in the continent of North America. They are two different nations with many differences in their history, the system of government, culture, climate, population, tourist attractions and much more.
Government
Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories, with Ottawa as the capital of the country. The government is a federal parliamentary democracy. As a former British colony, Canada is a country in the British Commonwealth of Nations and is a constitutional democracy with the Queen as a figurehead. America consists of 50 states and Washington D.C. is the capital. The country is ruled by a president who is elected separately from the state representatives. It is a completely separate nation known as a republic.
In the Parliaments of both countries there are two houses and the Upper House in both is called the Senate. In America, the Lower House is called the House of Representatives and in Canada it is known as the House of Commons.
Size
Canada is larger than America. It is the second largest country in the world measuring 3,855, 103 square miles. America is next in line with 3,794,101 square miles, but its population is almost ten times that of Canada. The population of the US is 308,745,528, and Canada’s population is 34,352,000. A large part of the land mass of Canada is uninhabitable because it is so far north. In fact, about 90% of the population of Canada lives only about 160 km from the border with the United States.
Climate
Canada has a continental climate that is characterized by cold winters and warm to hot summers. The climate of America is varied ranging from continental in the north to subtropical in the south where it is closer to the equator. There are active volcanoes in the United States, especially in the state of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. There are also desert areas where the climate is arid, yet it is Mediterranean along the southern West and East Coasts.
Economy
Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and is one of the top ten trading countries in the world. It enjoys a high per capita income. Most of the exports from Canada are in agriculture and energy. It is one of the world’s largest producers of zinc and uranium.
America has a mixed capitalist economy. It does have a well-developed infrastructure and is rich in natural resources. It also has a high level of productivity. It is the largest importer of goods and ranks third in the world in terms of exports.
Culture
America is a seat of culture, arts and entertainment, sports and literature. On the other hand, visual arts and music are important aspects of Canadian culture. English is the official language of the United States, but Canada has two official languages – English and French.
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