Canada 150: What the numbers tell us about our country

Need something to talk about before the fireworks begin on Canada Day?In honour of the countryhitting the big 1-5-0 on Saturday, here are a few other numbers to inspire some patriotic fervour, courtesy of Statistics Canada.

People

Canada's population is 10times its size in 1870, the year of the first census after Confederation. Here is a closer look at the people who make up thecountry:

• 35.2 million:the population in 2016.
• 3.5 million:the population in 1870.
• 41:the average age of a citizen in 2016.
• 1.4 million: number of people who reported having an Indigenous identity in 2011 (4.3 per cent of the country's total population).
• 17 million:number of people from around the world who have made their home in Canada since 1867.
• 20.6 per cent:proportion of the population listed as foreign born in 2011 (the highest among G8 countries).
• 6.2 million:number of people who self-identify as being part of a visible minority group in 2011 (the three largest identify asSouth Asian, Chinese and black, and make up 60 per cent of the visible minority population).
• Over 200:number of ethnic origins reported in 2011.

• How to see and hear Canada Day coverage on CBC
• Take the Canada Day quiz
• Why celebrating Canada's 150th is a 'slap in the face' to Indigenous people

Geography

Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories,and, in terms of sheer geography, we're the second largest country:

• 9,984,670 square km: total area.
• 5,514 km:longest distance from east to west.
• 4,634 km: longest distance from north to south.
• 1,169,561 square km:total area of fresh water.

National identity and values

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians seem to have a strong sense of who they areand what their country stands for:

• 93per centbelievedthe Charter of Rights and Freedoms is "the country's most important national symbol" in 2013, followed by the national flag (91 per cent), the national anthem (88 per cent), the RCMP (87 per cent), and hockey (77 per cent).
• 92 per centbelieved"Canadians collectively share the value of human rights" in 2013, followed by respect for the law (92 per cent), and gender equality (91 per cent).
• 90 per centreported"a strong sense of belonging to Canada" in 2013.
• 87 per centover age 15 reported "being proud to be Canadian" in 2013.

As Canadian as maple syrup

"As Canadian as maple syrup"might be a clich, but there's goodreason for it:

• 47 million: number of maple trees reportedly tapped in 2016.
• $486.7 million:value of maple products produced in Canada in 2016.
• 46.2million:number of litres of maple syrup produced in Canada in 2016 (Quebec alone produces 42.4million litres, or 90 per cent of the country's syrup).
• $381.3 million:value of Canadian maple sugar and maple syrup exports in 2016.

What Canadians eat and drink

Here are some numbers that'll make you hungry or thirsty:

• $9.2 billion:value of all beer sold by liquor stores, agencies and other retail outlets in Canada in 2016.
• $263.4 million: value of potatoes exported from Canada in 2016.
• $57.9 million:value of salmon, Pacific, fresh/chilled from Canada in 2016.
• $20.3 million:value of ketchup and other tomato sauces exported from Canada in 2016.
• $287: what the average household spent on cheese in 2015.
• $163:what the average household spent on coffee and tea in 2015.
• $10:what the average household spent on ketchup in 2015.

Wild about winter goods

It's called the Great White Northfor a reason, eh? Here are export totals in 2016 of winter-related vehicles and sports items:

• $395.9 million:snowmobiles and similar vehicles.
• $25.3 million:ice skates.
• $63,487:ski boots and snowboard boots.

Canadian-sounding places

What's in a name? Depends on who you ask, but these towns sound more Canadian than most:

• Beersville, N.B.
• Beaver, N.L.
• L'rable, Que.
• Grizzly, Alta.
• Habitant, N.S.
• Bacon Cove, N.L.
• Loon, Ont.
• Winter, Sask.
• Les Castors, Que.
• Hockey Estates, Alta.
• Snowball, Ont.
• Le Petit-Canada, Que.