Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, spanning six time zones from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Ocean. It is a bilingual nation with English and French as official languages, reflecting its complex colonial history and the distinct heritage of its Francophone population, particularly in Quebec. Canada is known for its vast and diverse natural landscapes, multicultural cities, and a universal healthcare system.
Population and area are rounded.
Adopted in 1965 after a long national debate, the Maple Leaf flag replaced the Canadian Red Ensign. Red and white were proclaimed Canada's official colours by King George V in 1921, and the maple leaf had been a Canadian emblem since the 19th century. The stylised leaf has eleven points. National Flag of Canada Day is 15 February.
Vertical red-white-red with a red maple leaf in the white centre.
Canada has the world's longest coastline at over 202,000 km and 20% of the world's freshwater.
Canada's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:
Every flag that has flown over Canada, from today back through time.
Adopted February 15, 1965 after a passionate national debate. The single red maple leaf on a white field was chosen over dozens of competing designs after months of parliamentary argument known as the "Great Canadian Flag Debate."
A Red Ensign defaced with the updated 1957 Canadian coat of arms. This flag was flown on federal buildings and represented Canada internationally in the years immediately before the Maple Leaf was adopted.
The Red Ensign bearing the 1921 Canadian coat of arms, which added the fleurs-de-lis of France and the English lions. This version was used after Canada formally received its own coat of arms from the Crown.
The earliest Canadian Red Ensign, defaced with the shield of the original four provinces at Confederation: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Used informally as Canada expanded westward.
During the 1837–38 rebellions, French-Canadian Patriotes in Lower Canada (Quebec) flew a green-white-red horizontal tricolor against British colonial rule. The uprising was crushed, but the flag endures as a Québécois nationalist symbol.
For over two centuries before British rule, the St Lawrence valley and a vast arc of the continent from Acadia to Louisiana were New France — the French colonial empire of fur traders, missionaries and habitants, flying the royal banner of the French crown (gold fleurs-de-lis on blue). France ceded it to Britain in 1763 after the Seven Years' War, but its language, faith and place names endure across Quebec and beyond.
Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Canada.
The unofficial 'Pink, White and Green' originated with St. John's fishermen's societies. Newfoundland was a self-governing dominion until it joined Canada in 1949.
Blue-white-blue with two white stars for Upper and Lower Canada, flown by William Lyon Mackenzie's provisional government during the Upper Canada Rebellion.
A white field with an eagle and a ring of red stars, emblem of the self-declared 'republic' in the disputed Maine–New Brunswick borderland (the design itself is a later commemorative one).
The green-white-red flag of the Patriotes who rose against British rule in the 1837–38 Lower Canada Rebellion; it remains a symbol of Quebec nationalism today.
The 13 states, provinces and regions of Canada with their own flags.
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
YukonCanada shares a land border with one country: the United States.
17 other national flags use the same main colours as Canada's.
Austria
Bahrain
Denmark
Georgia
Indonesia
Japan
Latvia
Malta
Monaco
Peru
Poland
Qatar
Singapore
Switzerland
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkey
United States