CONSUMPTION AND SPENDING

Life for most Canadians is very good, despite strains caused by recession during the early 1990s – including a peak in unemployment at over 10%.

The UN ranks Canada as one of the best countries in the world in which to live. In its overall assessment of human development indicators such as income, education, and life expectancy, Canada was consistently top in the 1990s, but has now slipped to eighth.

However, disadvantaged groups do exist, in particular among indigenous Canadians. Unemployment, poor housing, and mortality rates for Amerindians and Inuit are well above those for other Canadians; the Inuit suicide rate is three times higher. Those Amerindians who live on reserves are the poorest group.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004