O Canada – the land of Mounties, maple syrup and Tim Hortons coffee – has found itself in President Trump's sights, with the POTUS potentially eyeing it as the next addition to the United States. That's if Greenland or the Panama Canal don't get there first, of course.

While “there isn't a snowball's chance in hell” this will happen, at least according to former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state has certainly got people talking about the home of the Canucks.

With this in mind, read on to discover 16 facts about the nation's economy that might surprise you.

Canada is enormous. It spans 3.9 million square miles (10 million sq km) and makes up 6.1% of the world's landmass. At 6.6 million square miles (17.1 million sq km), only Russia is bigger.

Canada encompasses an impressive six time zones, 10 provinces and three territories, and has 48 national parks and reserves, some of which are bigger than entire nations. But only 10% of the country is inhabited, with much of the Great White North made up of vast wilderness.

Meanwhile, in terms of GDP, Canada is the world's ninth-largest economy.

Crude oil is Canada's number one export. In 2024, the nation shipped over four million barrels daily.

Canada's oil exports amounted to an eye-popping C$147 billion last year, representing almost 20% of the country's total exports. The US is by far the biggest market for Canada's oil, accounting for a staggering 95% of the black stuff.

Canada holds vast oil reserves, primarily located in the oil sands of Alberta and Saskatchewan. These deposits are estimated to contain around 164 billion barrels of oil, placing Canada among the top countries globally in terms of oil reserves, behind only Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

The oil sands play a crucial role in Canada's energy sector, accounting for a significant portion of the country's oil production. In 2023, they contributed approximately 58% of Canada's total oil output.

Canada is synonymous with maple syrup, and for good reason. The Great White North produces no less than 71% of the world's supply of this sweet treat, making it the planet's biggest exporter by far.

In 2024, Canada produced a record-breaking 19.9 million gallons (90 million litres) of maple syrup, which is enough to fill 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The majority of this liquid gold is exported, with the US being the biggest customer, receiving 61% of it.

In addition to maple syrup, Canada is the world's leading exporter of a variety of commodities, a testament to the nation's rich natural resources and agricultural prowess.

The list includes lobster meat, oats, newsprint, canola/rapeseed, lentils, durum wheat, sawn wood and potash, a key ingredient of fertiliser.

It may comfort some anti-monarchists in the country to learn that Queen Camilla has Canadian roots, as it would appear Canadians are stuck with King Charles III as head of state.

The Canadian Constitution makes it exceedingly difficult to get rid of the monarchy since becoming a republic would require the unanimous agreement of every single province, as well as the federal government, which experts believe is a virtual impossibility. That said, the costs of the monarchy to Canadians are negligible, with each citizen shelling out the equivalent of less than C$2 a year to support the sovereign in his royal duties as they pertain to the country.

Playing cards inscribed with a value and personally signed by the governor of New France constituted Canada's first paper currency. They circulated in the French territory from 1685 to 1714.

Sadly, no genuine examples of this quirky form of currency are known to have survived to the present day (the specimen in the photo is a reproduction).

The moniker 'loonie' dates back to 1987 when the C$1 coin was introduced. The coin features a loon bird on one side, which inspired the nickname shortly after its introduction. The name has since become synonymous with the Canadian dollar itself and was even trademarked by the Canadian Mint in 2006.

Following in the loonie's footsteps, the C$2 coin, introduced in 1996, is fondly referred to as the toonie.

Canada scored a global first in 2004 when it launched the first coloured circulation coin: a quarter featuring a red poppy within a maple leaf to honour the country's war dead.

The country's mint followed this up in 2017 by introducing the world's first glow-in-the-dark circulation coin: a toonie depicting boaters looking up at the Northern Lights, which was produced to mark Canada's 150th anniversary.

Shortly after Canada debuted its polymer banknotes in 2011, a curious rumour began circulating: the new bills seemed to emit a faint but distinctly sweet aroma, reminiscent of maple syrup. This led some Canadians to believe the Bank of Canada had secretly embedded a scratch-and-sniff patch into the currency, infusing it with the nation's signature scent.

Alas, this turned out to be an urban myth. Bank officials denied adding any fragrance to the banknotes, leaving the source of the maple syrup aroma a delightful mystery.

Canada is a nation of small businesses, ranging from tiny mom-and-pop grocery stores to compact farms.

In fact, 98% of Canada's businesses are of the small variety, with large enterprises accounting for a minuscule 0.2%. The proportion of small businesses in the country is greater than the global average of 90% but lower than the US figure, which stands at 99.9%.

It may come as a surprise to learn that a Canadian rather than an American invented basketball.

The sport was invented in 1891 by Canada's James Naismith, though he did debut his creation in the US, specifically in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Staying with sport, Canada is one of the co-hosts of next year's FIFA World Cup, and its economy is expected to benefit to the tune of C$3.8 billion as a result.

The Hawaiian pizza wasn't invented in the Aloha State. Its origins lie in Chatham-Kent in the Canadian province of Ontario, where it was invented in 1962 by Greek-born Canadian Sam Panopoulos. The innovative cook named it after the brand name of the canned pineapples he was using.

While there's some dispute over the origins of the California sushi roll, the most commonly accepted story goes that it was invented by Hidekazu Tojo, a Japanese chef who moved to Vancouver in the 1970s.

The fast food industry in Canada is estimated to be worth around C$36 billion annually.

Famed for its coffee and doughnuts, Tim Hortons is considered a national institution in Canada.

The first Tim Hortons opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964 when a coffee and doughnut cost just 10 Canadian dollar cents apiece. Today, the chain counts more than 4,000 locations throughout Canada.

Thanks mainly to Tim Hortons, Canadians have the highest per capita doughnut consumption on the planet, five times more than the average American. It's said the nation eats more than a billion of the sugary treats per year.

The country also has the most doughnut stores per capita, which again is largely down to its large number of Tim Hortons outlets.

'Hollywood North' is the nickname for Canada's flourishing film and TV production industry, with Vancouver and Toronto acting as major hubs.

Canada has become a popular alternative to Hollywood for several reasons. Enticing tax breaks make it a cost-effective option for filmmakers, while the country boasts a skilled workforce of actors, crew members and post-production professionals. Moreover, Canada's diverse landscapes, ranging from bustling cityscapes to breathtaking natural scenery, provide ideal backdrops for a wide range of productions.

Now discover Canada's most expensive megaprojects currently under construction