IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Canada

Canada

37,279,811
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019)

27,509,496
Registered Voters (as of None)

62.96%
Average Turnout

9
Elections in our database

V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index Score : 17.5 Very Low
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Democracy
*Varieties of Democracy (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 17, 1980
Ratified Date: Dec. 10, 1981

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: March 30, 2007
Ratified Date: March 11, 2010

SIGI* Score: 17.5 Very Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

HDI* Score: 0.939 Very High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Canadian Senate	Sénat	Upper House
Canadian House of Commons	Chambre des Communes	Lower House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King CHARLES III *
- Represented by Governor-General Mary J. SIMON (since 6 July 2021)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mark CARNEY (since 14 March 2025)
Assembly: Canada has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate (Sénat) with 105 seats and the House of Commons (Chambre des Communes) with 338 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The King is hereditary head of government.
The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the advice fo the Prime Minister and serves a 5-year term.
The Prime Minister is designated by the governor-general following an election to serve a 4-year term.
In the Senate (Sénat) 105 members are appointed by the governor-general*. In the House of Commons (Chambre des Communes) 338 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.**

* Members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. No terms are set, and Senators may serve in office until the age of 75.

**Constitutionally, there can be up to five years between federal elections. As well, the Canada Elections Act specifies that a general election must be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election. However, it also allows for an election to be called earlier.

Elections

2025-04-28
Canadian House of Commons
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2021-09-20
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 17,209,811
Registered 27,509,496
Turnout 62.56

2019-10-21
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 17,890,264
Registered 27,126,166
Turnout 65.95

2015-10-19
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 17,559,353
Registered 25,638,379
Turnout 68.49

2011-05-02
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 14,823,408
Registered 24,257,592
Turnout 61.11

2008-10-14
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 13,929,093
Registered 23,677,639
Turnout 58.83

2006-01-23
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 14,908,703
Registered 23,054,615
Turnout 64.67

2004-06-28
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 13,683,570
Registered 22,466,621
Turnout 60.91

2000-01-27
Canadian House of Commons
Votes 12,993,855
Registered 21,239,435
Turnout 61.18

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Canadian House of Commons	2025-04-28	-	-	-
Canadian House of Commons	2021-09-20	17,209,811	27,509,496	62.56
Canadian House of Commons	2019-10-21	17,890,264	27,126,166	65.95
Canadian House of Commons	2015-10-19	17,559,353	25,638,379	68.49
Canadian House of Commons	2011-05-02	14,823,408	24,257,592	61.11
Canadian House of Commons	2008-10-14	13,929,093	23,677,639	58.83
Canadian House of Commons	2006-01-23	14,908,703	23,054,615	64.67
Canadian House of Commons	2004-06-28	13,683,570	22,466,621	60.91
Canadian House of Commons	2000-01-27	12,993,855	21,239,435	61.18

Voter Turnout

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