2025 Facts & Figures: NORTH AMERICA

Members of the provincial Parliament in Ontario, CANADA, can now speak in Indigenous languages during the province’s legislative sessions. In 2023, Canada’s seven provincial legislatures had 27 Indigenous members, including 2 in Ontario. Previously, a standing order mandated the use of either English or French, but the recent change allows Ontario lawmakers to use any Indigenous language spoken in Canada.

^{Source: The Guardian}

COSTA RICA is one of the world’s most environmentally protected countries. More than 25 percent of its land area is safeguarded by 29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges, 8 biological reserves, and other areas that shield species including grunt fish (above) and the Yellow-throated Toucan (inset).

^{Source: CBS}

In 2023, for the first time in two decades, the U.S. purchased more imports from MEXICO than from China. Experts say the shift reflects both the growth of Mexico’s manufacturing economy and increased tensions between Washington and Beijing.

^{Source: The New York Times}

HEIGHT of Mauna Kea (above), a long-dormant volcano in HAWAII. From base to peak, it’s the tallest mountain in the world. It’s bigger than Mount Everest, the tallest mountain from sea level, at 29,032 feet. More than half of Mauna Kea, about 3.7 miles, lies under the Pacific Ocean.

^{Source: Science Focus}

PERCENTAGE by which the Panama Canal Authority reduced daily traffic through the PANAMA CANAL in 2023 compared with the previous year. Gatun Lake, which supplies much of the water in the canal, has been receding because of climate change.

^{Source: The New York Times}