Approximately how many Canadians served in the First World War?
Quick answer: More than 600,000. In our practice tests 76% of 107 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “About 60,000”.
Why is this the correct answer?
More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War (1914–1918), a remarkable number given Canada's population at the time was only about 8 million. The Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 is considered a defining moment in Canadian nationhood.
Study Tip
The number of Canadians who served in the First World War is a significant figure that reflects the country's contribution to the Allied effort during this time. Think about the scale of Canada's population at the time and its role in the war.
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1. What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
2. Who drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway?
3. When did the British North America Act come into effect?
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Take the full citizenship practice testWhat should you know about this topic?
When the First World War began in 1914, Canada was part of the British Empire, so it was automatically at war when Britain declared war on Germany. At that time Canada had only about eight million people. Even so, more than 600,000 Canadians served in uniform, most of them as volunteers. This was a huge effort for such a small country.
The cost was very high. More than 60,000 Canadians were killed, and many more were wounded. Canadian soldiers earned a reputation as tough and skilled fighters. Their most famous victory came at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, when the four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time and captured the ridge. Many historians see Vimy as a turning point in Canada's sense of nationhood. Women also served, including about 3,000 nurses known as "Bluebirds." Canadian troops also fought in other major battles, including Ypres, the Somme, and Passchendaele. In 1918, Canadian soldiers led the advance during the final months of the war, known as Canada's Hundred Days.
Canada's sacrifice in the war helped it gain more independence from Britain and a separate place at the peace talks afterward. Each year on Remembrance Day, November 11, Canadians wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. to honour those who served. For the test, connect this question with Vimy Ridge, Remembrance Day, and the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- 7000: Far too low. Canada sent several full divisions overseas, which means hundreds of thousands of soldiers, not a few thousand.
- 8 million: Eight million was roughly Canada's entire population at the time, not the number who served.
- About 60,000: About 60,000 is close to the number of Canadians who were killed in the war, not the number who served.
What is the most common mistake?
Many people mix up the number who served (more than 600,000) with the number who died (more than 60,000). Remember that the number who served is ten times bigger.
How can you remember the answer?
Think "600 served, 60 died" (in thousands): add a zero to the deaths and you get the number who served.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
76% of 107 practice answers from about 74 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "About 60,000", chosen 17% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 64th hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's History chapter is 68% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's History questions.
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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's History section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 61 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
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