Canada has three territories and how many provinces?
Quick answer: 10. In our practice tests 88% of 77 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “13”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories, totaling 13 jurisdictions. The provinces are: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL. The territories are: YT, NT, NU.
Study Tip
Think about the country's geographical structure, as the number of provinces is related to its federal divisions. Consider the fact that Canada's provinces are more populous and economically significant compared to its territories.
What should you know about this topic?
Canada is a federation made up of ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The three territories are Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Together they make up the second-largest country in the world by land area.
The difference between a province and a territory matters. Provinces get their powers directly from the Constitution, so they share sovereignty with the federal government. Territories get their powers from Parliament, which delegates authority to them. Each province and territory has its own capital city and its own elected legislature or assembly. Ottawa, located in Ontario, is the national capital.
The country grew step by step. Only four provinces joined at Confederation in 1867: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Others followed over the next 82 years, ending with Newfoundland in 1949. Nunavut, the newest territory, was created in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. Discover Canada groups the provinces and territories into five regions: the Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, the Prairie Provinces, the West Coast and the North. Knowing the total of 13 jurisdictions helps with many other test questions about capitals, regions and Confederation.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- 3: Three is the number of territories, not provinces.
- 5: Five is the number of regions described in Discover Canada, not the number of provinces.
- 13: Thirteen is the total number of provinces and territories combined, not the number of provinces.
What is the most common mistake?
Some people add the provinces and territories together and pick 13, but the question asks only for provinces, which is 10.
How can you remember the answer?
Think "10 + 3 = 13": ten fingers for the provinces, three northern territories on top.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
88% of 77 practice answers from about 57 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "13", chosen 6% 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 44th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's Regions chapter is 78% 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 Regions questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's Regions. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's Regions 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 35 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.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.