Canadian Balance of International Payments

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Canada's balance of international payments (BOP) data are compiled by integrating numerous data sources related to transactions between residents and non-residents into statistical statements that measure the flow of goods, services, incomes and financial claims to and from the economic territory of Canada. There are several surveys conducted to collect data for compiling Canada's BOP. There are also many other questionnaires or administrative sources of information that are used to compile other statistical outputs that ultimately feed into the BOP.

BOP survey estimates require adjustments for under-coverage (i.e. where there may be inaccurate valuations by the importer or exporter) as well as determining the appropriate Principal Trading Partner (PTPs) (i.e. assigning estimates to the countries which legally trade the goods and services rather than the jurisdictions in which the products physically pass through). All data collected through the BOP surveys are reported in Canadian dollars. If data are not reported in Canadian dollars, an average daily exchange rate is used to convert values to Canadian dollars.