Although the United States and Canada have a lot of things in common, there are also many cultural differences between these two North American countries.

Here are the top ten culture differences between US and Canada:

1. Canada has two official languages

The spoken languages is one of the noticeable culture differences between US and Canada. In Canada, there are two official languages: English, and French, which is mostly spoken by those living in the province of Quebec. In the United States, there is no official language, although English is the language that is spoken by more than 80% of the population.

Of course, many other languages are spoken throughout both countries, including Spanish and Chinese.

2. Written English is not exactly the same in US and Canada

Americans would tell you that Canadians have an accent when they speak English, but many Canadians would probably tell you the same about Americans. People speak differently from one end of a country to the other. One thing is for sure: written English is not exactly the same in both countries.

Canadians use British spellings: for example, they will write “colour” and “centre”, while Americans will write “color” and “center”.

3. Canada has a prime minister, United States has a president

The United States have a president, but Canada has a prime minister, like many countries that are members of the Commonwealth. Even though Canada is self-governing, it has a Governor General, which is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II.

Another difference is that the US has a governor for each of its states, while Canada has a first minister for each of its provinces and territories.

4. There are a lot more political parties in Canada than in US

In the United States, there are two major political parties: The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Voters have to make their choice between one or the other.

In Canada, voters can choose between the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Bloc Quebecois, which is only present in the province of Quebec. There are a few other minor political parties to choose from, as well as some independent politicians.

5. Religion is less important in Canada than in US

Religion is less important in Canada as it is in the United States. More than half of the population identifies as Protestant Christians, and their religious values influence the country’s political landscape.

In Canada, religion and politics don’t mix as easily as they used to. Like Americans, Canadians are free to practice the religion of their choice, but religion is generally encouraged to stay out of the public light.

6. Canada has a national health care system

All Canadians can receive health care services, thanks to the country’s publicly founded national health care system. The Canadian government pays for the emergency care costs of Canadian citizens.

In the United States, a large portion of the population still has little or no access to health insurance, and each patient has to pay for their emergency care costs. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t receive all the health services they would need, but things are a lot easier for Canadians.

7. Canadians love hockey as much as Americans love football

Sports is another culture difference between US and Canada. Many Americans love football, and they are crazy for the Superbowl. In Canada, hockey is considered by many people to be the only sport that really matters. Hockey plays a prominent part in Canadian culture.

However, even though the National Hockey League was founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, it features only 7 teams in the country, while it counts 24 teams in the US.

8. The legal drinking age is 18 or 19 in Canada

In Canada, the legal drinking age is 18 or 19 years old, depending on which province you are in. In the United States, on the other end, the legal drinking age is 21 years old, and the police is regularly visiting bars and clubs to try to find teenagers who are drinking illegally.

For many young Americans, drinking alcohol is seen as an act of rebellion against authority. This is not exactly the case in Canada, where teenagers can often drink without getting in trouble.

9. Canadians are generally more tolerant

In general, Canadians are more tolerant than Americans when it comes to accepting other people’s differences, whether it concerns race, religion, or sexual orientation.

While most people living in Canada think they have a lot to learn from the world and from people who are different from them, many Americans tend to think that the rest of the world has something to learn from them.

10. Canadians are generally more polite and more patient

Canadians are known for being extremely polite. If you bump into a Canadian, they will probably apologize for being in your way. This might not happen if you bump into an American.

Generally speaking, Canadians are also more patient than Americans. Many Americans can’t stand having to wait for anything at all.