With entertainment software and hardware accounting for a whopping $2 billion in retail sales in Canada last year, it’s no wonder that this country is the third most successful video game industry in the world.

Those stats are among the many recent numbers from The Entertainment Software Association of Canada’s Essential Facts annual guidebook, providing a look at the Canuck computer and video game industry.

The industry currently employs 14,000 people, a number that spiked 30% in 2009 and is expected to grow 29% annually in the next few years. According to the ESAC, Canada is also expected to be the fastest growing entertainment and media market in North America with 5% annual growth, thanks to our video game developers and publishers contributing a healthy $1.7 billion in annual revenue to the Canadian economy.

Last year alone, Canuck end-user spending on entertainment and media (excluding the internet) was $19.1 billion, and is projected to hit $23 billion by 2014.

This is partly reflected in the updated stats and the rise of social gaming, which is seeing 39% of gamers spending more time playing through a social networking site, up from 35% in 2009.

The number of gamers who play on their mobile devices has almost doubled since last year (jumping from 4% to 7%), along with 10% of adults between the ages of 18-34 who say they’re gaming more on mobile devices – though teen girls (ages 13-17) are the dominant demo when it comes to playing mobile games.

Some might not expect that 59% of women (ages 18 and up) also play video games online using a computer, whereas the number is slightly less for men (50%). The average age of the Canuck gamer is 33 years old.

“Social games are a growing part of the Canadian gamer’s repertoire – especially for women and teen girls – but they are only one of the many types of games that Canadians enjoy,” said ESAC executive director Danielle Parr in a statement.

“While we’re seeing a shift in how Canadians are playing games particularly towards online games, console and computer games remain the principal way to play.”

ESAC stats show that 96% of Canuck households own a computer, while nearly half (47%) own at least one video game console (e.g. Xbox 360, Wii or PlayStation).

For the full ESAC guidebook, head here.