Updated
Overview
Canada has 13% more people than Saudi Arabia: 41.65 million against 36.97 million (2025).
Canada's economy is about 80% larger than Saudi Arabia's, at $2.32T versus $1.28T.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $34,537 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Canada | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.32T | $1.28T | 2025 | $2.24T / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $55,698 | $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.7% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.1% | 2025 | 2.4% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 6.9% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 83 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,121 | $1,799 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,106 | $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.81 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 41.65 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 39.19 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,984,670 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 4.2/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 533 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 13.4 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $29.35B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 72,000 | 282,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Saudi Arabia is growing faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Canada and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Saudi Arabia: a price level of 47 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $1,799 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Saudi Arabia is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 3.1 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 79.0).
Geography
By land area, Canada is 4.6 times the size of Saudi Arabia: 9,984,670 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
Saudi Arabia is far more densely settled: 17 people per km² against 4.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 2.7 times as much on defence as Canada: $80.33B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 1.3%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Canada bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Canada is larger by land area. Canada covers 9,984,670 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Canada is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Canada or Saudi Arabia?
- Canada has the larger population: 41.65 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Canada richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $34,537. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.32T for Canada versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, Canada or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).