Updated
Overview
China has 34 times the population of Canada: 1.41 billion people against 41.65 million (2025).
China's economy is 8.4 times the size of Canada's, at $19.50T versus $2.32T.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $2.32T | 2025 | $18.74T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 2.1% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $4,121 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 41.65 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 72,000 | 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
China is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.7%.
Canada runs the hotter price environment: 2.1% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (China) and 40.6 (Canada).
Life expectancy is 4.1 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 78.0).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is almost exactly the same size as Canada: 9,596,960 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 4.
Military
China spends 11 times as much on defence as Canada: $313.66B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Canada?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², a difference of under 4%.
- Which has more people, China or Canada?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Canada?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).