Updated
Overview
Italy has about 40% more people than Canada: 58.92 million against 41.65 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $2.55T for Italy and $2.32T for Canada.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $43,309 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $2.32T | 2025 | $2.37T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $43,309 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 2.1% | 2025 | 1.0% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.4% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,994 | Higher: $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $2,106 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 302 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 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
Canada is growing faster: 1.7% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Italy and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Italy: a price level of 69 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $3,994 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Canada is the younger society: median age 40.6 versus 48.2 years.
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Italy (84.0 vs 82.1).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Italy is only about 1/33 the size of Canada: 301,336 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Italy is far more densely settled: 196 people per km² against 4.
Military
Italy spends 29% more on defence than Canada: $37.96B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 33 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Italy or Canada?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $43,309. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.55T for Italy versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Canada?
- Italy spends more: $37.96B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).