Updated
Overview
Mexico has 3.2 times the population of Canada: 131.95 million people against 41.65 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 27% larger than Mexico's, at $2.32T versus $1.83T.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $13,889 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mexico | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $1.83T | Higher: $2.32T | 2025 | $1.85T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $13,889 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 4.7% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 54 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $551 | Higher: $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $353 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.27 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 131.95 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 130.74 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.87 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 83% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,964,375 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 461 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.5 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $16.73B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 341,000 | 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 0.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Mexico and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Mexico: a price level of 54 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $551 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mexico is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.8 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 75.3).
Internet adoption is higher in Canada (94% vs 83% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Mexico is 80% smaller than Canada: 1,964,375 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Mexico is far more densely settled: 67 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends about 75% more on defence than Mexico: $29.35B versus $16.73B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Mexico fields the larger armed forces: 341,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mexico bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Mexico covers 1,964,375 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 5.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mexico or Canada?
- Mexico has the larger population: 131.95 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mexico richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $13,889. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.83T for Mexico versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Mexico or Canada?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $16.73B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).