Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 6.1 times the population of Canada: 255.22 million people against 41.65 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 5.7 times the size of Pakistan's, at $2.32T versus $407.31B.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $2.32T | 2025 | $373.07B / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 12.6% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.4% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 180 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 14.3 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 67.8).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Canada (94% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is only about 1/11 the size of Canada: 881,912 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends 2.9 times as much on defence as Pakistan: $29.35B versus $10.17B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 1.3%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Canada?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Canada?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $10.17B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).