Updated
Overview
South Africa has about 55% more people than Canada: 64.75 million against 41.65 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 5.4 times the size of South Africa's, at $2.32T versus $427.18B.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $427.18B | Higher: $2.32T | 2025 | $400.26B / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 4.4% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $4,121 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 440 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.9 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 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 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Africa: a price level of 41 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 15.8 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 66.3).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Internet adoption is higher in Canada (94% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 88% smaller than Canada: 1,221,037 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends 10 times as much on defence as South Africa: $29.35B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 8.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Canada?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Canada?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).