Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has about 65% more people than Canada: 69.49 million against 41.65 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is about 75% larger than Canada's, at $4.00T versus $2.32T.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $2.32T | 2025 | $3.64T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $57,602 | $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.7% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,567 | Higher: $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,532 | $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 313 Mt | 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.4% for the United Kingdom, 1.7% for Canada).
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 2.1% in Canada.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (the United Kingdom) and 40.6 (Canada).
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is only about 1/41 the size of Canada: 242,900 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 4.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 2.8 times as much on defence as Canada: $81.76B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Kingdom carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.3%.
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 41 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Canada?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $55,698. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Canada?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).