Updated
Overview
The United States has 8.2 times the population of Canada: 341.78 million people against 41.65 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 13 times the size of Canada's, at $30.77T versus $2.32T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $55,698 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $2.32T | 2025 | $29.18T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.1% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $4,121 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,106 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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 (2.2% for the United States, 1.7% for Canada).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Canada: a price level of 83 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $4,121 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the younger society: median age 38.5 versus 40.6 years.
Life expectancy is 3.2 years longer in Canada (82.1 vs 78.9).
Geography
By land area, the United States is almost exactly the same size as Canada: 9,833,517 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
The United States is far more densely settled: 35 people per km² against 4.
Military
The United States spends 34 times as much on defence as Canada: $997.31B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.3%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Canada?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², a difference of under 2%.
- Which has more people, the United States or Canada?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $55,698. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Canada?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).