United States vs Canada
Every indicator for United States and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 41,651,653 | +720.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 2,320 | +1,226.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 55,698 | +61.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 15,634,410 | −37.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 3 | +1,204.9% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 997,309 | 29,347 | +3,298.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 1.31 | +161.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 3.08 | +195.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 705 | +314.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 72,000 | +1,837.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 1.7 | +136.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 0.35 | +140.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to Canada; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Canada leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 34 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against Canada's 29,347 — roughly 34 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 1,395,000 against Canada's 72,000 — roughly 19 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 30,770 against Canada's 2,320 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 35 against Canada's 3 — roughly 13 times as much.
- United States's population (2025) (341,784,857) is about 8.2 times Canada's (41,651,653).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and Canada differ most?
Where are United States and Canada most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of Canada?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or Canada.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.