China vs Canada
Every indicator for China and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 41,651,653 | +3,277.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 2,320 | +740.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 55,698 | −75.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 15,634,410 | −38.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 3 | +5,421.1% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 29,347 | +968.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 1.31 | +30.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 3.08 | +64.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 705 | −68.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 72,000 | +3,420.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 1.7 | +4.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.35 | −5.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Canada; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Canada leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 55 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 147 against Canada's 3 — roughly 55 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Canada's 72,000 — roughly 35 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Canada's 41,651,653 — roughly 34 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Canada's 29,347 — roughly 11 times as much.
- China's gdp (nominal) (19,498) is about 8.4 times Canada's (2,320).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Canada differ most?
In population density. China records 147 against Canada's 3 — a ratio of roughly 55 to one.
Where are China and Canada most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 1.8 and 1.7 — a gap of only %4.3.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Canada?
China is higher on 8 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Canada on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaCanada
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 China or Canada.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI