South Africa vs Canada
Every indicator for South Africa and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 41,651,653 | +55.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 2,320 | −81.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 55,698 | −88.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 15,634,410 | −92.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 3 | +1,893.6% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 29,347 | −90.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 1.31 | −46.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 3.08 | −31.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 705 | −93.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 72,000 | +23.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 1.7 | −20.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.35 | +14.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Canada; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Canada is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 20 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Africa stands at 53 against Canada's 3 — roughly 20 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 705 against South Africa's 44 — roughly 16 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 15,634,410 against South Africa's 1,219,090 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 29,347 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Canada's gdp per capita (55,698) is about 8.4 times South Africa's (6,598).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and Canada differ most?
Where are South Africa and Canada most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa 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 South Africa or Canada.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.