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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Africa is 55.4% higher than Canada.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 81.6% lower than Canada.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 88.2% lower than Canada.
South AfricaCanada
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.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI