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Austria vs Czechia
Canada vs China
Side-by-side comparison of Canada and China from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
China
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 3,625 years
In short
Canada scores 76.0 in the NationsTree Index (16th in the world) and China scores 69.8 (36th), a gap of 6.3 points. Their trees are 36 m and 132 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
China has 34 times the population of Canada. Canada has 63% more land area than China. China has an economy 15 times the size of Canada (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Canada 41.7 million and China 1.4 billion (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $66,746 in Canada and $29,333 in China (2025, international dollars). People in Canada live on average 4.1 years longer (82.1 vs 78.0 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Canada ranks higher in the world on 21 and China on 14. Canada is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, environment & energy and trade. China is clearly stronger in main industries, military and science & innovation.
As a nation, China is the older of the two (statehood since 1600 BC, 3,625 years), compared with Canada (since 1867). Over the last five years Canada improved faster (direction score 46 vs 42 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Canada and China.
Canadabetter
85.2
11th of 205
China
26.1
191st of 205
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Canadabetter
6.6
22nd of 200
China
32.0
158th of 200
Government budget balanceEconomy
Canadabetter
-1.7%
68th of 192
China
-7.9%
179th of 192
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Canadabetter
73,170
6th of 183
China
1,992
106th of 183
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Canadabetter
83.0
19th of 207
China
51.6
127th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Canada overtook China in the NationsTree Index in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Canada has been ahead of China in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
China has been ahead of Canada in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
CanadaChina All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Canada | China |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 15,634,4102nd/216 · 2024 | 9,562,9104th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,788,7004th/216 · 2024 | 9,388,2102nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 41.7 m38th/217 · 2025 | 1.4 bn2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.94%104th/217 · 2025 | -0.17%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.7207th/216 · 2024 | 150.176th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.9%51st/217 · 2025 | 66.3%101st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 15.4%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.3%37th/217 · 2025 | 14.9%68th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.32 trn10th/210 · 2025 | $19.50 trn2nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $2.78 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $41.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $2.42 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $35.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $55,69830th/210 · 2025 | $13,86293rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $66,74630th/199 · 2025 | $29,33381st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $56,42022nd/201 · 2025 | $14,23078th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.7%155th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%53rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.1%60th/180 · 2025 | 0.1%14th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.9%125th/187 · 2025 | 4.6%76th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.1%33rd/55 · 2024 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 113.6%176th/189 · 2025 | 98.6%166th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 | -7.9%179th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.9%148th/197 · 2022 | 6.7%95th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.4%68th/200 · 2022 | 35.6%29th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.3%109th/192 · 2022 | 24.7%9th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.1%61st/200 · 2022 | 57.7%100th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $726.88 bn15th/182 · 2025 | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $746.50 bn13th/182 · 2025 | $3.29 trn2nd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.3%110th/183 · 2025 | 21.1%144th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 32.2%125th/183 · 2025 | 16.9%173rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 63.5%121st/183 · 2025 | 38.0%165th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 26.7%32nd/170 · 2025 | 1.4%111th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 40.3%74th/171 · 2025 | 90.5%4th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%96th/171 · 2025 | 2.3%150th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.6%48th/171 · 2025 | 1.6%115th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 16.1%46th/168 · 2024 | 26.3%20th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.9%90th/191 · 2025 | 3.7%44th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.0%71st/196 · 2025 | 0.4%163rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.9%73rd/209 · 2021 | 1.7%103rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.83%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.31%62nd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.79%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.21%52nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.07%32nd/195 · 2021 | 0.61%12th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.18%43rd/209 · 2021 | 0.51%55th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%123rd/209 · 2021 | 0.07%122nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.3%141st/206 · 2024 | 11.6%88th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 73,1706th/183 · 2022 | 1,992106th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 32.4 m9th/194 · 2019 | 30.4 m11th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $19.99 bn2011 | $27.76 bn2004 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.7%2011 | 4.6%2004 |
| Outbound trips departures | 37.8 m4th/107 · 2019 | 20.3 m12th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.134th/217 · 2024 | 78.070th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 | 5.747th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.8264th/174 · 2023 | 3.1156th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.570th/145 · 2022 | 5.619th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 96.4%22nd/153 · 2024 | 72.4%80th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.3%44th/173 · 2023 | 92.3%2012 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 63.1%2013 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 31.3%36th/217 · 2025 | 21.4%69th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 11.3%14th/193 · 2024 | 5.9%106th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 96.7%27th/98 · 2020 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.3%39th/150 · 2023 | 76.9%36th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.93916th/193 · 2023 | 0.79778th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 31.533rd/108 · 2022 | 36.065th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.3%23rd/108 · 2022 | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 96.9%41st/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%47th/144 · 2024 | 68.9%66th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 94.4%32nd/186 · 2024 | 91.6%47th/186 · 2025 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 94151st/210 · 2024 | 13254th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 42.521st/208 · 2024 | 47.29th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 4.0014th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 48,1505th/82 · 2021 | 109,7672nd/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 88.6 m13th/161 · 2023 | 619.2 m2nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 14.01191st/203 · 2024 | 9.32182nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 23.8%96th/212 · 2021 | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 6.622nd/200 · 2023 | 32.0158th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 42.0%74th/214 · 2024 | 24.0%122nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 7,1198th/149 · 2024 | 2,94737th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.310th/205 · 2025 | 65.159th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 80.216th/207 · 2025 | 49.589th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 83.019th/207 · 2025 | 51.6127th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.855th/207 · 2025 | 66.0115th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 80.315th/205 · 2025 | 53.6104th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 85.211th/205 · 2025 | 26.1191st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.066th/145 · 2023 | 0.511th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $37.49 bn16th/156 · 2025 | $335.52 bn2nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%82nd/156 · 2025 | 1.7%78th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%118th/154 · 2025 | 5.1%79th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 72,00058th/170 · 2020 | 2.5 m2nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%139th/168 · 2020 | 0.33%142nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 83.0 m53rd/163 · 2025 | 207.0 m37th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 312.0 m14th/65 · 2025 | 880.0 m8th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.79%24th/110 · 2024 | 2.58%15th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 4,30415th/137 · 2024 | 1.7 m1st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 63,72010th/197 · 2023 | 932,7121st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Canada or China?
China has the larger population: 1.4 bn (2025) compared with 41.7 m for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Canada or China?
Canada is larger: 15,634,410 km² (2024) compared with 9,562,910 km² for China (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Canada or China?
China has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $41.26 trn intl. (2025) compared with $2.78 trn intl. for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Canada or China?
Canada has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $66,746 intl. (2025) compared with $29,333 intl. for China (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Canada or China?
Canada has the higher life expectancy at birth: 82.1 years (2024) compared with 78.0 years for China (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Canada or China?
China spends more on the military: $335.52 bn (2025) compared with $37.49 bn for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Canada or China?
Canada: 76.0 points (16th in the world); China: 69.8 points (36th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Bermuda
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
South AfricaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Canada vs China — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/canada-vs-china. Data as of 26 October 2026.