Canada vs Italy
Side-by-side comparison of Canada and Italy from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Italy
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,550 years
In short
Canada scores 76.0 in the NationsTree Index (16th in the world) and Italy scores 75.8 (19th), a gap of 0.2 points. Their trees are 36 m and 41 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Italy has 41% more people than Canada. Canada is 52 times larger than Italy by land area. The economy of Italy is 33% larger than that of Canada (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Canada 41.7 million and Italy 58.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $66,746 in Canada and $62,803 in Italy (2025, international dollars). People in Italy live on average 1.8 years longer (84.0 vs 82.1 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Canada ranks higher in the world on 28 and Italy on 9. Canada is clearly stronger in natural resources, tourism and environment & energy. Italy is clearly stronger in military.
As a nation, Italy is the older of the two (statehood since 476, 1,550 years), compared with Canada (since 1867). Over the last five years Italy improved faster (direction score 76 vs 46 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Canada and Italy.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Canada overtook Italy in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Italy overtook Canada in life expectancy in 1993 and has stayed ahead since.
Canada has been ahead of Italy in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Italy 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
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 15,634,4102nd/216 · 2024 | 302,07072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,788,7004th/216 · 2024 | 295,72073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 41.7 m38th/217 · 2025 | 58.9 m25th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.94%104th/217 · 2025 | -0.06%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.7207th/216 · 2024 | 199.467th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.9%51st/217 · 2025 | 69.7%92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 11.7%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.3%37th/217 · 2025 | 25.1%4th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.32 trn10th/210 · 2025 | $2.55 trn9th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $2.78 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $3.70 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $2.42 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $3.16 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $55,69830th/210 · 2025 | $43,30937th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $66,74630th/199 · 2025 | $62,80336th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $56,42022nd/201 · 2025 | $42,08031st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.7%155th/210 · 2025 | 0.5%187th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.1%60th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%50th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.9%125th/187 · 2025 | 6.4%117th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.1%33rd/55 · 2024 | 77.3%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 113.6%176th/189 · 2025 | 137.1%182nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.9%148th/197 · 2022 | 2.1%145th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.4%68th/200 · 2022 | 22.6%108th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.3%109th/192 · 2022 | 15.0%42nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.1%61st/200 · 2022 | 64.5%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $726.88 bn15th/182 · 2025 | $822.29 bn13th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $746.50 bn13th/182 · 2025 | $773.02 bn11th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.3%110th/183 · 2025 | 32.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 32.2%125th/183 · 2025 | 30.3%132nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 63.5%121st/183 · 2025 | 62.5%123rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 26.7%32nd/170 · 2025 | 2.6%91st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 40.3%74th/171 · 2025 | 78.5%22nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%96th/171 · 2025 | 11.3%111th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.6%48th/171 · 2025 | 2.4%98th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 16.1%46th/168 · 2024 | 11.9%56th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.9%90th/191 · 2025 | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.0%71st/196 · 2025 | 0.0%175th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.9%73rd/209 · 2021 | 0.1%156th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.83%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.08%79th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.79%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.03%72nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.07%32nd/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.18%43rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%123rd/209 · 2021 | 0.01%154th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.3%141st/206 · 2024 | 23.5%43rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 73,1706th/183 · 2022 | 3,09382nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 32.4 m9th/194 · 2019 | 38.4 m6th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $19.99 bn2011 | $20.46 bn7th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.7%2011 | 3.7%95th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 37.8 m4th/107 · 2019 | 21.4 m10th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.134th/217 · 2024 | 84.011th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 | 2.714th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.8264th/174 · 2023 | 4.1926th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.570th/145 · 2022 | 3.156th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 96.4%22nd/153 · 2024 | 84.4%64th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.3%44th/173 · 2023 | 100.7%60th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 31.3%36th/217 · 2025 | 39.7%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 11.3%14th/193 · 2024 | 8.4%53rd/193 · 2024 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.3%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.3%39th/150 · 2023 | 75.9%40th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.93916th/193 · 2023 | 0.91529th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 31.533rd/108 · 2022 | 34.356th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.3%23rd/108 · 2022 | 0.9%48th/108 · 2023 |
| 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 | 96.8%43rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%47th/144 · 2024 | 78.2%53rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 94.4%32nd/186 · 2024 | 89.2%63rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 94151st/210 · 2024 | 13352nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 42.521st/208 · 2024 | 31.853rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 48,1505th/82 · 2021 | 17,30512th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 88.6 m13th/161 · 2023 | 20.3 m34th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 14.01191st/203 · 2024 | 5.08152nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 23.8%96th/212 · 2021 | 17.5%116th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 6.622nd/200 · 2023 | 14.378th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 42.0%74th/214 · 2024 | 31.8%109th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 7,1198th/149 · 2024 | 2,24852nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.310th/205 · 2025 | 71.342nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 80.216th/207 · 2025 | 59.860th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 83.019th/207 · 2025 | 68.359th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.855th/207 · 2025 | 73.682nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 80.315th/205 · 2025 | 65.852nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 85.211th/205 · 2025 | 77.634th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.066th/145 · 2023 | 0.615th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $37.49 bn16th/156 · 2025 | $48.14 bn12th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%82nd/156 · 2025 | 1.9%71st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%118th/154 · 2025 | 3.7%116th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 72,00058th/170 · 2020 | 338,00020th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%139th/168 · 2020 | 1.35%46th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 83.0 m53rd/163 · 2025 | 566.0 m18th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 312.0 m14th/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn6th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.79%24th/110 · 2024 | 1.38%34th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 4,30415th/137 · 2024 | 9,12011th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 63,72010th/197 · 2023 | 82,7718th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Canada or Italy?
Italy has the larger population: 58.9 m (2025) compared with 41.7 m for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Canada or Italy?
Canada is larger: 15,634,410 km² (2024) compared with 302,070 km² for Italy (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Canada or Italy?
Italy has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $3.70 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 Italy?
Canada has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $66,746 intl. (2025) compared with $62,803 intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Canada or Italy?
Italy has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 82.1 years for Canada (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Canada or Italy?
Italy spends more on the military: $48.14 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 Italy?
Canada: 76.0 points (16th in the world); Italy: 75.8 points (19th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Sources
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 Italy — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/canada-vs-italy. Data as of 26 October 2026.