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Canada vs Japan
Side-by-side comparison of Canada and Japan from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and Canada scores 76.0 (16th), a gap of 3.3 points. Their trees are 36 m and 57 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Japan has 3.0 times the population of Canada. Canada is 41 times larger than Japan by land area. Japan has an economy 2.5 times the size of Canada (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Canada 41.7 million and Japan 123.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $66,746 in Canada and $55,422 in Japan (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 1.9 years longer (84.0 vs 82.1 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Canada ranks higher in the world on 19 and Japan on 16. Canada is clearly stronger in tourism, natural resources and trade. Japan is clearly stronger in main industries, society & health and science & innovation.
As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with Canada (since 1867). Over the last five years Canada improved faster (direction score 46 vs 40 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Canada and Japan.
Canada
6.9%
125th of 187
Japanbetter
2.5%
24th of 187
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Canada
2.5
70th of 145
Japanbetter
12.6
2nd of 145
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Canada
92%
86th of 193
Japanbetter
99%
1st of 193
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Canada
2.0
66th of 145
Japanbetter
0.2
5th of 145
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Canadabetter
73,170
6th of 183
Japan
3,437
77th of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Japan overtook Canada in the NationsTree Index in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Canada overtook Japan in GDP per person (PPP) in 1998 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of Canada in GDP (PPP), life expectancy 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
CanadaJapan 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 | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 15,634,4102nd/216 · 2024 | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,788,7004th/216 · 2024 | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 41.7 m38th/217 · 2025 | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.94%104th/217 · 2025 | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.7207th/216 · 2024 | 340.136th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.9%51st/217 · 2025 | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.3%37th/217 · 2025 | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.32 trn10th/210 · 2025 | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $2.78 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $2.42 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $55,69830th/210 · 2025 | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $66,74630th/199 · 2025 | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $56,42022nd/201 · 2025 | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.7%155th/210 · 2025 | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.1%60th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.9%125th/187 · 2025 | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.1%33rd/55 · 2024 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 113.6%176th/189 · 2025 | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.9%148th/197 · 2022 | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.4%68th/200 · 2022 | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.3%109th/192 · 2022 | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.1%61st/200 · 2022 | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $726.88 bn15th/182 · 2025 | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $746.50 bn13th/182 · 2025 | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.3%110th/183 · 2025 | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 32.2%125th/183 · 2025 | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 63.5%121st/183 · 2025 | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 26.7%32nd/170 · 2025 | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 40.3%74th/171 · 2025 | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%96th/171 · 2025 | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.6%48th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 16.1%46th/168 · 2024 | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.9%90th/191 · 2025 | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.0%71st/196 · 2025 | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.9%73rd/209 · 2021 | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.83%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.79%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.07%32nd/195 · 2021 | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.18%43rd/209 · 2021 | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%123rd/209 · 2021 | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.3%141st/206 · 2024 | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 73,1706th/183 · 2022 | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 32.4 m9th/194 · 2019 | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $19.99 bn2011 | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.7%2011 | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 37.8 m4th/107 · 2019 | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.134th/217 · 2024 | 84.010th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.8264th/174 · 2023 | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.570th/145 · 2022 | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 96.4%22nd/153 · 2024 | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.3%44th/173 · 2023 | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 31.3%36th/217 · 2025 | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 11.3%14th/193 · 2024 | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.3%39th/150 · 2023 | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.93916th/193 · 2023 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 31.533rd/108 · 2022 | 32.32020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.3%23rd/108 · 2022 | 1.2%2020 |
| 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 | 98.7%34th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%47th/144 · 2024 | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 94.4%32nd/186 · 2024 | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 94151st/210 · 2024 | 17812th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 42.521st/208 · 2024 | 38.630th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 48,1505th/82 · 2021 | 20,0872011 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 88.6 m13th/161 · 2023 | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 14.01191st/203 · 2024 | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 23.8%96th/212 · 2021 | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 6.622nd/200 · 2023 | 11.557th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 42.0%74th/214 · 2024 | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 7,1198th/149 · 2024 | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.310th/205 · 2025 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 80.216th/207 · 2025 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 83.019th/207 · 2025 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.855th/207 · 2025 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 80.315th/205 · 2025 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 85.211th/205 · 2025 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.066th/145 · 2023 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $37.49 bn16th/156 · 2025 | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%82nd/156 · 2025 | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%118th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 72,00058th/170 · 2020 | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%139th/168 · 2020 | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 83.0 m53rd/163 · 2025 | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 312.0 m14th/65 · 2025 | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.79%24th/110 · 2024 | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 4,30415th/137 · 2024 | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 63,72010th/197 · 2023 | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Canada or Japan?
Japan has the larger population: 123.4 m (2025) compared with 41.7 m for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Canada or Japan?
Canada is larger: 15,634,410 km² (2024) compared with 377,975 km² for Japan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Canada or Japan?
Japan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.84 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 Japan?
Canada has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $66,746 intl. (2025) compared with $55,422 intl. for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Canada or Japan?
Japan 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 Japan?
Japan spends more on the military: $62.16 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 Japan?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); Canada: 76.0 points (16th). 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 Japan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/canada-vs-japan. Data as of 26 October 2026.