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Canada vs South Africa
Side-by-side comparison of Canada and South Africa from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 116 years
In short
Canada scores 76.0 in the NationsTree Index (16th in the world) and South Africa scores 41.9 (122nd), a gap of 34.2 points. Their trees are 36 m and 18 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
South Africa has 55% more people than Canada. Canada is 13 times larger than South Africa by land area. Canada has an economy 2.7 times the size of South Africa (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Canada 41.7 million and South Africa 64.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $66,746 in Canada and $15,906 in South Africa (2025, international dollars). People in Canada live on average 15.8 years longer (82.1 vs 66.3 years).
Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, Canada ranks higher in the world on 36 and South Africa on 2. Canada is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and tourism.
As a nation, Canada is the older of the two (statehood since 1867, 159 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years Canada improved faster (direction score 46 vs 7 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Canada and South Africa.
Canadabetter
73,170
6th of 183
South Africa
718
145th of 183
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Canadabetter
100.0%
1st of 215
South Africa
90.2%
161st of 215
Life expectancySociety & health
Canadabetter
82.1
34th of 217
South Africa
66.3
183rd of 217
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Canadabetter
31.5
33rd of 108
South Africa
54.1
107th of 108
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Canadabetter
6.6
22nd of 200
South Africa
27.7
146th of 200
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Canada has been ahead of South Africa in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1993.
Canada has been ahead of South Africa in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
South Africa has been ahead of Canada in 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
CanadaSouth Africa 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 | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 15,634,4102nd/216 · 2024 | 1,219,60224th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,788,7004th/216 · 2024 | 1,213,09024th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 41.7 m38th/217 · 2025 | 64.7 m24th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.94%104th/217 · 2025 | 1.15%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 4.7207th/216 · 2024 | 52.8151st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.9%51st/217 · 2025 | 63.8%111th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 25.7%91st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.3%37th/217 · 2025 | 6.9%126th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.32 trn10th/210 · 2025 | $427.18 bn40th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $2.78 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $1.03 trn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $2.42 trn16th/199 · 2025 | $880.05 bn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $55,69830th/210 · 2025 | $6,598125th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $66,74630th/199 · 2025 | $15,906120th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $56,42022nd/201 · 2025 | $6,270116th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.7%155th/210 · 2025 | 1.1%169th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.1%60th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%92nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.9%125th/187 · 2025 | 32.4%186th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 64.1%33rd/55 · 2024 | 82.8%45th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 113.6%176th/189 · 2025 | 78.4%145th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 | -5.6%160th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.9%148th/197 · 2022 | 2.8%130th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.4%68th/200 · 2022 | 24.1%95th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.3%109th/192 · 2022 | 12.3%76th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.1%61st/200 · 2022 | 63.1%67th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $726.88 bn15th/182 · 2025 | $134.18 bn42nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $746.50 bn13th/182 · 2025 | $126.02 bn43rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.3%110th/183 · 2025 | 31.4%109th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 32.2%125th/183 · 2025 | 29.5%134th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 63.5%121st/183 · 2025 | 60.9%126th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 26.7%32nd/170 · 2025 | 8.2%58th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 40.3%74th/171 · 2025 | 38.3%80th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%96th/171 · 2025 | 12.8%101st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.6%48th/171 · 2025 | 30.4%18th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 16.1%46th/168 · 2024 | 5.7%91st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.9%90th/191 · 2025 | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.0%71st/196 · 2025 | -0.5%183rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.9%73rd/209 · 2021 | 7.3%58th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.83%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.40%57th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.79%33rd/197 · 2021 | 0.03%71st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.07%32nd/195 · 2021 | 2.44%4th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.18%43rd/209 · 2021 | 3.83%28th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%123rd/209 · 2021 | 0.63%66th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.3%141st/206 · 2024 | 9.9%105th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 73,1706th/183 · 2022 | 718145th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 32.4 m9th/194 · 2019 | 3.9 m45th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $19.99 bn2011 | $2.72 bn43rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.7%2011 | 2.9%109th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 37.8 m4th/107 · 2019 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.134th/217 · 2024 | 66.3183rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 | 35.1144th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.8264th/174 · 2023 | 0.79108th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.570th/145 · 2022 | 2.32010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 74%160th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 96.4%22nd/153 · 2024 | 85.4%61st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.3%44th/173 · 2023 | 104.1%46th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 78.4%12th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 31.3%36th/217 · 2025 | 10.2%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 11.3%14th/193 · 2024 | 8.9%47th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 91.2%48th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.3%39th/150 · 2023 | 23.5%115th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.93916th/193 · 2023 | 0.741106th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 31.533rd/108 · 2022 | 54.1107th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.3%23rd/108 · 2022 | 17.4%87th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 90.2%161st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 96.9%41st/150 · 2024 | 68.0%90th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%47th/144 · 2024 | 73.8%60th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 94.4%32nd/186 · 2024 | 78.4%105th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 94151st/210 · 2024 | 17911th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 42.521st/208 · 2024 | 5.3137th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 3.6029th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 48,1505th/82 · 2021 | 20,9539th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 88.6 m13th/161 · 2023 | 15.5 m42nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 14.01191st/203 · 2024 | 6.88168th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 23.8%96th/212 · 2021 | 9.7%146th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 6.622nd/200 · 2023 | 27.7146th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 42.0%74th/214 · 2024 | 18.8%134th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 7,1198th/149 · 2024 | 1,90761st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.310th/205 · 2025 | 51.9109th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 80.216th/207 · 2025 | 45.498th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 83.019th/207 · 2025 | 59.396th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.855th/207 · 2025 | 58.9142nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 80.315th/205 · 2025 | 54.399th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 85.211th/205 · 2025 | 70.257th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.066th/145 · 2023 | 43.7140th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $37.49 bn16th/156 · 2025 | $3.17 bn54th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%82nd/156 · 2025 | 0.7%133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%118th/154 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 72,00058th/170 · 2020 | 89,00054th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%139th/168 · 2020 | 0.40%131st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 83.0 m53rd/163 · 2025 | 30.0 m78th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 312.0 m14th/65 · 2025 | 115.0 m24th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.79%24th/110 · 2024 | 0.61%58th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 4,30415th/137 · 2024 | 35053rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 63,72010th/197 · 2023 | 14,94933rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Canada or South Africa?
South Africa has the larger population: 64.7 m (2025) compared with 41.7 m for Canada (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Canada or South Africa?
Canada is larger: 15,634,410 km² (2024) compared with 1,219,602 km² for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Canada or South Africa?
Canada has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $2.78 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.03 trn intl. for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Canada or South Africa?
Canada has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $66,746 intl. (2025) compared with $15,906 intl. for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Canada or South Africa?
Canada has the higher life expectancy at birth: 82.1 years (2024) compared with 66.3 years for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Canada or South Africa?
Canada spends more on the military: $37.49 bn (2025) compared with $3.17 bn for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Canada or South Africa?
Canada: 76.0 points (16th in the world); South Africa: 41.9 points (122nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Bermuda
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Angola
Ethiopia
KenyaSources
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 South Africa — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/canada-vs-south-africa. Data as of 26 October 2026.