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Canada vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Canada has a population of 41.3M (ranked 37/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Canada's land area is 3,393,336 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 4th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Canada ranks 9/197 ($2.24T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Canada ranks 20/197 ($54,340), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Canada South Africa
Population
42181965
65683993
Population rank 38/197 24/197
GDP
$2.24T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 9/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$54,340
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 20/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$64,610
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$2.5T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
111.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$60,482
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 4/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$37,320
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 3,393,336 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
12.4 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.26
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
41.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Canada and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Canada and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Canada South Africa
2024 $2,243,636,826,634 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,173,339,670,064 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,190,411,080,134 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,022,378,748,423 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,655,684,730,000 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,743,725,183,673 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,725,329,192,783 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,649,265,644,244 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,527,994,741,907 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,556,508,816,217 $346,709,790,459
2014 $1,805,749,878,440 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,846,597,421,835 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,828,366,481,522 $434,400,545,086
2011 $1,793,326,630,175 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,617,343,367,486 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,374,625,142,157 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,552,989,690,722 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,468,820,407,783 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,319,264,809,591 $303,858,675,364
2005 $1,173,108,598,779 $288,867,217,197
2004 $1,026,690,238,278 $255,806,908,595
2003 $895,540,646,635 $197,018,965,309
2002 $760,649,334,098 $129,087,556,612
2001 $738,981,792,355 $135,429,905,923
2000 $744,773,415,932 $151,752,757,215
1999 $678,412,196,271 $151,516,957,079
1998 $634,000,000,000 $152,982,984,557
1997 $654,986,999,856 $168,978,057,328
1996 $630,607,994,133 $163,234,925,381
1995 $605,961,090,061 $171,735,933,897
1994 $579,944,346,807 $153,512,712,382
1993 $579,053,561,739 $147,194,747,566
1992 $594,387,358,319 $146,956,150,987
1991 $612,527,712,316 $135,203,698,238
1990 $596,075,591,361 $126,048,140,142
1989 $567,211,993,243 $108,055,624,082
1988 $509,380,027,627 $103,976,831,871
1987 $433,134,238,311 $96,535,763,418
1986 $379,006,836,992 $73,354,771,399
1985 $366,186,012,450 $64,459,376,087
1984 $356,718,400,124 $84,870,163,366
1983 $341,866,277,183 $96,204,110,942
1982 $314,647,807,409 $85,904,057,409
1981 $307,246,642,756 $93,141,472,164
1980 $274,776,566,028 $89,411,864,402
1979 $243,891,124,296 $63,038,658,089
1978 $219,369,542,386 $51,607,412,902
1977 $212,325,176,305 $45,328,411,332
1976 $207,271,612,576 $41,150,460,288
1975 $174,419,757,177 $42,906,905,672
1974 $160,949,188,139 $41,389,186,095
1973 $131,764,343,566 $33,262,772,008
1972 $113,463,848,874 $24,515,919,217
1971 $99,606,454,744 $23,411,076,638
1970 $88,192,257,632 $21,218,391,513
1969 $79,405,011,125 $19,256,992,297
1968 $72,048,833,006 $17,124,793,150
1967 $65,856,924,424 $15,821,393,671
1966 $61,252,415,405 $14,211,394,315
1965 $54,649,410,479 $13,068,994,772
1964 $49,503,663,836 $11,955,995,218
1963 $45,140,337,827 $10,854,195,658
1962 $42,336,211,556 $9,813,996,074
1961 $41,038,192,838 $9,225,996,310
1960 $40,563,768,947 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Canada and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Canada South Africa
2024 $54,340 $6,267
2023 $54,220 $6,034
2022 $56,257 $6,534
2021 $52,887 $6,829
2020 $43,538 $5,581
2019 $46,353 $6,534
2018 $46,539 $6,914
2017 $45,130 $6,618
2016 $42,314 $5,651
2015 $43,594 $6,112
2014 $50,961 $6,857
2013 $52,638 $7,332
2012 $52,670 $8,077
2011 $52,224 $8,646
2010 $47,561 $7,973
2009 $40,875 $6,375
2008 $46,710 $6,185
2007 $44,660 $6,592
2006 $40,504 $6,077
2005 $36,384 $5,837
2004 $32,146 $5,221
2003 $28,302 $4,062
2002 $24,256 $2,688
2001 $23,822 $2,847
2000 $24,271 $3,218
1999 $22,315 $3,242
1998 $21,025 $3,310
1997 $21,902 $3,700
1996 $21,297 $3,618
1995 $20,680 $3,856
1994 $19,998 $3,489
1993 $20,187 $3,400
1992 $20,950 $3,462
1991 $21,847 $3,243
1990 $21,526 $3,093
1989 $20,795 $2,727
1988 $19,013 $2,702
1987 $16,378 $2,586
1986 $14,521 $2,027
1985 $14,170 $1,839
1984 $13,930 $2,504
1983 $13,477 $2,938
1982 $12,527 $2,717
1981 $12,379 $3,050
1980 $11,208 $3,029
1979 $10,078 $2,202
1978 $9,154 $1,852
1977 $8,949 $1,671
1976 $8,839 $1,559
1975 $7,537 $1,670
1974 $7,057 $1,656
1973 $5,858 $1,369
1972 $5,107 $1,038
1971 $4,535 $1,020
1970 $4,136 $952
1969 $3,776 $891
1968 $3,473 $817
1967 $3,226 $779
1966 $3,055 $722
1965 $2,777 $685
1964 $2,562 $646
1963 $2,380 $605
1962 $2,274 $563
1961 $2,246 $546
1960 $2,265 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Canada vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Canada South Africa
2026 83.1 66.7
2025 82.9 66.5
2024 82.7 66.3
2023 82.6 66.1
2022 81.2 65.5
2021 82 62
2020 81.7 65.2
2019 82.3 66.1
2018 81.9 65.7
2017 81.9 65.4
2016 82 64.7
2015 81.9 64.1
2014 81.8 63.2
2013 81.8 62.4
2012 81.7 61.7
2011 81.5 60.6
2010 81.3 58.9
2009 81.1 57.4
2008 80.7 56
2007 80.5 54.9
2006 80.5 54.2
2005 80.1 53.9
2004 80 54
2003 79.7 54.2
2002 79.6 55.6
2001 79.4 57.2
2000 79.2 58.4
1999 78.9 59.2
1998 78.7 59.9
1997 78.5 60.5
1996 78.3 61.1
1995 78 61.6
1994 77.9 62.1
1993 77.7 62.6
1992 77.9 62.8
1991 77.6 63
1990 77.4 62.9
1989 77.1 63
1988 76.9 62.9
1987 76.8 62.7
1986 76.5 62.4
1985 76.3 62.2
1984 76.4 61.8
1983 76.1 61.4
1982 75.7 60.9
1981 75.5 60.4
1980 75.1 60
1979 74.8 59.5
1978 74.5 59
1977 74.2 58.5
1976 73.9 58
1975 73.4 57.6
1974 73.1 57.1
1973 73.1 56.7
1972 72.8 56.4
1971 72.9 56
1970 72.6 55.7
1969 72.4 55.4
1968 72.2 55.2
1967 72.1 55
1966 71.9 54.7
1965 71.7 54.4
1964 71.6 54.2
1963 71.3 53.9
1962 71.2 53.6
1961 71.2 53.1
1960 71 52.6
1959 70.6 51.9
1958 70.6 51.1
1957 69.9 50.2
1956 70 49.2
1955 70 48.2
1954 69.9 47.1
1953 69.1 46.1
1952 68.7 45
1951 68.5 44.1
1950 68.2 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Canada and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Canada South Africa
2024 41,288,599 64,007,187
2023 40,083,484 63,212,384
2022 38,935,934 62,378,410
2021 38,239,864 61,502,603
2020 38,028,638 60,562,381
2019 37,618,495 59,587,885
2018 37,072,620 58,613,001
2017 36,545,075 57,635,162
2016 36,110,803 57,259,551
2015 35,704,498 56,723,537
2014 35,434,066 55,594,838
2013 35,080,992 54,678,791
2012 34,713,395 53,782,567
2011 34,339,221 52,995,205
2010 34,005,902 52,344,051
2009 33,630,069 51,728,516
2008 33,247,298 51,114,599
2007 32,888,886 50,528,584
2006 32,571,193 49,998,277
2005 32,242,732 49,490,033
2004 31,938,807 48,991,421
2003 31,642,461 48,500,348
2002 31,359,199 48,019,415
2001 31,020,855 47,566,800
2000 30,685,730 47,159,719
1999 30,401,286 46,730,335
1998 30,155,173 46,223,880
1997 29,905,948 45,666,838
1996 29,610,218 45,123,018
1995 29,302,311 44,541,554
1994 29,000,663 44,004,139
1993 28,684,764 43,297,156
1992 28,371,264 42,443,509
1991 28,037,420 41,687,898
1990 27,691,138 40,746,268
1989 27,276,781 39,628,575
1988 26,791,747 38,480,649
1987 26,446,601 37,326,190
1986 26,100,278 36,180,515
1985 25,842,116 35,042,093
1984 25,607,053 33,892,788
1983 25,366,451 32,739,304
1982 25,116,942 31,615,339
1981 24,819,915 30,541,044
1980 24,515,667 29,518,857
1979 24,201,544 28,634,162
1978 23,963,203 27,869,507
1977 23,725,843 27,118,952
1976 23,449,808 26,395,450
1975 23,143,275 25,690,940
1974 22,807,969 24,989,108
1973 22,491,777 24,294,263
1972 22,218,463 23,609,456
1971 21,962,032 22,942,143
1970 21,324,000 22,279,984
1969 21,028,000 21,614,676
1968 20,744,000 20,957,287
1967 20,412,000 20,314,066
1966 20,048,000 19,690,087
1965 19,678,000 19,089,380
1964 19,325,000 18,511,361
1963 18,964,000 17,954,564
1962 18,614,000 17,418,522
1961 18,271,000 16,908,035
1960 17,909,356 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Canada and South Africa

Fertility rate
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Canada South Africa
2023 1.26 2.22
2022 1.33 2.23
2021 1.44 2.25
2020 1.41 2.26
2019 1.47 2.26
2018 1.51 2.27
2017 1.55 2.28
2016 1.59 2.26
2015 1.6 2.36
2014 1.61 2.42
2013 1.61 2.43
2012 1.63 2.45
2011 1.63 2.44
2010 1.65 2.44
2009 1.69 2.5
2008 1.7 2.68
2007 1.67 2.55
2006 1.63 2.55
2005 1.58 2.51
2004 1.56 2.44
2003 1.55 2.36
2002 1.52 2.32
2001 1.54 2.37
2000 1.51 2.41
1999 1.55 2.56
1998 1.56 2.63
1997 1.57 2.73
1996 1.63 2.99
1995 1.67 3.17
1994 1.69 3.26
1993 1.69 3.37
1992 1.71 3.48
1991 1.72 3.62
1990 1.83 3.72
1989 1.77 3.98
1988 1.68 4.18
1987 1.68 4.35
1986 1.68 4.41
1985 1.67 4.5
1984 1.65 4.57
1983 1.68 4.63
1982 1.69 4.7
1981 1.7 4.71
1980 1.74 4.78
1979 1.75 4.82
1978 1.77 4.85
1977 1.78 4.94
1976 1.8 5.07
1975 1.82 5.19
1974 1.84 5.3
1973 1.89 5.41
1972 1.98 5.49
1971 2.14 5.57
1970 2.26 5.63
1969 2.33 5.72
1968 2.39 5.78
1967 2.53 5.85
1966 2.75 5.91
1965 3.12 5.89
1964 3.46 5.96
1963 3.61 6.01
1962 3.68 6.05
1961 3.75 6.08
1960 3.81 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Canada and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Canada

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Canada South Africa
2024 41.5 29.5
2023 41.4 29.2
2022 41.3 28.9
2021 41.1 28.6
2020 40.9 28.3
2019 40.8 27.9
2018 40.8 27.5
2017 40.8 27
2016 40.7 26.7
2015 40.6 26.4
2014 40.5 26
2013 40.3 25.7
2012 40.1 25.3
2011 39.9 25
2010 39.7 24.6
2009 39.5 24.3
2008 39.3 24
2007 39.1 23.8
2006 38.8 23.5
2005 38.5 23.3
2004 38.1 23.1
2003 37.8 22.8
2002 37.4 22.4
2001 37.1 22.2
2000 36.7 21.9
1999 36.4 21.6
1998 36 21.4
1997 35.5 21.2
1996 35.1 21.2
1995 34.7 21.5
1994 34.3 22
1993 33.9 21.9
1992 33.6 21.5
1991 33.2 21.5
1990 32.9 21.3
1989 32.5 21.1
1988 32.2 20.9
1987 31.8 20.7
1986 31.4 20.5
1985 31 20.4
1984 30.6 20.2
1983 30.2 20
1982 29.8 19.8
1981 29.5 19.6
1980 29.2 19.4
1979 28.8 19.3
1978 28.5 19.2
1977 28.1 19.1
1976 27.7 19
1975 27.4 18.9
1974 27.2 18.9
1973 26.9 18.8
1972 26.6 18.8
1971 26.3 18.8
1970 26 18.8
1969 25.8 18.8
1968 25.7 18.8
1967 25.5 18.8
1966 25.5 18.8
1965 25.5 18.8
1964 25.6 18.9
1963 25.8 18.9
1962 26 18.9
1961 26.3 19
1960 26.4 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/canada/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Canada and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Canada South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.2T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.7%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.88%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.31%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
72,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.01%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.35%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
66.4%
2021
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.3%
2021
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
75.6
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2021
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.3%
2021
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
2,098,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
6.4%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
76
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
4,226
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.37T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$120B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$851M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
32,430,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.66%
2011
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.4%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Canada South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
7,336 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.75
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
578 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
14 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
76.8%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
23.8%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
19.8%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-89.6%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
14,460 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
67%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
57%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
14.1%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Canada South Africa
% of world population
0.51%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+326,204
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
82.7%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.86 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
91.3
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
75
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
99
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.27
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
167
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
82.1%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
94%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Canada South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,378
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$974
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
83.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2024
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.82
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30 years
2021
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
12
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
5.1
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
26.7%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
85
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.89 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Canada South Africa
% of world land
5.9%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
82,186 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
219,596 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,339,068 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
647,655 mi
2014
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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