Canada vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 62% more people than Canada (65.49 million vs 40.51 million). Canada's economy is 6.1 times the size of South Africa's ($2.59 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Canada and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against Canada (1.09); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Canada (2.44); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Canada (2.21). Across 176 compared metrics, Canada wins on 109 and South Africa wins on 57.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 42.52 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 94.35 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 93.96 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 94% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 42.52 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 78.75 points★ | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 32.3★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 21.5★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 3,000 | NA |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -12.14M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -9,818.75 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | -2.55 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 585.85 | 446.7★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 669.87 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | vast majority of the population lives in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 13.3 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 12.9 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 370 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.9 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 18 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.16 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 90.43★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 559,597.6 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 8.79M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 202,080 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 20,790.38 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 9,045 | 16,700★ |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 87.73 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 10★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 75 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 75 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 9.18 | 10.94★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 75 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 67,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.63 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 72,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.96★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 1,459★ | 573 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 636★ | 90 | |
| Heliports | 506★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 49.89B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 2.25 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Canada or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 62% more people than Canada (65.49 million vs 40.51 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Canada or South Africa?▾
Canada. Canada's economy is 6.1 times the size of South Africa's ($2.59 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Canada or South Africa?▾
Canada is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $63,880 in Canada vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).