Canada vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
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 112 compared metrics, Canada wins on 64 and South Africa wins on 38.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 78.75 points★ | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 32.3★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 21.5★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 3,000 | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -12.14M★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 585.85 | 446.7★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| 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 | |
| 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★ |
Geography
6 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★ | |
| 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
4 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 87.73 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 10★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 13.96★ | 102.05 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.7★ | 7.2 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 11.2 % of GDP★ | 8.3 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.5 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 12 %★ | 118 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 28.1★ | 22.5 | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 29.4 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 72,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
30 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 |