The following is a comparison between Russia and Canada, the top two largest countries in the world. Let’s read.
Russia and Canada – country comparison
GDP comparison
Russia has a larger GDP than Canada, while Canada has a higher GDP per capita. The table below compares key economic indicators for the two countries.
| 2026 (IMF) | Russia | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Russian Ruble | Canadian Dollar |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $2.86 trillion | $2.49 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $19.95 thousand | $60.11 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $7.54 trillion | $2.92 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $52.6 thousand | $70.37 thousand |
| Real GDP growth | 0.9% | 1.1% |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
Russia has a larger population than Canada. Both countries are sparsely populated. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | Russia | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 144 million | 40.1 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 17% | 15% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 65% | 65% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 18% | 20% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.5 | 1.3 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| Russia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 73.15 | 82.63 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 64th | 16th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.832 | 0.939 |
Overview
Russia is the largest country in the world by total area, while Canada ranks second. Russia is roughly 1.7 times larger than Canada in terms of total area.
| Russia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | around 17.1 million sq km | around 10 million sq km |
| Area rank | 1st | 2nd |
| Population | 144 million (2025 estimate) | 40.1 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Moscow | Ottawa |
| Largest city | Moscow | Toronto |
| Largest metropolitan area | Moscow metropolitan area | Greater Toronto Area |
| Most spoken language | Russian | English |
| Most popular sport | Football (Soccer) | Ice hockey |
Geography
| Russia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | Transcontinental (Asia and Eastern Europe) | North America |
| Forest cover (2023) | 49.8% | 39.5% |
| Total number of time zones | 11 | 6 |
| Highest mountain peak | Mount Elbrus (5,642 m/18,510 ft) | Mount Logan (5,959 m/19,551 ft) |
| Major rivers | Volga, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Amur, Irtysh, etc. | Mackenzie, Yukon, Saint Lawrence, Nelson, Slave, etc. |
| Largest lake | Caspian Sea (shared with multiple countries); Lake Baikal (entirely within Russia) | Lake Superior (shared); Great Bear Lake (entirely within Canada) |
| Largest island | Sakhalin (72,492 sq km) | Baffin Island (507,451 sq km) |
Tourism
| Russia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 24.6 million (2019) | 19.9 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 33 | 22 |
| Popular places to visit | Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Vladivostok, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka Peninsula, Altai Mountains | Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park |
(Also read: Which country has the most lakes?)
Popular sports
- Football, bandy, ice hockey, tennis, and basketball are popular sports in Russia.
- Ice Hockey, lacrosse, football, baseball, cricket, and basketball are popular sports in Canada.
Major international airports
Russia
- Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow
- Pulkovo Airport, St. Petersburg
- Vnukovo International Airport, Moscow
- Moscow Domodedovo Airport
- Sochi International Airport, Sochi
Canada
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Vancouver International Airport
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
- Calgary International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
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