The answer to “is canada bigger than the us” might surprise you. Canada stands as the world’s second largest country with roughly 9.98 million square kilometers. The United States follows closely in third place with about 9.83 million square kilometers. The size difference between these nations is relatively small – just under 46,000 square miles, which matches the size of one US state.
A closer look at the size comparison between Canada and the US reveals fascinating details. Canada’s total area spans about 3,855,100 square miles, making it just 1.6% larger than America’s 3,796,742 square miles. The comparison isn’t straightforward though. The US actually has more land area than Canada if you don’t count water bodies. This fact challenges what most people think about these nations’ usable territory. Canada’s geography boasts the world’s longest shoreline that stretches over 151,019 miles. The population numbers tell a different story – America’s population reached over 307 million while Canada had just 33 million residents at the time of 2010.
Table of Contents
- 1 How big is Canada compared to the US?
- 2 Land vs Water: What really makes Canada bigger
- 3 Population density and land usage
- 4 Geographic and climate differences
- 5 Economic and political implications of size
- 6 In a few words
- 7 Here are some FAQs about if is Canada bigger than the US:
- 7.1 What can I do if my dog is shaking and acting weird all of a sudden?
- 7.2 How can you tell if your dog is unwell?
- 7.3 How can I soothe my dog shaking?
- 7.4 When should I worry about my dog trembling?
- 7.5 When should I be concerned about my dog acting weird?
- 7.6 What are the signs of parvo in a dog?
- 7.7 What to give a dog when they are not feeling well?
- 7.8 When should I be worried about my dog?
How big is Canada compared to the US?
The numbers tell an interesting story about North America’s largest nations and their geographical footprints. Let’s get into what makes these neighboring giants different in size.
Total area of Canada vs USA
Canada slightly outweighs the United States in total area. Canada’s territory spans 9,984,670 square kilometers, making it the world’s second-largest country after Russia. The United States covers 9,833,517 square kilometers, which puts it in third place globally.
The size gap between these nations isn’t huge – the United States is 98.49% of Canada’s size. To make this more relatable, the difference is about 46,000 square miles – roughly Pennsylvania’s size.
The raw numbers don’t tell the whole story though. Canada’s territory has 891,163 square kilometers of water, substantially more than the United States’ 685,924 square kilometers. This water area difference of over 200,000 square kilometers explains Canada’s overall size advantage despite having less land mass.
Is Canada bigger than the US including Alaska?
People often leave out Alaska from the United States’ total area calculations. In spite of that, Canada stays ahead in size even with Alaska’s massive contribution of 1,481,348 square kilometers.
The United States’ total area, counting all 50 states, reaches 9,831,510 square kilometers. Canada still edges ahead with 9,879,750 square kilometers. Alaska alone makes up 14.84% of Canada’s size. This fact shows why Alaska plays such a vital role in size comparisons between these nations.
Why maps can be misleading
The common belief that Canada towers over the United States comes from our typical world map views. The Mercator projection, used in most standard maps, warps the size of regions close to the poles.
This warping makes polar regions look much bigger than they really are. Areas near the equator appear smaller than their actual size. Canada and Russia seem to take up about 25% of Earth’s surface on regular maps, but they actually cover just 5%.
A properly scaled map shows Canada’s size matches the United States much more closely. This explains why people tend to think Canada is much larger than it is – it’s just a trick of map projections rather than reality.
The real impact of these differences shows up in each country’s makeup. Canada’s territory has 8.9% water and 91.1% land, while the United States’ territory has 7.0% water and 93.0% land. These small percentage gaps become huge when you’re talking about territories this large.
Land vs Water: What really makes Canada bigger
The water-to-land ratio is a vital factor in the debate about whether Canada is really bigger than the US. Looking at geographical data shows a surprising reality about North America’s two largest nations.
Land area comparison
Most people might be surprised to learn that the United States has more land area than Canada. The US covers about 9,148,000 square kilometers of land while Canada has 9,094,000 square kilometers. This means the United States has more usable territory than its northern neighbor.
The numbers tell an interesting story when you look at each country’s total area. The United States is 93.0% land and just 7.0% water. Canada has 91.1% land and 8.9% water. This small percentage difference becomes a big deal when you’re talking about such huge territories.
Water area contribution
Canada keeps its size advantage because of what lies beneath the surface. It has about 891,163 square kilometers of water, which is nowhere near the United States’ 685,924 square kilometers. The difference of over 200,000 square kilometers of water area—about the size of Belarus or Romania—gives Canada the edge.
From this view, Canada’s water area alone is bigger than countries like France (643,801 square kilometers) and Ukraine (603,550 square kilometers). This massive water coverage explains why Canada ranks second globally in total area, even with less land than the United States.
Canada’s massive lakes
Canada’s impressive water statistics come from its many lakes. The country has an estimated 2 million lakes, making it Earth’s lake-richest nation. Among these, 561 lakes are larger than 100 square kilometers. Fresh water covers almost 9% (891,163 square kilometers) of Canada’s total area.
Some enormous lakes sit entirely within Canada’s borders. Great Bear Lake (31,328 square kilometers) and Great Slave Lake (28,568 square kilometers) are North America’s third and fourth largest lakes. Great Slave Lake is also North America’s deepest lake, reaching down 614 meters.
The Great Lakes split
The Great Lakes, which sit between Canada and the US, are significant to both countries’ geography. These five connected lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—are Earth’s largest group of freshwater lakes. They hold about 84% of North America’s surface freshwater.
The split of these massive water bodies favors the United States. Here’s how the Great Lakes system breaks down:
- Lake Superior: 82,100 square kilometers total (Canada: 28,700 km², US: 53,400 km²)
- Lake Huron: 59,600 square kilometers total (Canada: 36,000 km², US: 23,600 km²)
- Lake Michigan: 57,800 square kilometers (entirely within the US)
- Lake Erie: 25,700 square kilometers (Canada: 12,800 km², US: 12,900 km²)
- Lake Ontario: 18,960 square kilometers (Canada: 10,000 km², US: 8,960 km²)
The United States claims about 156,660 square kilometers of Great Lakes water, while Canada has around 87,500 square kilometers. But even with this advantage, the US can’t match Canada’s massive water resources from its thousands of other lakes across the country.
Population density and land usage
The fascinating story of Canada and the US goes beyond just maps. These neighboring giants show remarkable differences in how their populations are spread out.
Population of Canada vs US
The population gap between these two nations is huge. The United States ranks as the world’s third most populous country with about 347 million residents. Canada has only 40 million people, which is nowhere near 12% of its southern neighbor’s population. What makes this even more interesting is that Canada actually has more total land area.
Canada’s population grew by 0.83% from 2024 to 2025. Immigration played a big role in this growth. The country’s population jumped by over 1 million people in 2023 – a first in its history. This happened because Canada used smart migration policies to deal with worker shortages.
How much of Canada is actually inhabited?
Canada might be the second-largest country in the world, but most of its land remains empty. Most Canadians live in a narrow strip about 300 km from the US border. There’s a good reason for this – the Arctic Circle covers almost 40% of Canada’s land, and it’s pretty much impossible to live there.
Ontario and Quebec house about 60% of all Canadians. The numbers tell an interesting story: Canada has just 4 people per square kilometer, while the US has 35-36 people per square kilometer. This means the US packs nine times more people into the same amount of space than Canada does.
The Quebec City-Windsor Corridor shows just how clustered Canada’s population really is. This single strip holds almost 50% of Canada’s total population, even though the country is enormous.
Urban vs rural distribution
Both countries keep moving toward city living, but each follows its own path. Canada’s urban areas hold 80.16% of its population. The percentage of city dwellers has grown steadily, climbing from 81.1% in 2011 to 81.86% by 2023.
The US tells a slightly different tale. About 80% of Americans lived in urban areas in 2020. But unlike Canada, more Americans moved to rural areas between 2010 and 2020, with the rural population growing from 19.3% to 20%.
Each country shows big regional differences. America’s West Region leads in urbanization at 88.9%, with the Northeast following at 84%. In Canada, you’ll find more rural folks in the Atlantic provinces, while Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia have packed cities.
This spread of people creates unique challenges. Canada especially faces tough choices. It needs to provide services across its huge, empty territory while most of its citizens live packed together in a few big cities.
Geographic and climate differences
The US and Canada share a border but their landscapes and climate patterns create big differences in how their people live. These differences go beyond just size and shape the very fabric of life in these neighboring nations.
Canada’s tundra and forests
Canada’s northern character comes from its huge boreal forest (taiga) that covers 5.5 million square kilometers—making it the world’s second-largest unbroken forest. White and black spruce, white birch, balsam fir, and tamarack trees dominate this enormous region.
The Arctic tundra stretches north of this boreal zone and covers about 2.5 million square kilometers (25% of Canada’s landmass). This region has permanently frozen ground (permafrost), thin soils, and sparse vegetation. The tundra’s ecosystem is so delicate that damage to any part can quickly affect the entire environment.
Canada’s climate is warming twice as fast as the global average. The Canadian Arctic heats up even faster—about three times the global rate. Northern communities and infrastructure face serious risks from melting sea-ice and changing permafrost.
US climate diversity
The United States shows amazing climate variety because it stretches far from north to south and has unique landforms. You can find almost every major climate type here—from Alaska’s polar conditions to tropical weather in Hawaii and southern Florida.
The climate east of 100°W longitude changes from humid continental in the north to humid subtropical in the south. The landscape turns semi-arid and desert-like west of this line.
US weather patterns mainly depend on:
- Seasonal changes in solar angle
- North-south migration of subtropical high-pressure systems
- Seasonal movements of the polar jet stream
The Rocky Mountains and western ranges play a big role in rainfall patterns. They create rain shadows that help form the semi-arid Great Plains.
Impact of geography on lifestyle
Geography shapes daily life differently in each country. Most Canadians live in a narrow strip within 300 km of the US border. This happens because 40% of their country sits in the nearly uninhabitable Arctic Circle.
Canadian life comes with higher heating bills, challenges in connecting distant places, and an economy that relies on natural resources suited to northern conditions.
Americans enjoy more diverse outdoor activities and year-round farming thanks to their varied climate. The US gets about 2,628 hours of sunshine yearly while Canada receives 1,935 hours.
These climate differences show up in everyday life. The US stays warmer with average temperatures of 19°C during day and 7.5°C at night. Canada’s temperatures are much lower at 7.5°C during day and -2.3°C at night. These differences affect everything from energy use to building methods in these neighboring countries.
Economic and political implications of size
The size and territory of Canada and the US shape their economic ties and geopolitical realities. Each country’s geographical footprint creates unique advantages and challenges that affect their prosperity and security.
Natural resources and land use
Canada’s vast territory contains extraordinary natural wealth. The country holds about USD 33.20 trillion in natural resources, with oil reserves ranking third globally after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Canada stands as America’s largest energy provider, supplying 61% of US crude oil imports and 98% of natural gas imports.
Energy made up USD 85.00 billion—27% of all US imports from Canada in 2019. This energy partnership grows stronger as Canadian exports to the US continue to rise after the Transmountain Pipeline Expansion. The trade picture looks completely different without energy exports. The US actually has a trade surplus with Canada of around CAD 60.00 billion when energy is not factored in.
Canada’s control extends to many critical minerals that modern manufacturing needs. The country provides 50-80% of America’s zinc, tellerium, nickel, and vanadium. It also holds large reserves of cobalt, graphite, lithium, and rare earth materials that clean energy technologies need.
Infrastructure challenges
Canada’s massive geography creates unique infrastructure management problems. Projects in these vast territories cost more to build and maintain. Poor infrastructure limits growth and affects quality of life, particularly in developing countries and remote areas.
Bad planning becomes even more costly across big territories. Successful infrastructure depends on whole-life costing, appropriate risk transfer, and maintenance commitments. These factors become vital when serving scattered populations across huge distances.
Border management and defense
The Canada-US border stretches nearly 9,000 km, making it the world’s longest international border. About USD 2.00 billion in trade and 400,000 people cross this shared border daily. This massive movement needs sophisticated security systems.
Canada invested USD 1.30 billion to boost border security. The investment includes 60 new surveillance drones, additional surveillance towers, and technology upgrades. This shows both countries understand how border management affects their economic partnership and national security.
The economies of both nations remain deeply connected. America’s GDP grew by 27% while Canada’s increased by 25% between 2009 and 2019. These numbers show their economic interdependence, whatever their size differences.
In a few words
The sort of thing I love about comparing Canada and the United States goes beyond simple rankings and shows interesting geographical patterns. Canada might be the world’s second-largest country, but the US has more land where people can actually live. This difference really matters when you look at how people spread out, adapt to weather, and grow their economies in both countries.
Water plays a surprising role in this story. Canada’s bigger size comes from its many lakes and waterways – about 9% of the land is underwater compared to the US’s 7%. The population numbers tell an even more striking story. The US has around 347 million people while Canada has only 40 million residents.
Geography shapes how people live in both countries. Most Canadians live within 300 kilometers of the US border because the northern parts are too cold to inhabit. Americans have it better with different types of climates that support year-round farming and various business activities throughout the country.
These geographical features shape each country’s economy. Canada’s huge territory comes with amazing natural resources, especially energy that it sells to its neighbor down south. The US makes use of its more livable land to support businesses and cities of all sizes.
Whatever country is technically bigger, these nations depend heavily on each other. They share the world’s longest international border and trade about $2 billion worth of goods every day. Maps might show big size differences, but in real life, these two giants thrive together despite their unique geographical features.
Here are some FAQs about if is Canada bigger than the US:
What can I do if my dog is shaking and acting weird all of a sudden?
If your dog is shaking and acting weird suddenly, first check for obvious dangers in their environment and assess their temperature. When my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating, I immediately contact my veterinarian as this could indicate poisoning, pain, or neurological issues. Keep your pet warm and calm while seeking professional advice, especially if my dog is acting weird and shaking persists beyond a few minutes.
How can you tell if your dog is unwell?
Signs your dog is unwell include changes in behavior like when my dog is shaking and acting weird, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy. Other red flags are vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing accompanying why is my dog shaking and acting weird episodes. Trust your instincts – if my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating normally, it’s time for a veterinary visit.
How can I soothe my dog shaking?
To soothe my dog is shaking and acting weird, create a quiet, comfortable space with familiar blankets and toys. Gentle massage and soft talking can help when my dog is acting weird and shaking from anxiety or fear. However, if why is my dog shaking and acting weird isn’t clearly from stress or cold, medical attention may be needed rather than just comfort measures.
When should I worry about my dog trembling?
Worry about trembling when my dog is shaking and acting weird accompanies other symptoms like vomiting, weakness, or confusion. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating for more than 12 hours, seek veterinary care immediately. Emergency signs include seizures, difficulty breathing, or trauma preceding why is my dog shaking and acting weird behavior.
When should I be concerned about my dog acting weird?
Be concerned when my dog is acting weird and shaking represents a dramatic change from normal behavior lasting over an hour. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not responding to you normally or showing disorientation, urgent care is needed. Sudden onset of why is my dog shaking and acting weird behavior warrants faster action than gradual changes.
What are the signs of parvo in a dog?
Parvo signs include severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lethargy – which might initially appear as my dog is shaking and acting weird. Unlike simple anxiety, parvo causes my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating with rapid deterioration. If why is my dog shaking and acting weird includes these grave symptoms in an unvaccinated puppy, seek emergency care immediately.
What to give a dog when they are not feeling well?
When my dog is shaking and acting weird, offer small amounts of water and bland food if they’ll take it, but never force it. For my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating, consult your vet before giving any medications as human drugs can be dangerous. The solution to why is my dog shaking and acting weird often requires professional diagnosis rather than home treatment.
When should I be worried about my dog?
Worry when my dog is acting weird and shaking combines with symptoms like pale gums, difficulty breathing, or inability to stand. If my dog is shaking and acting weird and not eating for over a day, this indicates a serious problem needing veterinary attention. Trust your judgment – you know your pet best when assessing why is my dog shaking and acting weird behavior changes.
