The USA vs Canada
After living in Canada (several years) and
the USA (most of my prior life) people ask me, “Which is better?” Is Canada a better country than the USA?
While defining “better” is primarily a subjective topic for most, one might
wonder if there are any objective measures that might be used to sort
things out. Here is my take based on
some objective data… plus some of my own subjective points of view after that.
BTW, if Canada was a U.S. state, being similar
in population and liberalized government to California, it would probably be a better
place to live, overall, than is California (even though objectively one
could rate California as better also). But,
considering that point of view it would only be better than a few of the 50 U.S.
states, which pretty much answers the question.
While Canada may be a better place to live than a state like California
that doesn’t make it better than all 50 states combined (of which many provide
a potentially better quality of life than either Canada or California also).
Plus, a lot of people who attempt to compare
countries will focus their attention on only a few elements they feel (subjectively) are most important, such
as crime rates, free medical services or who the leader is, vs. taking into
account other key factors that allow people to flourish and live better lives,
such as economies of scale, overall cost of living, sources of income, resource
utilization, enjoyable climate, or military strength and national security.
Now days, left leaning media outlets (and
their socialist propaganda), which is about all you get when it comes to news in
Canada, will do just about anything to rank the USA down a few notches in order
to make their viewers and listeners feel superior, and to make Canadians and
other countries feel better as well; for example…
Any time you are the big kid on the block
you will always have the little guys banding together to take you on, unless
they need you to fight their fights for them.
That is just one of those facts of life.
In any event, let’s compare some apples
to apples and see what we get…
|
OBJECTS |
U.S.A. |
CANADA |
CALIFORNIA |
WORLD |
|
Population: Including Note: A greater percentage of Canadians, 3.45% vs 0.92%,
have left to live abroad; perhaps seeking better paying jobs or life styles?
Yet, in both cases, many more immigrate into each country for various other
reasons. From personal experience, it
is quite a bit easier to move into Canada than into the USA of late. |
325,174,700+ or 4.40%. Note: The USA has more large cities and a lot more smaller cities, towns, etc. (see below). But none of
them are “too large” or complete “rat races” like cities in some other
countries tend to be. Thus, the USA has more businesses, jobs, product and price
competition, etc. which attracts a lot more people
from other countries (even Canadians).
The USA wins on this front, objectively
and subjectively, so far as most are concerned. |
36,286,400+ * or 0.49%. |
39,250,000+ or 0.53% |
7,395,233,000+ 100.0% |
|
2016 GDP (USD) Note: Part of the drop in
Canada’s GDP could be due to a recent drop in $ exchange rates (i.e. purchasing
power). |
$18.5691 trillion (and growing).
The USA wins. |
$1.5292 trillion (and dropping).
Note: Canada’s
higher average housing costs factor in to a lowering of exchange rates and
possibly the result. |
$2.6027 trillion. In 2015 California’s GDP alone was larger than all
but five countries. |
$75.2780 trillion. Canada’s GDP is 2.03% and the USA’s GDP is 24.67% of the world’s total GDP. Note: Both percentages are lower than in 2008. |
|
2015 GDP Per Cap PPP (USD): When adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP) (World Factbook)
and/or |
The US has the
most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a GDP per capita PPP
of $52,704… up from $51,775 in 2014. Only 6 U.S.
states have a lower rank than Canada. Also worth reading… www.aei.org The USA wins. |
As a high-tech
industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in
its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living
standards with a GDP per capita PPP of $42,983… up from $42,946
in 2014. |
California’s GSP (gross state
product) per capita is $61,924 (and it has one of the highest costs of living
in the USA as well). |
Est 2015 GDP per
capita PPP of $17,600. Note: Est 2016 is
$16,300, down from $17,200 in 2014; probably due to Middle East and African wars
with groups like ISIS, etc., and depressions in South America. Note: While China’s GDP rival’s that of the USA it has so many people living in poverty that at the individual level their GDP PPP is still only $14,600 as of 2016. |
|
2015 Average or Median Income (USD) w/PPP factored in: |
$58,714 The USA wins. |
$47,843 Note: Canada’s
big city high housing costs also lower their results. |
$65,458 Note: 2014 median household income only. |
Unknown. |
|
Apr 2017 Inflation Rate CPI (ex-housing): |
2.20% 3.5% Q4 2007. 3.7% Q1 2008. |
1.64% 1.6% Q4 2007. 1.4% Q1 2008. Canada wins. |
Unknown. |
Unknown. |
|
Apr 2017 Unemployment Rate: |
4.3% (1983 peak 11%)
The USA wins. |
6.5% (1983 peak 15%)
|
5.2% Dec 2016. |
30% combined unemployment and underemployment in
many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12%
unemployment (2007 est.) |
|
Type of Government: See also Note: This may be an example of a somewhat subjective
choice. |
Constitutional Federal Republic. While many of its current day
representatives and judges within the USA system call themselves “democrats”
they think and act more like “socialists or communists” and often attempt to
convert the USA into their idealized socialist democracy. However, thus far, and based on the overall results within this table,
the U.S. form of government, with its balance of powers, still rules the day. The USA wins. |
Constitutional
Monarchy and Parliamentary
Democracy. ** FYI Canadians do NOT seem to understand
exactly how their government operates, they change their government on an
irregular basis (any time their parliament becomes deadlocked) and they
decide to “form a new government” “by way of a non-confidence vote by a coalition
of opposition parties”. |
Mixed. |
|
|
Health Care System Rank: Note: A large factor in ranking the U.S. down is due to
the cost of care (see below), the leading edge cost of advanced R&D, etc.
which the USA accomplishes vs other countries. |
28th of 233 “Obama No Care” did little to
nothing to improve the USA’s rank… at great time, effort and expense. We’ll see what the GOP does about it, if
anything. |
9th of 233 Canada wins. See link to left for all the
gory details. It also helps that Canada’s
system is highly government subsidized, except for the apparent side effects
on the taxation front (see below). |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2015 Life Expectancy in Years: (was/were 2008) Most improvements to life
expectancy around the world can be traced back to medical care methodologies
and drug research accomplished within the USA. A person suffering from HIV, cancer
and many other maladies has only the scientists and doctors within the USA to
thank for their extended quality of life once diagnosed. |
Overall 79.3 (was 78.14) Male 76.9 (was 75.29) Female 81.6 (was 81.1) Note: The USA employs a LOT more military personnel to
fight terror, etc. thus losing a lot of ground on the male and overall front
due to associated dangers/injuries. Likewise, per UN stats, a much larger
population is exposed to the possibility of death from natural disasters in
the USA. And the U.S. medical system is much more strained by the large
influx of unhealthy, illegal immigrants than is Canada. |
Overall: 82.2 (was 81.16) Male: 80.2 (was 78.65)
84.1 (was 83.81) Canada wins. |
Same as |
Yr 2000 L.E. ranged from 83.5 in Andorra to 37.2 in Zambia. U.S.A. was
77.1. The top 3 were Andorra and San Marino 81.1 plus Japan 80.7. The bottom 3 were Zambia, Mozambique 37.5, Malawi 37.6. |
|
Number of Cities + Towns: Note: Just imagine the number of
businesses, employees, effort and infrastructure involved to create these
cities. |
Too many to count. To see them all go here… 307 cities exceeding 100,000 – nearly as many as all the cities in Canada – 116 cities exceeding 200,000 by 2017 and 10 exceeding 1 million. The USA wins by a long shot. |
18 + 50 + 10 + 8 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 51 + 2 + 222 + 16 + 2 = 387 19-20 cities exceeding 200,000 by 2017 and 5 exceeding 1 million. |
482 registered municipalities. 20 cities exceeding 200,000 by 2017 & 3 exceeding 1 million. CA alone beats Canada. |
Too many to even begin to count. |
|
Largest Three Cities: Note: Wiki 2016 vs UN past data 2000 USA/1996 Canada. Note: So
far, no standardized international criteria exist for determining the
boundaries of a city and often multiple different boundary definitions
are available for any given city. |
New York 8,537,673 vs 8,008,000. Los Angeles 3,976,322 vs 3,695,000. Chicago 2,704,958 vs 2,896,000. Liberal criminal justice
methodologies and corruption creates havens for drug gangs, criminals, etc.
which has stimulated many to leave Chicago; not unlike Detroit and others. Thankfully there are 49 other states one can
choose to move to when socialists ruin your community in the USA… The USA still wins by a long shot (although land area to expand in
these USA cities does limit increases). |
Toronto 2,731,571 vs 653,700. Montreal 1,704,694 vs 1,016,400. 1,239,220 vs 768,100. |
Los Angeles 3,976,322 vs 4,046,000. 1,406,630 vs 1,337,000. 1,025,350 vs 989,400. (Jan 2008). |
Greater metro areas Tokyo, Japan 37,833,000 Delhi, India 24,953,000 Shanghai, China 22,991,000 (2014) vs City proper Seoul, South Korea 10,231,000. 10,018,000. 9,926,000. (UN 1997). |
|
Homicide (i.e. Violent Crime) Rate: Note: Neither the USA nor Canada are among the top 25
worst countries. However, thanks to a
larger immigration of gangs/drugs via South and Central America into the USA,
it has a worse problem when it comes to the rate of drug usage (which also
affects the death rate in the USA) and violent crime. One might wonder, however;
why all the negative press when it comes to such a minor % crime rate in
either country? |
4.88 homicides per
100,000 in 2015 (5.41 in 2008) 0.00488% 15,696 total 2015 homicides. Note: Total national crime rate was 3,982 reported crimes per 100,000 residents or 4.0%. |
1.68 homicides per 100,000 in 2015 (1.83 in 2008) 0.00168% 604 total 2015 homicides. Note: Total
national crime rate was 7,518 reported crimes per 100,000 residents or 7.5%. Canada wins, even if there is more
overall crime due to a police force ratio that has a difficult time keeping
up. |
4.40 homicides per 100,000 in 2014 (5.41 in
2008) .000049% 1,697 total 2014 homicides. 2,503 total 2005 homicides. |
Keep in mind that most murders happen in densely population areas with high drug and gang/terror rates that can slant results against populous countries. |
|
Fed Income Taxes: |
Ave Single 29.1% Ave Married w/2 11.9% The USA wins. Note: The USA also has a much more generous Social
Security/Social Insurance program. |
Ave Single 31.6% Ave Married w/2 21.5% |
N/A |
Unknown. |
|
Sales Tax: |
Some states impose a sales tax; or both sales and
income tax. 45 states collect statewide sales taxes. 38 states collect local sales taxes. The five states with the highest
average combined state-local sales tax rates are Tennessee 9.45%, Arkansas 9.26%, Alabama 8.9%,
Louisiana 8.91%, and Washington 8.89%. The USA wins. |
5% low to 15% high. There is a 5% GST tax imposed by the Fed + FST + some
provinces impose a sales tax. BC, for example, has a combined tax of 12%. All provinces have higher tax rates than any U.S. state. |
7.25% total |
Unknown. |
|
Property Taxes (2014): .9372 June 30, 2014 conversion rate used for CAD to USD |
In the United States, property
tax on real estate is usually assessed by a local government, at the
municipal or county level. $487,096 USD million collected
on all property. Population factor 317.7 million. Ave prop tax per person was $1,533 USD. The USA wins. |
Many provinces in Canada levy
property tax based upon current use and value of the land which is major
source of revenue for most municipal governments. $68,033 USD ($72,592 CAD)
million collected on all property. Population factor 35.5 million. Ave prop tax per person was $1,916 USD. |
In California, a voter
initiative referred to as Proposition 13 froze a portion of the tax rate and
imposed a requirement for voter approval for other components of the tax
rate. Proposition 13 is responsible for maintaining property tax rates, which
do not vary much from place to place within the state. Likewise, they are only adjusted at point
of sale keeping the tax burden fairly steady until a property is sold again. |
Unknown. |
|
2016 Fed Budget Deficit: .7686 June 30, 2016 conversion rate used for CAD to USD |
At the end of FY 2016 the
federal deficit was $585 billion USD or 3.15% GDP. |
$22.6 billion USD or $29.4 billion CAD or 1.48% GDP. Canada wins. |
N/A |
Unknown. |
|
2016 Per Capita External Debt (USD): |
$18,152,809,942,589 88.8% of annual GDP. $56,000 per capita. |
$1,754,375,600,000 53.0% of annual GDP. $46,800 per capita. Canada wins. |
Unknown. |
Unknown. |
|
Ease of Doing Business |
United States ranks 8th and was 3rd in 2008-2009 during
recession in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. The USA wins. |
Canada ranks 22nd and was 7th or 8th in 2008-2009 during recession in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. |
Unknown. |
|
|
Military (2014): And Note: Canada can hardly be expected to compare to the USA
which has a far greater population and economy to tap into due to having
grown much more after the original settlers came from Europe to explore and
settle each respective country. Thanks
to the fact that the USA fought the Revolutionary War against Great Britain,
and other conflicts against Spain and even the French, the results are what
they are. |
2,349,950 personnel of
which 1,492,200 are active, 843,750 are reserve; 7.3 per 1,000 Budget $611.2 USD billion annual. The U.S.A. armed forces are the most sophisticated
in the world. One U.S.A. aircraft
carrier group, one nuclear sub and the US Marines would best the entire
Canadian armed forces. With a push of
a button the U.S.A. military could destroy any army or country on the planet…
if needed… and protect any of our allies from takeover in the process. The USA wins. |
321,450 personnel of which 166,000 are active, 130,950 are reserve; 8.8 per 1,000. Budget $15.5 USD billion annual. Canada may share N-weapons provided by the U.S.A.
via NATO plans. Canada focuses more on improving their health care
and quality of life options while leaving the dirty work of policing any
external threats up to their big brother to the south. It never hurts to have a single border with
the greatest country and trading partner on Earth (the USA) vs. bordering
countries run by more aggressive adversaries in the world. |
California’s Army National Guard combined with other
branches of the military stationed there, and along with the corresponding
equipment, are a better fighting force than Canada’s and most other nation’s
armed forces as well. |
N/A USA has the 2nd largest active duty force
while Canada has apx. The 35th largest. |
|
Climate: Climate factors into one’s
potential quality of life along with how much land area a nation might be
able to exploit for future growth, sustenance and economic improvement. |
The climate of the “lower 48 states” of United States varies due to
differences in latitude, and a range of geographic features, including
mountains and deserts. Alaska’s
climate is similar to northern Canada.
Most areas within the USA are
better places to live, from a climate perspective, which is a key reason the
USA has a much larger population than Canada. The USA wins. |
For the vast majority of Canadian’s, due to the extremely cold and harsh weather of the
north, they have migrated into the very southern regions and cities where a
better quality of life, similar to what may be found in the northern US
states, may be had. |
Mediterranean climate, with cool, rainy winters and dry summers. |
|
|
Industry or productivity: |
Highly diversified, world leading,
high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum,
steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunication, chemicals, drugs, arms
industry, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining. The USA wins. |
Transportation equipment, chemicals,
processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products,
oil sands, fish products, petroleum and natural gas and minerals such as
gold, iron and magnesium. |
|
|
|
* Apx
1/10th of |
The USA wins (15 of 21) |
Canada wins (6 of 21) |
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Analysis and Conclusions
Even though the U.S.A. has only 4.4% of the world’s population it has, in fact, grown to be THE POWERHOUSE of the world in more than one sense of the word POWERHOUSE. It should be producing only 4-5% of the world’s GDP. Instead it generates enough goods and services, which are consumed internally and externally, to claim nearly 25% of the world’s GDP. Only China, which has 4.25 times the human capital, even comes close to the productivity achieved on this front.
This GDP factor (one among many) actually makes it possible for billions of other people in the world to live better lives than they would otherwise. Were it not for the U.S.A. with its technologies and the creative manner in which US corporations (such as Boeing, Walmart, Exxon Mobile, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, United Health, UPS, FedEx, GM, Ford, AT&T, GE, Amazon, Google, McDonald’s, Home Depot, et al … 21 of the top 50 companies worldwide) produce and move goods, information and people around the globe billions more people would be living a life of poverty, disease, famine and turmoil all over the world.
Canada is a very similar story but on a much smaller scale. It compares with California and would make a great 51st state if it were to join with the U.S.A. Likewise, the quality of life one finds in Canada, al be it at a slightly higher cost of living (taxes, RE cost and cost of consumption), is on par with a state such as California.
The fact that Canada is next door
to the U.S.A. and the two countries enjoy such a positive history and proximity
to each other, and because the people of the U.S.A. are able to consume the majority
($267 billion of $545 billion or 49%) of the output of Canada’s resources, as
they are generated for sale, only serves to highlight how important the U.S.A.
is to Canada’s every day economy and well-being as well. Most of Canada’s main employers are companies
started in the U.S.A. The people in the U.S.A.
are a large consumer population in the world only because they are a larger
producer in the world. The
Most Canadians fail to recognize just how important the U.S.A. is when it comes to their own quality of life issues.
Which leads to yet another important point.
The
The U.S.A. has sacrificed
BILLIONS (perhaps TRILLIONS) over the years to weed out and shut down tyrants
and dictators during our 240+ year history.
And the
Which leads to yet another important point.
The
While there are rich and poor alike in most countries, and the USA is certainly no exception, on average the U.S.A. has as high or a higher quality of life as can be found in any other country on Earth. It is one of only a handful of countries where people are able to walk around on the streets, day and night, without being paranoid that the government is out to get them or that corruption is running so rampant that we would like to leave and go somewhere else to set up shop. In fact, the exact opposite is true. We may soon have to build “a wall” (on our southern border anyway) just to keep people from other countries from swamping our nation and dragging it down. We are not oppressed nor are we depressed nor are we insecure in relationship to our government… even though parts of our media and some groups of people would prefer that we be otherwise.
Many people come to the U.S.A. and start over even though they can’t seem to understand that it is possible to have a government which really is NOT eavesdropping on them (it couldn’t even if it tried), and that does not expect them to worship or bow down to the government, and that it will not take away their hard earned money w/o JUST cause. It takes immigrants coming from many other places years and years, sometimes, to recover from the paranoid issues they bring with them when it comes to understanding that the U.S.A. government, military and police forces are, for the most part, here to protect and serve everyone within our country.
You can argue until you are blue
in the face about the shortcomings of the U.S.A. government (a republic NOT a
democracy); which are very few if any at the state level. But, it all comes down to where the rubber
meets the road. Our GDP and resulting
quality of life over the years is so great only because our government, economy
and businesses are so great. The only
thing that will ever diminish the greatness of our country will be if all the
other peoples of the world finally wake up and start following our example and
decide they too want the “good life”; in a place where one can pursue their own
life, liberty and happiness. Maybe then
the rest of the world will eventually run on par with the
What other factors make the
Answer: Industry. All countries have their industrial
engines. Some more so
than others. The U.S.A.
industrial complex and engine, the resulting technologies, and the U.S.A. education
system, coupled with the vast resources and hardworking, creative spirit of the
nation, are second to none. Ours is the
only country which has designed, engineered and put forth the necessary
creative effort to travel to another body in the universe, step foot on it (with
120 toes) or land mechanical robots on them
(Russia has had 2 rovers on the moon) and bring something of value (new found
knowledge) back to Earth. We make things happen;
from things like the first engine-powered aircraft, to the light bulb and the Tesla
auto, to things like e-mail. We produce
more vehicles of all types and sizes to move more people back and forth to work
(within one of the world’s most complex transportation systems), to shopping,
and to any place they need to go than any other country. And we produce more planes to get more people
more places faster and more efficiently than any other nation on the planet
also. We have developed technologies
such as computers and the mobile phone which have enabled commerce and
information to flow and improve the entire planet. And we have shown the world how to set up
telecommunications systems and the internet which also connects the world to
anywhere they want to be. We have made a
majority of the major breakthroughs in modern medicine which have supported the
near tripling of life expectancies at home and abroad. If the many, many major corporations and
government services of the
Anyone who wishes to undermine
Industrial strength is one major reason
why both the
Even the most down trodden and poor among us are able to tap into enough services and gain access to enough assistance that they are far better off than they would be in almost any other country they may have come from. That said… the U.S.A. will always have a fairly low unemployment rate. There is work to be done and jobs to be had for anyone who desires to improve their way of life.
Inflation and the cost of living is
the flip side to that same coin, however.
Recently Canada has made some great strides to improve on their rate of
inflation, managing their budget (with occasional surpluses no less) and
reducing their debt. One would like to
carry that over into the vast reaches of the
There are many other reasons why
life is good in the
O, say,
does that star-spangled banner yet wave… O'er the land of the free and the home
of the brave?
The
I’m just glad I was born and raised as a U.S. citizen in the greatest nation on Earth. And anyone, even Trump, who thinks that isn’t the case, has another think coming.