A Few Numbers

Last modified on August 17th, 2009

Canada USA
GDP $1.271 trillion $13.84 trillion
Population 33,212,696 304,059,724
GDP/capita 38,268 45,517
National Debt ~480 billion ~11,600 billion
Debt Per Person $14,500 (CAD) $38,085 (USD)
Life Expectancy 80.7 years 78.2 years
Health Costs Per Capita $3,678 (USD, 2006) $6,714 (USD, 2006)

3 responses to “A Few Numbers”

  1. Beth says:

    And this doesn’t even capture qualitative things like what you mentioned in your previous posting – the fact that in Canada you can live those 80.7 years without having to worry about whether you will go bankrupt if you are injured or fall ill.

    Also, when I calculate the debt per person, I get $14,452 for Canada, not $38,268.

  2. Duane Storey says:

    Hm, you’re right. Although, now it looks wrong based on things I was reading last night. I’ll have to check the numbers again. Thanks.

  3. Duane Storey says:

    What’s funny is that I found an article where some guy was arguing that quality of life was better up here, but everyone had more toys in the states so he missed living there. It just seemed kind of funny, given how most of those people typically finance those items with debt.

    I’m really amazed how high the debt per person is. I wonder what the mean income is for people in the US. I imagine it’s around the $20 – $30k mark, which basically means the entire income of every person in the country would be needed for more than a full year to pay off the debt, which seems extraordinary to me.

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