GeoRealityMatch
A touring boat cruises on a river with a city skyline backdrop under a bright sky.Scenic view of Ottawa skyline with river and lush greenery under a clear blue sky.

Canada

North America

Very high safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high.

Digital NomadOffers home internet at 278 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and very high safety.
vs New Zealandvs Australiavs United States
Safety

14th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.525lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#14 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.0per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
54.4Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$56,420national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
31.5New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
7.5years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 38% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 9% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$66,746 PPP$55,698Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $40,505 a person, $38,123 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $44,660 a person, $39,573 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2008, $46,710 a person, $40,376 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2009, $40,875 a person, $38,863 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2010, $47,561 a person, $40,103 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2011, $52,224 a person, $41,667 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $52,670 a person, $42,292 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $52,638 a person, $44,301 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $50,961 a person, $45,758 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $43,594 a person, $44,668 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2016, $42,314 a person, $46,471 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2017, $45,130 a person, $48,318 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $46,539 a person, $49,983 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2019, $46,353 a person, $50,499 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2020, $43,538 a person, $48,591 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $52,887 a person, $56,995 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2022, $56,497 a person, $64,217 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2023, $54,848 a person, $64,962 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2024, $55,016 a person, $65,483 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $55,698 a person, $66,746 at PPP, inflation 2.1%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $40,505 a person, $38,123 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $44,660 a person, $39,573 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2008, $46,710 a person, $40,376 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2009, $40,875 a person, $38,863 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2010, $47,561 a person, $40,103 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2011, $52,224 a person, $41,667 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $52,670 a person, $42,292 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $52,638 a person, $44,301 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $50,961 a person, $45,758 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $43,594 a person, $44,668 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2016, $42,314 a person, $46,471 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2017, $45,130 a person, $48,318 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $46,539 a person, $49,983 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2019, $46,353 a person, $50,499 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2020, $43,538 a person, $48,591 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $52,887 a person, $56,995 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2022, $56,497 a person, $64,217 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2023, $54,848 a person, $64,962 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2024, $55,016 a person, $65,483 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $55,698 a person, $66,746 at PPP, inflation 2.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.1years, at birthVery high
#28 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
92WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
8.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
6.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
278 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet278 MbpsVery fast
Mobile113 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Remote work: Visitor StatusEasy

No dedicated digital nomad visa. Uses Visitor Status (6 months). Must work for and be paid by a foreign employer with no services to Canadian entities. Proof of employment letter + 6 months bank statements required. Tax-exempt under DTA if non-resident and working short-term. Note: Mexican nationals now require a visitor visa (since Feb 2024) — eTA no longer sufficient. Alternative: Short-Term Work Permit Exemption (STWPE) allows 15–30 days working for a Canadian entity for high-skilled workers (NOC skill type 0 or Level A); cannot be reused for 6–12 months after use.

Minimum income
No minimum
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
C$100about $74
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineYes
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official pageImmigration portal
Scenic view of Ottawa skyline with river and lush greenery under a clear blue sky.
How it changed

Canada's Human Development Index

0.939Very high human development

16th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 1st of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #13United Kingdom0.946
  2. #15United Arab Emirates0.940
  3. #16Canada0.939
  4. #17Liechtenstein0.938
  5. #17New Zealand0.938
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.865 in 1990 to 0.939 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.93919902000201020231990: 0.8651991: 0.8681992: 0.8731993: 0.8711994: 0.8771995: 0.8811996: 0.8841997: 0.8841998: 0.8831999: 0.8882000: 0.8942001: 0.8972002: 0.8992003: 0.9022004: 0.9062005: 0.9092006: 0.9132007: 0.9142008: 0.9162009: 0.9152010: 0.9182011: 0.9212012: 0.9272013: 0.9302014: 0.9322015: 0.9322016: 0.9332017: 0.9352018: 0.9352019: 0.9372020: 0.9312021: 0.9372022: 0.9352023: 0.9390.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8651991: 0.8681992: 0.8731993: 0.8711994: 0.8771995: 0.8811996: 0.8841997: 0.8841998: 0.8831999: 0.8882000: 0.8942001: 0.8972002: 0.8992003: 0.9022004: 0.9062005: 0.9092006: 0.9132007: 0.9142008: 0.9162009: 0.9152010: 0.9182011: 0.9212012: 0.9272013: 0.9302014: 0.9322015: 0.9322016: 0.9332017: 0.9352018: 0.9352019: 0.9372020: 0.9312021: 0.9372022: 0.9352023: 0.939

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82.1 years2024at birthUp 2 years from 80.1 years in 2005
Internet users
94%2024of people onlineUp 22 points from 72% in 2006
Urban population
83%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 80% in 2006
Births per woman
1.252024births per womanDown 0.33 from 1.58 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
24%2021of energy usedUp 3 points from 20% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 5 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
14 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 4 t from 18.1 t in 2005
Forest area
39%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 39% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Welcoming immigration policy and universal healthcare, with high property prices in major cities. The case for living here is peace, high incomes and long lives.

About Canada

Canada is one of the world's largest countries by area, with an extraordinary range of landscapes from the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast to the Great Lakes, Arctic tundra, and Atlantic maritime provinces. The cities are multicultural, well-organised, and consistently ranked among the most liveable on earth. Those who love outdoor life and wide open space will find it endlessly generous, though the winters in most of the country are genuinely severe.

Practical facts

  • CapitalOttawa
  • LanguagesEnglish, French
  • CurrencyCanadian dollar (CAD)
  • Area8,788,700 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Canada's Human Development Index?

Canada's Human Development Index is 0.939 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #16 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Canada safe?

Canada scores 1.52 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #14 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Canada?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Canada at 63.0 (New York = 100); that is #121 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Canada?

Life expectancy at birth in Canada is 82.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #28 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Canada?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Canada at 172.0, ranked #26 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.