Size Of Germany Compared To Canada

Germany and Canada are both massive countries, but when it comes to total land area, Germany is quite a bit smaller than Canada. 

In short, Canada is about 3.93 times larger than Germany in terms of total land area. Canada spans around 3,855,100 square miles while Germany spans approximately 357,386 square miles. 

Keep reading for a deeper dive into how these two sizable nations stack up against each other geographically.

Key Statistics on the Size of Germany vs. Canada

Here is a table comparing the size of Germany and Canada:

Category	Germany	Canada
Total land area	357,386 sq mi	3,855,100 sq mi
Land borders	2,193 mi	5,525 mi
Coastline	1,484 mi	125,567 mi
Population density	240/sq mi	10/sq mi
Number of states/provinces	16 states	10 provinces, 3 territories
Largest state/province	Bavaria, 70,550 sq mi	Quebec, 595,391 sq mi
Road network length	645,000 km	1,042,300 km
Railway network length	33,523 km	77,932 km
Number of airports	539	1,467
% land used for agriculture	50%	44%
% land that is forested	30%	35%
GDP	$4.44 trillion	$1.73 trillion
GDP per capita	$51,800	$46,260

Basic Facts About Germany and Canada’s Size

Germany is located in Central Europe and covers an area of 357,386 square miles. It is bordered by 9 other European countries. 

Canada is located in North America and is the world’s second largest country by total area, spanning 3,855,100 square miles. 

It stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean.

Here are some key figures comparing the sizes of Germany and Canada:

• Canada is 3.93 times larger than Germany in total land area
• Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world, Germany is the 62nd largest
• The distance from east to west in Canada is about 5,514 km (3,426 mi). In Germany it’s only 640 km (397 mi) from east to west
• Canada has a land border of around 8893 km (5525 mi). Germany has a land border of 3527 km (2193 mi)
• Canada has a coastline of 202,080 km (125,567 mi) while Germany only has 2,389 km (1,484 mi) of coastline

As you can see, Canada absolutely dwarfs Germany in terms of total land size and distance from border to border. Next, let’s look at how the two countries’ land areas compare region by region.

Comparing the Size of Provinces and States

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories, while Germany is made up of 16 states. The largest Canadian province is Quebec at 595,391 square miles. 

In comparison, the largest German state is Bavaria at 70,550 square miles. In fact, Quebec is almost 8.5 times larger than Bavaria!

The smallest Canadian province is Prince Edward Island at only 2,185 square miles. 

The smallest German state is Bremen at just 404 square miles. So even Canada’s smallest province is over 5 times bigger than Germany’s smallest state.

When you look at the average size of the subdivisions in each country, Canada’s provinces and territories are 142,822 square miles on average, while the German states are just 22,336 square miles on average.

So the average Canadian province is more than 6 times larger than the average German state.

This really illustrates just how massive Canada is relative to Germany when you break it down region by region. The sheer size of Canada’s provinces overshadows anything you’ll find in Germany.

Comparing the Two Country’s Population Densities

The massive size of Canada compared to the much smaller Germany also means the two countries have vastly different population densities.

Canada is the 4th largest country by land area, but only has about 38 million residents, giving it a population density of just 10 people per square mile. 

Germany has over 83 million people living in its much smaller area, giving it a population density of 240 people per square mile.

Germany has a population density 24 times higher than Canada. 

This discrepancy is due to factors such as Germany’s cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, which enable the country to support a greater number of people per square mile compared to Canada’s vast wilderness and farmland.

The difference in densities has a major impact on daily life in the two countries. Germany can rely heavily on public transportation like buses, trains, trams, and metros to move people around efficiently in its cities. 

Canada is so much more spread out that it requires heavy car usage to get around in most areas.

Exploring Some Geographic Superlatives

Canada and Germany have some equally impressive geographic distinctions thanks to their massive sizes. Let’s explore some fun facts comparing geographic superlatives between the two nations:

• Canada has the most lakes of any country with over 2 million lakes! Germany has about 500 natural lakes.
• Both countries have access to major rivers. The Danube river runs through Germany while Canada has the St. Lawrence river.
• Germany’s tallest mountain is Zugspitze at 2,962 m (9,718 ft). Canada’s tallest mountain is Mount Logan at 5,959 m (19,551 ft).
• Canada has the longest coastline in the world at 202,080 km (125,567 mi) while Germany sits at just 2,389 km (1,484 mi) of coastline.
• Germany’s largest national park is the Bavarian Forest at 240 sq miles. Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park is the second largest at 17,300 sq miles!

As you can see, when it comes to geographic record breaking landscapes, Canada takes the cake in categories like tallest mountains, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. This makes sense given Canada’s absolutely massive size relative to Germany.

Major Land Use Differences

The larger size of Canada also allows for some major differences in land use compared with the much more compact Germany. Here are some key land use differences:

• Farmland: With all that open space, 44% of Canada’s land is agricultural land devoted to crops and livestock. Only 50% of Germany’s land is agricultural.
• Forests: Canada is also heavily forested, with 35% forest coverage across the country. Germany has much lower forest coverage at around 30% of its land.
• Protected Areas: Canada has an abundance of ecologically protected spaces. Around 10% of Canada’s lands are protected national/provincial parks. In Germany it’s less than 1%.
• Urbanization: With its high population density, Germany is 74% urbanized with large metro areas throughout the country. Canada by comparison is 81% rural with most people living near the US border.

As you can see, Canada’s sheer size allows it to dedicate large amounts of land to agriculture, forests, and protected wildlife areas in ways that Germany simply cannot due to its much higher population density.

How Do Their Economies Compare?

Despite the drastic difference in land sizes between Canada and Germany, the two countries have remarkably similar economic outputs.

Canada has a GDP of $1.73 trillion and a per capita GDP of $46,260. Germany has a GDP of $4.44 trillion and a per capita GDP of $51,800.

While Germany’s overall GDP is much higher than Canada’s, once you adjust for population, the two countries’ standard of living and individual productivity are quite comparable.

This shows that while size is an important factor geographically, it does not determine economic success or quality of life on its own. Clearly, Germany’s smaller land size has not limited its ability to build an economic powerhouse in Europe.

Canada’s massive size is a strategic advantage for natural resources, but Germany’s smaller size also allows for great infrastructure and efficient transportation that supports its high output economy.

How Does Infrastructure Compare?

Canada’s massive size compared to Germany also causes major differences in infrastructure needs and challenges between the two nations:

• Road Networks: Canada has 1,042,300 km of roads. Germany has 645,000 km of roads. But in density, Germany’s road network is nearly 6x denser.
• Railways: Canada has 77,932 km of railways compared to Germany’s 33,523 km. But adjusted for size, Germany’s railway network is actually 70% denser than Canada’s.
• Airports: Given its size, Canada has more airports overall with 1,467 vs Germany’s 539. But again, Germany’s airport density is much higher.
• Energy: Canada’s size allows it to generate huge hydroelectric capacity, but also makes energy distribution more costly. Germany’s compact size allows for distributed renewable energy.

As you can see, Canada’s massive size makes building transportation and energy infrastructure more challenging. 

Germany’s higher population density allows for greater interconnectedness through roads, rails, airports and electricity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore these frequently asked questions to gain insights into the size, geography, natural resources, and economic aspects of Canada and Germany, two diverse and significant countries.

How Many Times Bigger Is Canada Than Germany?

Canada is approximately 3.93 times larger than Germany in terms of total land area. Canada spans 3,855,100 square miles while Germany is 357,386 square miles.

What Is The Largest Province/State When Comparing Canada And Germany?

The largest province in Canada is Quebec at 595,391 square miles. The largest state in Germany is Bavaria at just 70,550 square miles. Quebec is over 8 times larger than Bavaria.

Do Both Countries Have Access To Major Rivers?

Yes, both countries have major river access. The Danube river is one of the key rivers flowing through Germany. In Canada, the St. Lawrence river and its connecting Great Lakes provide major access to inland waterways.

Does Canada Or Germany Have Higher Amounts Of Forest Coverage?

Canada has a higher percentage of forests, with about 35% of the country covered in forested land. Germany has around 30% forest coverage across its territory.

Which Country Has A Higher Economic Output Per Capita, Canada Or Germany?

Germany has a slightly higher GDP per capita at $51,800 compared to Canada’s $46,260. So while Canada is much larger, Germany has been able to create a more productive economy per person.

Conclusion

Germany fits within Canada almost 8 times over when comparing the total land areas of the two nations. Canada’s provinces are much larger than German states. Canada also has a much lower population density than Germany.

While Canada’s massive size gives it advantages for agriculture, natural resources, and wilderness preservation, Germany’s smaller size allows for dense urbanization, efficient transportation networks, and distributed infrastructure.

Economically, the two nations end up with a fairly similar GDP per capita, showing that size isn’t everything. 

Overall, looking at these two very differently sized countries provides an interesting contrast in geography, natural environments, infrastructure, and economic development.