Gap in living standards between Canada and the U.S. has more than doubled from 1999-2024; U.S. now $23,757 higher than Canada

VANCOUVER—In 1999, GDP per person in the U.S. was CA$10,766 higher than in Canada, and by 2024 this difference had increased to CA$23,757—meaning the gap in living standards between Canada and the U.S. has more than doubled, according to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“When comparing the economic performance of Canada relative to the U.S. since the beginning of the 21st century, it’s abundantly clear that Canadian policymakers have failed to create an environment where we can prosper,” said Jake Fuss, director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Squandering the Canadian Century Part 1: Comparing Economic Performance in Canada and the United States.