Canada vs United States: Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$
Canada
64.72 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2022
United States
72.07 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2024
Canada rank
7th
United States rank
4th
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ over time
- Canada
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 72.07 international-$ in 2021 prices against 64.72 international-$ in 2021 prices in Canada, a difference of 7.35 international-$ in 2021 prices.
That makes United States's figure about 1.1 times Canada's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 46 shared years of data; in 1971 it was United States ahead.
Canada ranks 7th and United States ranks 4th of 120 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Canada | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | 46.52 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 1980s | 44.71 international-$ in 2021 prices | 50.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 1990s | 45.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | 53.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.15 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 2000s | 52.13 international-$ in 2021 prices | 59.05 international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.92 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 2010s | 60.02 international-$ in 2021 prices | 61.22 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.19 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 2020s | 66.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | 71.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.78 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$, Canada or United States?
- United States, at 72.07 international-$ in 2021 prices against 64.72 international-$ in 2021 prices in Canada as of 2024.
- What is the difference in median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ between Canada and United States?
- 7.35 international-$ in 2021 prices, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and United States?
- 46 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2022.
- How do Canada and United States rank globally for median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$?
- Canada ranks 7th and United States ranks 4th of 120 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Value of income or consumption per day below which 50% of the population live.