Is Canada and Australia comparable?

Question

Obviously, the physical geography of the two countries is quite different, both are large countries with relatively small population. I'd imagine the 2 countries have the same population density, because while Australia has 20 million people and Canada has 30 million, Canada is significantly larger than Australia, so the population density evens out that way.

Also, both Canada and Australia have their populations concentrated in specific areas. Most of Canada's population live in the fertile extreme South of the country, while as you get more North, it gets colder, more barren and generally less hospitibal - all of Canada's major cities are located in the South of the country.

Australia's population is concentrated largely around the fertile coast and as you go inland it gets dry, barren and centres of significant population are few in far between.

So, do you feel the human geography of Canada and Australia are similar?

Also, forgive me if I've made any mistakes, I'm not an expert

Answer 1

You are accurate in all your conclusions.

Canada at 3.8 million sq. miles is 1.3 times bigger than Australia that is a little under 3 million sq. miles.

The differences as you've rightly pointed out is the range (spread) of latidutes. Canada is from 42deg N to 83deg N and mainland Canada stops at 70deg. Australia is beteen 11deg S to 43deg S, with mainland ending at 40deg S. Australia has a large proportion of desert plateau whereas Canada has a large proportion of icy wasteland. This is a factor in human geography. Yet with the melting of Arctic sea and its opening up as navigable northwest passage Canada's extreme north may see better days in future.