Even with all kinds of taxes considered, including income, local and sales taxes, among others — and contrary to what President Donald Trump has repeatedly said — Americans do not pay the highest taxes in the world. Not even close. Actually, the U.S. is a little below average compared to our 34 peer countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But what about Canada? Given all the social services that Canadian citizens enjoy relative to their neighbors to the south, including health care, many Americans assume that Canadians bear a significantly heavier tax burden. The reality is more complex.

Canadians pay more — sometimes

The OECD analyzes the tax burdens of 35 countries, including the United States and Canada. According to its data, in terms of total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, in 2010, the U.S. collected a slightly lower than average amount of taxes from its citizens ($11,365 USD per capita). Canada collected a slightly higher than average amount ($14,693 USD). The average for OECD countries was $12,911 USD. That total tax revenue figure includes not merely federal income taxes, but all taxes, including "taxes on income and profits, social security contributions, taxes levied on goods and services, payroll taxes, taxes on the ownership and transfer of property, and other taxes."

OECD (2017), Tax revenue (indicator). doi: 10.1787/d98b8cf5-en (Accessed on 01 August 2017) At times, for example, in 2000 and again in 2014, Canada and the U.S. swapped places. The U.S. paid a slightly higher than average amount and Canada paid a slightly lower than average amount. For the most part, however, both countries hover around the OECD average. And both remain far lower than high-tax countries such as Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark Switzerland and Sweden. "Canada's total tax revenue over all levels of government as a percentage of GDP is modest relative to our OECD peers," reports the Broadbent Institute. "Of all 35 OECD countries, Canada ranks 25th in terms of total tax revenue to GDP."

Here's how much individuals pay

Because Canada has a progressive tax system much like America's, the amount any individual pays varies according to their circumstances. The typical Canadian family pays an effective total tax rate of 24 percent, according to Broadbent. The effective total tax rate for Americans varies, too: "The top 1 percent of American taxpayers still pay an effective tax rate of approximately 31.9 percent, on average, while the bottom 20 percent of the population pays an average of approximately 3.9 percent," reports the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Middle-class Canadians probably pay more in taxes than middle-class Americans, David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, tells CNBC Make It. They also must contend with higher sales taxes and a higher cost of goods, especially in the wealthier provinces, which affects buying power.

But some rich Americans actually tend to pay a bit more than rich Canadians. The average top marginal tax rate on wage income in Canada is 45.7 percent. In America, it's a bit higher: 47.9 percent. The rate is highest in California (51.9 percent) and Quebec (50 percent), and it's lowest in Alberta (39 percent) and Texas, Washington and Wyoming (42.8 percent), according to a Policy Alternatives report from 2015. The rates in Quebec have subsequently risen: Now the highest rate there, on people who make at least $225,000 Canadian a year, is 53.3 percent.

What Canadians get for their taxes

Canadians may not pay that much more than Americans — and, on occasion, as a nation, they have even paid less — but they do get a lot more from their government in terms of social services. That's part of what makes Canada one of the Top 10 happiest countries on earth, ranking seven spots higher than America. As Vice Money puts it, "American marginal tax brackets aren't too different from Canadians', yet [Canadians] get universal health care and [Americans] don't." Currently, Americans pay $3.4 trillion a year for medical care and, unfortunately, don't : "The U.S. life expectancy of 78.8 years ranks 27th. It has the fourth highest infant mortality rate in the OECD, the sixth highest maternal mortality rate and the ninth highest likelihood of dying at a younger age from a host of ailments, including cardiovascular disease and cancer," reports Bloomberg. Per capita health-care spending in the U.S. is more than $9,000. By contrast, per capita health-care spending in Canada is half that, or $4,500. Yet life expectancy in Canada is 81.7, and the country ranks 13th, significantly ahead of the U.S.

What Americans get for their taxes