Canada vs United Kingdom: Government spending vs. GDP
Canada
421.77 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
United Kingdom
683.00 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
Canada rank
6th
United Kingdom rank
4th
Government spending vs. GDP over time
- Canada
- United Kingdom
How they compare
United Kingdom currently reports 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ against 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in Canada, a difference of 261.23 billion constant 2015 US$.
That makes United Kingdom's figure about 1.6 times Canada's.
Across all 56 years both countries report, United Kingdom has been ahead every year.
Canada ranks 6th and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 166 countries.
United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Canada | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 159.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | 300.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | 140.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
| 1980s | 203.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | 342.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 139.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
| 1990s | 234.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | 379.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | 145.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
| 2000s | 275.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | 493.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | 218.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
| 2010s | 328.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 566.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | 237.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
| 2020s | 391.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | 641.73 billion constant 2015 US$ | 249.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher government spending vs. gdp, Canada or United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom, at 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ against 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in Canada as of 2025.
- What is the difference in government spending vs. gdp between Canada and United Kingdom?
- 261.23 billion constant 2015 US$, with United Kingdom ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and United Kingdom?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do Canada and United Kingdom rank globally for government spending vs. gdp?
- Canada ranks 6th and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 166 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.