Government spending vs. GDP in Canada
Canada: Government spending vs. GDP was 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
421.77 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
6th
of 166 countries
All-time high
421.77 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
76.39 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1961
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Canada, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp in Canada is 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Canada peaked at 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 76.39 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1961.
That places Canada 6th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP in Canada, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 76.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1962 | 80.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 83.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 88.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 92.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 101.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1967 | 109.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.4% |
| 1968 | 117.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 122.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 132.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1971 | 137.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 142.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 148.87 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 157.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1975 | 168.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 171.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 178.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 180.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 181.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 186.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 189.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 192.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 194.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 198.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 206.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 209.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 212.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 219.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 224.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 231.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 237.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 239.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 238.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 235.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 233.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 229.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 227.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 232.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 237.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 245.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 253.73 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 259.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 266.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 271.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 274.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 282.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 289.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 299.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 308.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 315.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 319.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 321.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 318.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 320.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 324.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 330.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 337.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 348.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 352.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 356.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 376.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 387.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 396.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 411.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.36 billion constant 2015 US$, 10.2× the median. (60 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.06 billion constant 2015 US$ | 76.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | 122.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | 9 |
| 1970s | 159.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | 132.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | 181.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 203.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | 186.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | 224.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 234.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | 227.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | 239.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 275.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | 245.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 308.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 328.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 315.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | 352.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 391.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | 356.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 3 Germany 833.98 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 4 United Kingdom 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 5 France 677.30 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 7 Australia 418.83 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 8 Brazil 394.09 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 9 Italy 381.64 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Canada
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.8812 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 57.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0246 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,373 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 69.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 9.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0298 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,657 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Canada?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Canada was 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 421.77 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.39 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1961.
- How does Canada rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Canada ranks 6th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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$.