Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada

Canada: Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product was 47.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
47.4%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
28th
of 49 countries
All-time high
51.0%
in 2020
All-time low
24.4%
in 2007
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 40.8 %2001: 39.1 %2002: 37.5 %2003: 35.3 %2004: 31.5 %2005: 29.2 %2006: 27.1 %2007: 24.4 %2008: 28.4 %2009: 36.2 %2010: 36.6 %2011: 36.4 %2012: 37 %2013: 36.5 %2014: 33.7 %2015: 35.1 %2016: 35.6 %2017: 34.7 %2018: 33.4 %2019: 33 %2020: 51 %2021: 50 %2022: 45.5 %2023: 46.1 %2024: 47.4 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada stood at 47.4%.

The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 40.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada peaked at 51.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.4%, in 2007.

Canada ranks 28th of 49 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada, year by year

Annual values for Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 40.8%
2001 39.1% -4.3%
2002 37.5% -3.9%
2003 35.3% -6.0%
2004 31.5% -10.8%
2005 29.2% -7.2%
2006 27.1% -7.5%
2007 24.4% -9.7%
2008 28.4% +16.4%
2009 36.2% +27.4%
2010 36.6% +1.0%
2011 36.4% -0.6%
2012 37.0% +1.8%
2013 36.5% -1.5%
2014 33.7% -7.6%
2015 35.1% +4.2%
2016 35.6% +1.5%
2017 34.7% -2.7%
2018 33.4% -3.7%
2019 33.0% -1.4%
2020 51.0% +54.8%
2021 50.0% -1.9%
2022 45.5% -9.0%
2023 46.1% +1.2%
2024 47.4% +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.0% 24.4% 40.8% 10
2010s 35.2% 33.0% 37.0% 10
2020s 48.0% 45.5% 51.0% 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 25 Poland 54.4% compare
  2. 26 Latvia 54.2% compare
  3. 27 Iceland 52.9% compare
  4. 29 Seychelles 46.8% compare
  5. 30 Netherlands 46.4% compare
  6. 31 Malta 46.0% compare

See the full ranking of 49 places →

More economy & growth data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada?
Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada was 47.4% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 51.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 24.4% in 2007.
How does Canada rank for gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product?
Canada ranks 28th out of 49 countries with data for 2024.
Is gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/gross-public-sector-debt-as-a-proportion-of-gdp/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
49 places, 1,023 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP (%).