Historical gov spending gdp in Canada
Canada: Historical gov spending gdp was 44.72 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
44.72
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
28th
of 151 countries
All-time high
53.34
in 1992
All-time low
2.02
in 1891
Years of data
155
1870–2024
Historical gov spending gdp in Canada, 1870–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for historical gov spending gdp in Canada is 44.72, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical gov spending gdp in Canada peaked at 53.34 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 2.02, in 1891.
That places Canada 28th out of 151 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Historical gov spending gdp in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 4.94 | — |
| 1871 | 6.11 | +23.6% |
| 1872 | 8.63 | +41.3% |
| 1873 | 6.77 | -21.6% |
| 1874 | 6.63 | -2.0% |
| 1875 | 6.87 | +3.6% |
| 1876 | 7.49 | +9.0% |
| 1877 | 6.79 | -9.4% |
| 1878 | 7.23 | +6.5% |
| 1879 | 7.37 | +2.0% |
| 1880 | 6.76 | -8.2% |
| 1881 | 5.87 | -13.2% |
| 1882 | 6.72 | +14.4% |
| 1883 | 9.24 | +37.5% |
| 1884 | 8.13 | -12.0% |
| 1885 | 10.86 | +33.5% |
| 1886 | 7.12 | -34.5% |
| 1887 | 7.05 | -0.9% |
| 1888 | 6.63 | -6.0% |
| 1889 | 6.08 | -8.3% |
| 1890 | 5.68 | -6.7% |
| 1891 | 2.02 | -64.4% |
| 1892 | 5.53 | +173.8% |
| 1893 | 5.99 | +8.5% |
| 1894 | 6.28 | +4.8% |
| 1895 | 6.63 | +5.6% |
| 1896 | 6.38 | -3.7% |
| 1897 | 6 | -6.0% |
| 1898 | 6.37 | +6.2% |
| 1899 | 6.08 | -4.6% |
| 1900 | 6.12 | +0.6% |
| 1901 | 6.2 | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 5.28 | -14.8% |
| 1903 | 5.93 | +12.4% |
| 1904 | 6.34 | +6.9% |
| 1905 | 5.95 | -6.2% |
| 1906 | 4.23 | -28.8% |
| 1907 | 6.38 | +50.8% |
| 1908 | 7.95 | +24.6% |
| 1909 | 6.2 | -22.1% |
| 1910 | 6.01 | -3.0% |
| 1911 | 6.09 | +1.3% |
| 1912 | 5.74 | -5.8% |
| 1913 | 6.97 | +21.5% |
| 1914 | 10.06 | +44.3% |
| 1915 | 12.57 | +24.9% |
| 1916 | 15.32 | +21.9% |
| 1917 | 14.37 | -6.2% |
| 1918 | 16.32 | +13.6% |
| 1919 | 16.95 | +3.8% |
| 1920 | 10.45 | -38.3% |
| 1921 | 11.69 | +11.9% |
| 1922 | 10.42 | -10.9% |
| 1923 | 8.16 | -21.7% |
| 1924 | 7.82 | -4.1% |
| 1925 | 7.12 | -9.0% |
| 1926 | 6.98 | -1.9% |
| 1927 | 6.83 | -2.2% |
| 1928 | 6.51 | -4.6% |
| 1929 | 6.6 | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 7.72 | +16.9% |
| 1931 | 9.56 | +23.8% |
| 1932 | 13.96 | +46.0% |
| 1933 | 13.12 | -6.0% |
| 1934 | 12.05 | -8.2% |
| 1935 | 12.38 | +2.8% |
| 1936 | 11.48 | -7.3% |
| 1937 | 10.2 | -11.2% |
| 1938 | 10.49 | +2.9% |
| 1939 | 12.11 | +15.4% |
| 1940 | 18.61 | +53.7% |
| 1941 | 22.76 | +22.3% |
| 1942 | 42.74 | +87.8% |
| 1943 | 48.15 | +12.7% |
| 1944 | 44.27 | -8.1% |
| 1945 | 43.3 | -2.2% |
| 1946 | 22.16 | -48.8% |
| 1947 | 16.3 | -26.5% |
| 1948 | 14.03 | -13.9% |
| 1949 | 14.57 | +3.9% |
| 1950 | 14.99 | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 16.56 | +10.4% |
| 1952 | 17.03 | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 16.16 | -5.1% |
| 1954 | 15.93 | -1.4% |
| 1955 | 14.98 | -5.9% |
| 1956 | 14.57 | -2.8% |
| 1957 | 14.59 | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 14.86 | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 14.88 | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 14.93 | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 30.63 | +105.2% |
| 1962 | 30.63 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 30.27 | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 29.66 | -2.0% |
| 1965 | 29.81 | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 30.76 | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 32.87 | +6.9% |
| 1968 | 33.79 | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 33.94 | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 36.03 | +6.1% |
| 1971 | 37.3 | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 37.53 | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 36 | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 37.59 | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 41.11 | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 40.2 | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 41.43 | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 41.62 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 40.04 | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 41.55 | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 42.47 | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 47.26 | +11.3% |
| 1983 | 47.89 | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 47.53 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 48.3 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 47.58 | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 46.06 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 45.36 | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 45.84 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 48.8 | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 52.26 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 53.34 | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 52.23 | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 49.74 | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 48.48 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 46.59 | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 44.28 | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 44.8 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 42.68 | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 41.11 | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 41.1 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 40.39 | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 40.28 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 39.13 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 38.52 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 38.66 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 38.52 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 38.78 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 43.42 | +12.0% |
| 2010 | 43.06 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 41.58 | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 40.93 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 39.96 | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 38.37 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 40.02 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 40.75 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 40.46 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 40.66 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 40.59 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 52.36 | +29.0% |
| 2021 | 45.47 | -13.2% |
| 2022 | 40.63 | -10.6% |
| 2023 | 42.1 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 44.72 | +6.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 44.72 is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.31, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Historical gov spending gdp in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | +173.8% | 2.02 | 5.53 |
| 1961 | +105.2% | 14.93 | 30.63 |
| 1942 | +87.8% | 22.76 | 42.74 |
| 1891 | -64.4% | 5.68 | 2.02 |
| 1940 | +53.7% | 12.11 | 18.61 |
| 1907 | +50.8% | 4.23 | 6.38 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 6.88 | 4.94 | 8.63 | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.45 | 5.87 | 10.86 | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.69 | 2.02 | 6.63 | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.06 | 4.23 | 7.95 | 10 |
| 1910s | 11.04 | 5.74 | 16.95 | 10 |
| 1920s | 8.26 | 6.51 | 11.69 | 10 |
| 1930s | 11.31 | 7.72 | 13.96 | 10 |
| 1940s | 28.69 | 14.03 | 48.15 | 10 |
| 1950s | 15.45 | 14.57 | 17.03 | 10 |
| 1960s | 29.73 | 14.93 | 33.94 | 10 |
| 1970s | 38.88 | 36 | 41.62 | 10 |
| 1980s | 45.98 | 41.55 | 48.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 48.32 | 42.68 | 53.34 | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.99 | 38.52 | 43.42 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.64 | 38.37 | 43.06 | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.06 | 40.63 | 52.36 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
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Frequently asked questions
- What is historical gov spending gdp in Canada?
- Historical gov spending gdp in Canada was 44.72 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest historical gov spending gdp recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 53.34 in 1992.
- What is the lowest historical gov spending gdp recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.02 in 1891.
- How does Canada rank for historical gov spending gdp?
- Canada ranks 28th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is historical gov spending gdp rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Historical gov spending gdp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 155 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).