Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Canada

Government expense in Canada in 2023 — 19.06%. Ranked 65 in the world out of 87. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 5.04 pp.

2023 19.06% +0.89 pp vs 2022
World rank 65of 87
Period maximum 28.57%2020
Period minimum 16.4%2014

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Canada, 1990–2023152025301990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 24.1%1991: 25.37%1992: 25.53%1993: 25.14%1994: 23.75%1995: 23.43%1996: 22.35%1997: 20.37%1998: 20.17%1999: 19.76%2000: 18.77%2001: 18.71%2002: 17.96%2003: 18.04%2004: 17.27%2005: 17.82%2006: 17.03%2007: 16.96%2008: 17.08%2009: 18.85%2010: 19.08%2011: 17.85%2012: 17.52%2013: 17.09%2014: 16.4%2015: 17.06%2016: 17.5%2017: 17.61%2018: 17.54%2019: 18.11%2020: 28.57%2021: 22.5%2022: 18.17%2023: 19.06%
Change over the period: −5.04 pp Annual average: -0.15 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Canada

Canada 19.06%
North America 23.97%
Government expense — Canada, by year Canada All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 19.06 +0.89 pp
2022 18.17 −4.33 pp
2021 22.5 −6.07 pp
2020 28.57 +10.47 pp
2019 18.11 +0.56 pp
2018 17.54 −0.07 pp
2017 17.61 +0.11 pp
2016 17.5 +0.44 pp
2015 17.06 +0.66 pp
2014 16.4 −0.68 pp
2013 17.09 −0.43 pp
2012 17.52 −0.33 pp
2011 17.85 −1.23 pp
2010 19.08 +0.23 pp
2009 18.85 +1.77 pp
2008 17.08 +0.12 pp
2007 16.96 −0.06 pp
2006 17.03 −0.8 pp
2005 17.82 +0.56 pp
2004 17.27 −0.77 pp
2003 18.04 +0.07 pp
2002 17.96 −0.75 pp
2001 18.71 −0.06 pp
2000 18.77 −0.98 pp
1999 19.76 −0.42 pp
1998 20.17 −0.2 pp
1997 20.37 −1.97 pp
1996 22.35 −1.09 pp
1995 23.43 −0.32 pp
1994 23.75 −1.39 pp
1993 25.14 −0.4 pp
1992 25.53 +0.17 pp
1991 25.37 +1.27 pp
1990 24.1

Northern America, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.