Military spending in Canada
Canada: Military spending was 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
32.57 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 8.2%
World rank
14th
of 172 countries
All-time high
53.85 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1943
All-time low
120.06 million constant 2022 US$
in 1920
Years of data
104
1920–2023
Military spending in Canada, 1920–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Canada is 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 8.2% on the previous year and up 63.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Canada peaked at 53.85 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1943 and was at its lowest, 120.06 million constant 2022 US$, in 1920.
That places Canada 14th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Canada, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 120.06 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1921 | 139.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1922 | 150.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1923 | 162.57 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1924 | 155.95 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1925 | 187.65 million constant 2022 US$ | +20.3% |
| 1926 | 197.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1927 | 235.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1928 | 255.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1929 | 269.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 277.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1931 | 271.78 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1932 | 266.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 1933 | 255.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1934 | 323.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +26.6% |
| 1935 | 383.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.7% |
| 1936 | 404.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1937 | 465.11 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1938 | 534.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1939 | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +269.2% |
| 1940 | 11.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +500.3% |
| 1941 | 16.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +37.7% |
| 1942 | 33.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +105.8% |
| 1943 | 53.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +60.3% |
| 1944 | 47.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1945 | 27.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -43.0% |
| 1946 | 18.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -30.8% |
| 1947 | 3.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | -80.0% |
| 1948 | 2.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -29.9% |
| 1949 | 3.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +33.3% |
| 1950 | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 1951 | 8.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +93.4% |
| 1952 | 14.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +81.2% |
| 1953 | 15.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1954 | 15.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1955 | 13.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.3% |
| 1956 | 14.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 14.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 13.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1959 | 11.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.5% |
| 1960 | 10.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1961 | 11.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1962 | 11.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 11.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 11.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 11.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1966 | 11.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 11.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 11.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 11.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 11.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 11.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 11.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 11.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 12.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 11.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 12.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 12.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 12.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 12.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 12.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 12.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 14.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 1983 | 15.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 16.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 17.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 18.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 18.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 18.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 19.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 18.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 18.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 19.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 17.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 16.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 15.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 14.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 13.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1998 | 13.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 13.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 13.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 15.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2002 | 17.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.6% |
| 2003 | 16.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 17.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 17.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 19.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 22.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.9% |
| 2008 | 23.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 23.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 22.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 22.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 21.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 19.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 18.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 18.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 18.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 22.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.1% |
| 2018 | 24.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 25.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 28.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 29.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 30.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 5.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | +500.3% | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.85 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1939 | +269.2% | 534.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1942 | +105.8% | 16.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | 33.59 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1951 | +93.4% | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.00 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1947 | -80.0% | 18.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.74 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1952 | +81.2% | 8.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 14.49 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 187.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 120.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 269.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 515.61 million constant 2022 US$ | 255.46 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 21.86 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | 53.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 12.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 15.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 11.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 12.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 13.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 23.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 18.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 25.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 28.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 11 South Korea 57.02 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 12 Italy 41.14 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 13 Australia 38.94 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 15 Israel 31.61 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 16 Brazil 27.35 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 17 Poland 26.65 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Canada?
- Military spending in Canada was 32.57 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 53.85 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1943.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 120.06 million constant 2022 US$ in 1920.
- How does Canada rank for military spending?
- Canada ranks 14th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 104 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.