Military spending per military personnel in Canada
Canada: Military spending per military personnel was 449,055 constant 2022 US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
449,055 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
11th
of 170 countries
All-time high
564,164 constant 2022 US$
in 1940
All-time low
30,014 constant 2022 US$
in 1920
Years of data
103
1920–2022
Military spending per military personnel in Canada, 1920–2022
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2022, military spending per military personnel in Canada stood at 449,055 constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in Canada peaked at 564,164 constant 2022 US$ in 1940 and was at its lowest, 30,014 constant 2022 US$, in 1920.
That places Canada 11th out of 170 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in Canada, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 30,014 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1921 | 34,933 constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1922 | 37,636 constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1923 | 40,642 constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1924 | 38,988 constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1925 | 46,912 constant 2022 US$ | +20.3% |
| 1926 | 49,448 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1927 | 58,967 constant 2022 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1928 | 51,179 constant 2022 US$ | -13.2% |
| 1929 | 67,407 constant 2022 US$ | +31.7% |
| 1930 | 55,533 constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 1931 | 45,296 constant 2022 US$ | -18.4% |
| 1932 | 53,251 constant 2022 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1933 | 51,092 constant 2022 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1934 | 64,665 constant 2022 US$ | +26.6% |
| 1935 | 95,959 constant 2022 US$ | +48.4% |
| 1936 | 67,425 constant 2022 US$ | -29.7% |
| 1937 | 77,518 constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1938 | 89,100 constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1939 | 328,923 constant 2022 US$ | +269.2% |
| 1940 | 564,164 constant 2022 US$ | +71.5% |
| 1941 | 58,278 constant 2022 US$ | -89.7% |
| 1942 | 83,971 constant 2022 US$ | +44.1% |
| 1943 | 72,775 constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1944 | 65,130 constant 2022 US$ | -10.5% |
| 1945 | 33,756 constant 2022 US$ | -48.2% |
| 1946 | 406,729 constant 2022 US$ | +1104.9% |
| 1947 | 86,970 constant 2022 US$ | -78.6% |
| 1948 | 65,548 constant 2022 US$ | -24.6% |
| 1949 | 74,335 constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 1950 | 91,891 constant 2022 US$ | +23.6% |
| 1951 | 129,007 constant 2022 US$ | +40.4% |
| 1952 | 142,066 constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1953 | 148,559 constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1954 | 140,852 constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1955 | 120,424 constant 2022 US$ | -14.5% |
| 1956 | 121,207 constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 117,292 constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1958 | 110,278 constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1959 | 95,662 constant 2022 US$ | -13.3% |
| 1960 | 88,257 constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1961 | 93,563 constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1962 | 94,625 constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 95,068 constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 96,479 constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 92,295 constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1966 | 101,321 constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1967 | 111,365 constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 111,002 constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 111,397 constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 122,128 constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 140,165 constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1972 | 132,321 constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1973 | 142,167 constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 147,253 constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 151,974 constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 166,265 constant 2022 US$ | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 163,968 constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 158,094 constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 159,031 constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 148,688 constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1981 | 154,257 constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 182,671 constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 1983 | 188,021 constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 195,810 constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 210,663 constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 215,300 constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 216,453 constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 213,119 constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 217,728 constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 217,559 constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 218,487 constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 234,005 constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 229,140 constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 222,489 constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 226,331 constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 221,235 constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 224,754 constant 2022 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 224,594 constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 217,470 constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 229,731 constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 264,649 constant 2022 US$ | +15.2% |
| 2002 | 344,057 constant 2022 US$ | +30.0% |
| 2003 | 310,196 constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 301,422 constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 283,189 constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 313,882 constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 351,685 constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 359,584 constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 366,193 constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 340,237 constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 338,433 constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 320,525 constant 2022 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 301,938 constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 280,764 constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 286,508 constant 2022 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 275,406 constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 360,831 constant 2022 US$ | +31.0% |
| 2018 | 387,984 constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 386,792 constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 421,204 constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 445,091 constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 449,055 constant 2022 US$ | +0.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 449,055 constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 182,526 constant 2022 US$, 2.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per military personnel in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +1104.9% | 33,756 constant 2022 US$ | 406,729 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1939 | +269.2% | 89,100 constant 2022 US$ | 328,923 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1941 | -89.7% | 564,164 constant 2022 US$ | 58,278 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1947 | -78.6% | 406,729 constant 2022 US$ | 86,970 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1940 | +71.5% | 328,923 constant 2022 US$ | 564,164 constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 45,613 constant 2022 US$ | 30,014 constant 2022 US$ | 67,407 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 92,876 constant 2022 US$ | 45,296 constant 2022 US$ | 328,923 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 151,166 constant 2022 US$ | 33,756 constant 2022 US$ | 564,164 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 121,724 constant 2022 US$ | 91,891 constant 2022 US$ | 148,559 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 99,537 constant 2022 US$ | 88,257 constant 2022 US$ | 111,397 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 148,337 constant 2022 US$ | 122,128 constant 2022 US$ | 166,265 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 194,271 constant 2022 US$ | 148,688 constant 2022 US$ | 217,728 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 223,606 constant 2022 US$ | 217,470 constant 2022 US$ | 234,005 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 312,459 constant 2022 US$ | 229,731 constant 2022 US$ | 366,193 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 327,942 constant 2022 US$ | 275,406 constant 2022 US$ | 387,984 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 438,450 constant 2022 US$ | 421,204 constant 2022 US$ | 449,055 constant 2022 US$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 8 Kuwait 525,210 constant 2022 US$ compare
- 9 Netherlands 501,423 constant 2022 US$ compare
- 10 Denmark 456,774 constant 2022 US$ compare
- 12 Norway 415,257 constant 2022 US$ compare
- 13 United Arab Emirates 395,002 constant 2022 US$ compare
- 14 New Zealand 388,829 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 per military personnel in Canada?
- Military spending per military personnel in Canada was 449,055 constant 2022 US$ in 2022, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 564,164 constant 2022 US$ in 1940.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 30,014 constant 2022 US$ in 1920.
- How does Canada rank for military spending per military personnel?
- Canada ranks 11th out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.1%. 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); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 103 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.