What is the highest state capacity index recorded in Canada?

The highest recorded value was 2.25 in 1990.

What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in Canada?

The lowest recorded value was 1.2 in 1962.

How does Canada rank for state capacity index?

Canada ranks 12th out of 165 countries with data for 2015.

Is state capacity index rising or falling in Canada?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Canada data come from?

The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

State Capacity Index in Canada

Name: State Capacity Index in Canada
Creator: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Canada: State Capacity Index was 2.1 in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)

2.1

Change on year

down 1.6%

World rank

12th

of 165 countries

All-time high

2.25

in 1990

All-time low

1.2

in 1962

Years of data

1960–2015

State Capacity Index in Canada, 1960–2015

Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for state capacity index in Canada is 2.1, measured in 2015.

The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, state capacity index in Canada peaked at 2.25 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.2, in 1962.

Canada ranks 12th of 165 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	1.37	1.2	1.62	10
1970s	1.8	1.64	1.85	10
1980s	2.02	1.8	2.19	10
1990s	2.19	2.13	2.25	10
2000s	2.16	2.08	2.25	10
2010s	2.15	2.1	2.18	6

Countries ranked near Canada

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Canada

Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 140.97 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is state capacity index in Canada?: State capacity index in Canada was 2.1 in 2015, according to Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest state capacity index recorded in Canada?: The highest recorded value was 2.25 in 1990.
What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in Canada?: The lowest recorded value was 1.2 in 1962.
How does Canada rank for state capacity index?: Canada ranks 12th out of 165 countries with data for 2015.
Is state capacity index rising or falling in Canada?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada data come from?: The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: State Capacity Index
Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 166 places, 8,015 data points, 1960–2015
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures state capacity by combining 21 different indicators related to three key dimensions: extractive capacity, coercive capacity, and administrative capacity. Higher values indicate greater state capacity.