Government spending per capita in Canada
Canada: Government spending per capita was 29,521 current international-$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government spending per capita in Canada, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in current international-$.
Analysis
Canada recorded 29,521 current international-$ for government spending per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and up 64.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending per capita in Canada peaked at 29,521 current international-$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15,569 current international-$, in 2007.
Canada ranks 17th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Government spending per capita in Canada, year by year
| Year | current international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 15,569 current international-$ | — |
| 2008 | 15,983 current international-$ | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 17,210 current international-$ | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 17,607 current international-$ | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 17,660 current international-$ | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 17,646 current international-$ | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 18,062 current international-$ | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 17,918 current international-$ | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 18,239 current international-$ | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 19,315 current international-$ | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 19,937 current international-$ | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 20,723 current international-$ | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 20,909 current international-$ | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 25,866 current international-$ | +23.7% |
| 2021 | 26,379 current international-$ | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 26,457 current international-$ | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 27,636 current international-$ | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 29,521 current international-$ | +6.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 29,521 current international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,582 current international-$, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16,254 current international-$ | 15,569 current international-$ | 17,210 current international-$ | 3 |
| 2010s | 18,802 current international-$ | 17,607 current international-$ | 20,909 current international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,172 current international-$ | 25,866 current international-$ | 29,521 current international-$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 14 Ireland 31,581 current international-$ compare
- 15 Italy 31,377 current international-$ compare
- 16 Australia 29,639 current international-$ compare
- 18 United Kingdom 29,093 current international-$ compare
- 19 Slovenia 26,764 current international-$ compare
- 20 Spain 26,400 current international-$ 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 government spending per capita in Canada?
- Government spending per capita in Canada was 29,521 current international-$ in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending per capita recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 29,521 current international-$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest government spending per capita recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,569 current international-$ in 2007.
- How does Canada rank for government spending per capita?
- Canada ranks 17th out of 43 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending per capita rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total amount of money the general government spends per capita. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries but not for inflation.