Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada

Canada: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 63.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
63.8%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
21st
of 114 countries
All-time high
65.8%
in 2016
All-time low
62.3%
in 2008
Years of data
17
2008–2024

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada, 2008–2024

02040602008201620242008: 62.32009: 63.22010: 62.92011: 63.12012: 63.72013: 64.42014: 652015: 65.42016: 65.82017: 65.72018: 652019: 64.32020: 63.72021: 64.62022: 64.62023: 64.42024: 63.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Canada recorded 63.8% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada peaked at 65.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 62.3%, in 2008.

Canada ranks 21st of 114 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in Canada, 2008 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2008 62.3%
2009 63.2% +1.4%
2010 62.9% -0.5%
2011 63.1% +0.4%
2012 63.7% +0.9%
2013 64.4% +1.1%
2014 65.0% +0.9%
2015 65.4% +0.6%
2016 65.8% +0.6%
2017 65.7% -0.2%
2018 65.0% -1.0%
2019 64.3% -1.1%
2020 63.7% -0.8%
2021 64.6% +1.3%
2022 64.6% -0.0%
2023 64.4% -0.3%
2024 63.8% -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 62.8% 62.3% 63.2% 2
2010s 64.5% 62.9% 65.8% 10
2020s 64.2% 63.7% 64.6% 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 18 Belgium 64.4% compare
  2. 19 Slovenia 64.0% compare
  3. 20 Norway 63.9% compare
  4. 22 Cyprus 63.1% compare
  5. 23 San Marino 62.6% compare
  6. 24 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61.8% compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More infrastructure data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada was 63.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 65.8% in 2016.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 62.3% in 2008.
How does Canada rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Canada ranks 21st out of 114 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Canada data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-percent/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
125 places, 2,281 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed