Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada

Canada: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 11.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
11.4%
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
62nd
of 116 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 2013
All-time low
10.0%
in 2020
Years of data
17
2008–2024

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

0510152008201620242008: 12.52009: 12.62010: 12.62011: 12.72012: 12.92013: 132014: 132015: 12.72016: 12.72017: 12.92018: 12.92019: 12.72020: 102021: 11.22022: 11.82023: 11.22024: 11.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada is 11.4%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada peaked at 13.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2020.

Canada ranks 62nd of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%) in Canada, 2008 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2008 12.5%
2009 12.6% +0.6%
2010 12.6% +0.4%
2011 12.7% +0.7%
2012 12.9% +1.1%
2013 13.0% +1.1%
2014 13.0% -0.1%
2015 12.7% -1.9%
2016 12.7% -0.6%
2017 12.9% +2.2%
2018 12.9% -0.0%
2019 12.7% -2.2%
2020 10.0% -21.3%
2021 11.2% +12.8%
2022 11.8% +4.8%
2023 11.2% -4.8%
2024 11.4% +1.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.5% 12.5% 12.6% 2
2010s 12.8% 12.6% 13.0% 10
2020s 11.1% 10.0% 11.8% 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 59 Denmark 11.7% compare
  2. 60 Slovenia 11.7% compare
  3. 61 Thailand 11.5% compare
  4. 63 Malta 11.4% compare
  5. 64 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 11.3% compare
  6. 65 Finland 11.3% compare

See the full ranking of 127 places →

More education 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 11.4% 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 13.0% in 2013.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2020.
How does Canada rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Canada ranks 62nd out of 116 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 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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, education (%). 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 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-percent/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
127 places, 2,344 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed