Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada

Canada: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 10.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
10.7%
Change on year
up 17.5%
World rank
120th
of 170 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 2000
All-time low
9.1%
in 2021
Years of data
19
2000–2022

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada, 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 132001: 12.22002: 12.12005: 12.22007: 12.32008: 122009: 12.52010: 12.32011: 12.22013: 11.22014: 12.12015: 12.42016: 122017: 12.22018: 12.12019: 11.72020: 122021: 9.12022: 10.7

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Canada recorded 10.7% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2022.

That represents a change of up 17.5% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Canada peaked at 13.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 2021.

That places Canada 120th out of 170 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 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 [UIS methodology] (%) in Canada, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 13.0%
2001 12.2% -5.9%
2002 12.1% -0.5%
2005 12.2% +0.2%
2007 12.3% +1.2%
2008 12.0% -2.6%
2009 12.5% +3.9%
2010 12.3% -1.2%
2011 12.2% -0.9%
2013 11.2% -8.2%
2014 12.1% +8.1%
2015 12.4% +1.9%
2016 12.0% -2.6%
2017 12.2% +1.1%
2018 12.1% -0.7%
2019 11.7% -2.9%
2020 12.0% +2.6%
2021 9.1% -24.7%
2022 10.7% +17.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.3% 12.0% 13.0% 7
2010s 12.0% 11.2% 12.4% 9
2020s 10.6% 9.1% 12.0% 3

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 117 Nepal 10.8% compare
  2. 118 Seychelles 10.7% compare
  3. 119 Germany 10.7% compare
  4. 121 Bahamas 10.6% compare
  5. 122 Indonesia 10.6% compare
  6. 123 Portugal 10.4% compare

See the full ranking of 204 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 10.7% in 2022, 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 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 2021.
How does Canada rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Canada ranks 120th out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. 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 [UIS methodology] (%). 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 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-uis-methodology/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education [UIS methodology] (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
204 places, 3,724 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed