Data / Government balance / Canada

Government balance in Canada

Government balance in Canada was -1.7% of GDP in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is up 0.5 pts from 2024. That is the 18th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

2025, % of GDP-1.7
Change on 2024+0.5 pts
Rank18th of 38Countries ranked
Series high2.62000
Series low-10.92020

Government balance in Canada, 1981 to 2025

-15-10-50519811988199520022009201620251981: -2.9 % of GDP1982: -6.9 % of GDP1983: -8 % of GDP1984: -7.9 % of GDP1985: -8.8 % of GDP1986: -7.3 % of GDP1987: -5.7 % of GDP1988: -4.5 % of GDP1989: -4.7 % of GDP1990: -5.9 % of GDP1991: -8.4 % of GDP1992: -9.2 % of GDP1993: -8.9 % of GDP1994: -6.9 % of GDP1995: -5.5 % of GDP1996: -3.1 % of GDP1997: 0 % of GDP1998: 0.1 % of GDP1999: 1.7 % of GDP2000: 2.6 % of GDP2001: 0.5 % of GDP2002: -0.2 % of GDP2003: -0.1 % of GDP2004: 0.8 % of GDP2005: 1.6 % of GDP2006: 1.8 % of GDP2007: 1.8 % of GDP2008: 0.2 % of GDP2009: -3.9 % of GDP2010: -4.7 % of GDP2011: -3.3 % of GDP2012: -2.5 % of GDP2013: -1.5 % of GDP2014: 0.2 % of GDP2015: -0.1 % of GDP2016: -0.5 % of GDP2017: -0.1 % of GDP2018: 0.4 % of GDP2019: -0 % of GDP2020: -10.9 % of GDP2021: -3.1 % of GDP2022: 0.6 % of GDP2023: -0.2 % of GDP2024: -2.1 % of GDP2025: -1.7 % of GDP
% of GDP. Source: OECD, OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2026-10-12.
All 45 values
Period% of GDP
2025-1.7
2024-2.1
2023-0.2
20220.6
2021-3.1
2020-10.9
2019-0
20180.4
2017-0.1
2016-0.5
2015-0.1
20140.2
2013-1.5
2012-2.5
2011-3.3
2010-4.7
2009-3.9
20080.2
20071.8
20061.8
20051.6
20040.8
2003-0.1
2002-0.2
20010.5
20002.6
19991.7
19980.1
19970
1996-3.1
1995-5.5
1994-6.9
1993-8.9
1992-9.2
1991-8.4
1990-5.9
1989-4.7
1988-4.5
1987-5.7
1986-7.3
1985-8.8
1984-7.9
1983-8
1982-6.9
1981-2.9

Rankings

Definition

General government net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) as a percentage of GDP.

How to cite

OECD. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_NAAG_VI%40DF_NAAG_VI&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.NAD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html

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Questions

What is the government balance as a share of GDP in Canada?

Government balance in Canada was -1.7% of GDP in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is up 0.5 pts from 2024. That is the 18th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

Where does this figure come from?

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.

What was the highest government balance as a share of GDP in Canada?

2.6% of GDP in 2000, the highest value since 1981 in this series.

Government balance in other countries

Related statistics for Canada

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