Fiatmap

MacroCanada

Government debt in Canada

How indebted is the state my taxes would go to?

Canada's government debt is 113.50 % — #116 of 124 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

113.50%

Checked 8 Sept 2026Period 2025

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook (general government gross debt, % of GDP)

The central government owes about 1.1 years' worth of the country's entire economic output.

Government debt in Canada over time

118.10 %81.35 %44.60 %118.10 % · 202044.60 % · 19801980: 44.60 %1981: 46.10 %1982: 51.70 %1983: 57.20 %1984: 60.20 %1985: 65.20 %1986: 69.30 %1987: 69.80 %1988: 69.70 %1989: 71.00 %1990: 73.70 %1991: 81.70 %1992: 88.20 %1993: 94.70 %1994: 97.50 %1995: 100.10 %1996: 100.20 %1997: 95.30 %1998: 93.30 %1999: 89.00 %2000: 80.40 %2001: 81.50 %2002: 79.60 %2003: 75.90 %2004: 71.90 %2005: 70.60 %2006: 69.90 %2007: 67.20 %2008: 70.40 %2009: 81.80 %2010: 84.00 %2011: 84.30 %2012: 87.00 %2013: 87.70 %2014: 85.80 %2015: 92.30 %2016: 92.50 %2017: 91.00 %2018: 90.80 %2019: 90.10 %2020: 118.10 %2021: 112.60 %2022: 103.50 %2023: 105.10 %2024: 110.00 %2025: 113.50 %198020032025113.50 %
46 official observations, 1980 → 2025. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#116 of 124
lower is better
Ranked behind
6 %
8 of 124 countries
Latest move
▲ 3.50 pp
since 2024
Below its peak
4.60 pp
peak 118.10 % in 2020
Full series
▲ 68.90 pp
since 1980

In Americas: #25 of 26vs median 54.55 %: +58.95 pp (worse)

Among 124 countries

5 of 124 countries between 12.30 % and 17.86 %4 of 124 countries between 17.86 % and 23.42 %9 of 124 countries between 23.42 % and 28.97 %9 of 124 countries between 28.97 % and 34.53 %9 of 124 countries between 34.53 % and 40.09 %11 of 124 countries between 40.09 % and 45.65 %8 of 124 countries between 45.65 % and 51.21 %11 of 124 countries between 51.21 % and 56.77 %8 of 124 countries between 56.77 % and 62.32 %7 of 124 countries between 62.32 % and 67.88 %6 of 124 countries between 67.88 % and 73.44 %5 of 124 countries between 73.44 % and 79.00 %6 of 124 countries between 79.00 % and 84.56 %7 of 124 countries between 84.56 % and 90.12 %2 of 124 countries between 90.12 % and 95.67 %3 of 124 countries between 95.67 % and 101.23 %4 of 124 countries between 101.23 % and 106.79 %1 of 124 countries between 106.79 % and 112.35 %2 of 124 countries between 112.35 % and 117.91 %1 of 124 countries between 123.47 % and 129.02 %2 of 124 countries between 134.58 % and 140.14 %4 of 124 countries between 140.14 % and 145.70 %median 54.40 %Canada: ahead of 6 % of the 124 countries with a published government debtCanada 113.50 %12.30 %145.70 %
Half of all 124 countries sit between 36.00 % and 80.30 %. Canada is ahead of 6 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryGovernment debtvs Canada
114 Belgium106.30 %−7.20 pp
115 Ukraine108.70 %−4.80 pp
116 Canada113.50 %—
117 France116.00 %+2.50 pp
118 United States123.90 %+10.40 pp

General government gross debt as a share of GDP (IMF World Economic Outlook, annual).

How to read this figure

Central government debt as a share of GDP (World Bank). General government debt (including local government and social funds) can be meaningfully higher; comparisons across countries are indicative.

Next, about Canada

Debt per personGDP growthInflation rate
Government debt, all countries ranked →Compare Canada with another country →Everything about Canada →
Did this answer your question?