Military expenditure (current LCU) in Canada
Canada: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 52.40 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
52.40 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 25.0%
World rank
87th
of 168 countries
All-time high
52.40 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
1.65 billion current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Canada, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Canada is 52.40 billion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 25.0% on the previous year and up 124.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Canada peaked at 52.40 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.65 billion current LCU, in 1960.
Canada ranks 87th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Canada, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.65 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1.70 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 1.79 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 1.74 billion current LCU | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 1.79 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 1.70 billion current LCU | -5.0% |
| 1966 | 1.74 billion current LCU | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 1.92 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1968 | 1.94 billion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 1.91 billion current LCU | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 1.97 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 2.10 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 2.21 billion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 2.36 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 2.75 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1975 | 3.24 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1976 | 3.53 billion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 1977 | 3.99 billion current LCU | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 4.53 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1979 | 4.78 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 5.55 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 1981 | 6.16 billion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1982 | 7.42 billion current LCU | +20.4% |
| 1983 | 8.56 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 1984 | 9.52 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1985 | 10.19 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 10.81 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 11.53 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 12.18 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 12.72 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 13.32 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 12.99 billion current LCU | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 13.04 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 13.25 billion current LCU | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 13.08 billion current LCU | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 12.59 billion current LCU | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 11.75 billion current LCU | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 11.00 billion current LCU | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 11.49 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 12.20 billion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 12.33 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 12.97 billion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 13.33 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 13.95 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 14.75 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 15.74 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 16.80 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 18.71 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 20.64 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 21.65 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 19.90 billion current LCU | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 21.17 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 20.44 billion current LCU | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 19.07 billion current LCU | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 21.77 billion current LCU | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 23.31 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 23.15 billion current LCU | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 27.77 billion current LCU | +19.9% |
| 2018 | 27.98 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 28.23 billion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 31.46 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2021 | 30.97 billion current LCU | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 32.70 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 38.98 billion current LCU | +19.2% |
| 2024 | 41.93 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2025 | 52.40 billion current LCU | +25.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 52.40 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 2.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.79 billion current LCU | 1.65 billion current LCU | 1.94 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.15 billion current LCU | 1.97 billion current LCU | 4.78 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.46 billion current LCU | 5.55 billion current LCU | 12.72 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.47 billion current LCU | 11.00 billion current LCU | 13.32 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.09 billion current LCU | 12.33 billion current LCU | 21.65 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.28 billion current LCU | 19.07 billion current LCU | 28.23 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.07 billion current LCU | 30.97 billion current LCU | 52.40 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More public sector data for Canada
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 83.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.61 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 96.05 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Canada?
- Military expenditure in Canada was 52.40 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 52.40 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.65 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does Canada rank for military expenditure?
- Canada ranks 87th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 124.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)