Canada: Economic and Political Overview
Following the unprecedented global crisis prompted by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic - which led to the largest economic contraction since 1945 - the Canadian economy rebounded in 2021 (+4.5%) and continued growing in 2022 (+3.4% - IMF). Nevertheless, economic activity slowed in 2023: after a robust performance in the first quarter (with real GDP expanding by 0.6%), output growth came to a standstill in the second quarter, showing virtually no growth. For the year as a whole, the IMF estimated growth at 1.3%. Despite rising crude oil prices, Canadian commodity export prices were still below the mid-2022 peaks. The terms-of-trade decline created a negative income shock, contributing to subdued demand. Furthermore, dry weather conditions lead to a reduction in yields for key farm outputs, particularly wheat. Real GDP growth is expected to increase marginally to 1.6% in 2024, reflecting a deceleration in domestic demand amid elevated borrowing costs and declining exports, before picking up to 1.9% in 2025 benefiting from improved global conditions that bolster export performance.
The fiscal policy continues to be restrictive, reducing the burden of gross general government public debt, currently hovering around 106.4% of GDP (IMF). Anticipated decreases in nominal GDP and business profits are expected to contribute to a continued decline in revenue growth. Measures at the federal and provincial levels to alleviate household living cost pressures have appropriately scaled back: the overall government budget deficit decreased to 0.8% in 2023, from 1.4% one year earlier (IMF), and is anticipated to hover around 0.5% over the forecast horizon. The debt-to-GDP ratio should also follow a downward trend in 2024 (103.3%) and 2025 (100.6%). The federal government is actively implementing structural reforms outlined in its annual budget. These reforms encompass backing the green transition, expanding affordable childcare, addressing the rising costs related to an ageing population, and implementing measures to reduce housing expenses. The current monetary policy remains contractionary, curbing demand and aiding in re-establishing inflation expectations. The policy rate is expected to stay elevated at 5% until mid-2024 to ensure a return of price growth within the Bank of Canada's target range of 1% to 3%. However, adjustments to the rate may be necessary in response to evolving macroeconomic conditions to mitigate inflationary pressures. The overall inflation rate was estimated at 3.6% in 2023 by the IMF, with an expected decrease to 2.4% and 1.9% this year and the next, respectively.
Continued labour market slack is expected to result in further upticks in the unemployment rate (5.5% in 2023) until mid-2024 (with a 6.4% rate expected for the year as a whole - IMF). Wage growth will moderate, staying approximately in sync with consumer-price inflation, which is anticipated to reach the target by the third quarter of the following year. Although Canadians enjoy a high per capita GDP (estimated at USD 59,813 in 2023 - IMF), 8.1% of the population lives in poverty (data 2021 Census of Population).
Main Indicators | 2022 | 2023 (E) | 2024 (E) | 2025 (E) | 2026 (E) |
GDP (billions USD) | 2,161.48 | 2,140.09 | 2,242.18 | 2,360.58 | 2,469.21 |
GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change) | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
GDP per Capita (USD) | 55,613 | 53,548 | 54,866 | 57,021 | 58,907 |
General Government Balance (in % of GDP) | -0.4 | -0.7 | -0.8 | -0.8 | -0.7 |
General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP) | 107.4 | 107.1 | 104.7 | 102.1 | 100.2 |
Inflation Rate (%) | 6.8 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
Unemployment Rate (% of the Labour Force) | 5.3 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
Current Account (billions USD) | -7.92 | -13.15 | 7.19 | 8.85 | 4.30 |
Current Account (in % of GDP) | -0.4 | -0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Source: IMF – World Economic Outlook Database, October 2021
The agricultural sector represents 1.7% of Canada's GDP and employs only 1% of the active population (World Bank, latest data available). However, the agricultural system and the food processing industry provide 1 in 8 jobs and account for over CAD 100 billion of the country’s GDP and more than CAD 60 billion in exports. Canada is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products in the world - particularly of wheat - and produces around 10% of the world's GMO harvests. Fishing is another important sector. Canada is also one of the leading producers of minerals, especially nickel, zinc and uranium. Moreover, the country is rich in gas and has the 4th largest reserves of oil in the world (being the 4th oil producer in 2023), whose production is concentrated in the western provinces, especially Alberta. According to the latest figures from Agriculture Canada, for the 2023‑24 crop year, the production of Canada's main field crops is projected to experience a 13% year-over-year decline, dropping 8.3% below the average of the previous five years. This decrease is primarily attributed to extensive drought conditions across the Prairies. The forecast for exports anticipates a 15.1% year-over-year reduction, reflecting the lower production. However, despite this decline, exports are expected to maintain a relatively robust performance, supported by strong global demand.
The industrial sector contributes 24.1% of the GDP and employs 19% of the labour force. Canada has six strong primary industry sectors: renewable energies (mainly wind, the country is a net exporter of energy); the forestry sector, hydrogen and fuel cells, mines, metals and minerals, fishing, oil and gas. According to data from the World Bank, manufacturing accounts for around 9% of the country’s GDP. The latest data from Statistics Canada show that in 2022 the revenue of goods manufactured increased by 17.1% from 2021. Total revenue was estimated at CAD 923.7 billion, while revenue from goods manufactured reached CAD 866.3 billion and total expenses grew to CAD 827.4 billion.
The service sector dominates the Canadian economy: it represents 67.7% of the country's GDP and employs over 79% of the active population (the largest employer being the retail sector - which employs about 12% of the country’s workforce alone - and the business-related services sector). The education and health sectors are also pivotal for the country’s economy. The most dynamic sectors in recent years have been telecommunications, tourism, internet and aerospace engineering. Tourism is the fifth-largest sector in the country’s economy, it provides 1 in 10 jobs and is responsible for 225,000 small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector | Agriculture | Industry | Services |
Employment By Sector (in % of Total Employment) | 1.3 | 19.3 | 79.4 |
Value Added (in % of GDP) | 1.7 | 24.1 | 67.7 |
Value Added (Annual % Change) | 11.7 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
Source: World Bank, Latest Available Data. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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The Economic freedom index measure ten components of economic freedom, grouped into four broad categories or pillars of economic freedom: Rule of Law (property rights, freedom from corruption); Limited Government (fiscal freedom, government spending); Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labour freedom, monetary freedom); and Open Markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). Each of the freedoms within these four broad categories is individually scored on a scale of 0 to 100. A country’s overall economic freedom score is a simple average of its scores on the 10 individual freedoms.}}
The business rankings model measures the quality or attractiveness of the business environment in the 82 countries covered by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Forecast reports. It examines ten separate criteria or categories, covering the political environment, the macroeconomic environment, market opportunities, policy towards free enterprise and competition, policy towards foreign investment, foreign trade and exchange controls, taxes, financing, the labour market and infrastructure.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit - Business Environment Rankings 2020-2024
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Latest Update: July 2024