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Federal Government Spending

Get data-driven insights into how the federal government’s revenue and spending affect Canadian lives and programs.

Data updated July 8, 2026

FY 2019-20 Revenue and Spending

Headline totals are on a Volume I consolidated (accrual) basis. Explore revenue and spending categories below.

Total spending in FY 2019-20

$373.52B

consolidated federal spending (Vol I)

Total revenue in FY 2019-20

$334.13B

consolidated federal revenue (Vol I)

Deficit in FY 2019-20

$39.39B

spending minus revenue (Vol I)

Total spending: $373.52BSource

Spending by ministry, FY 2019-20

Ministry totals are on the Volume I consolidated (accrual) basis, allocated to portfolios by segment, and sum to the headline total (including the two non-departmental statement lines below). Select a ministry to see its Volume II appropriations detail.

Federal workforce

Federal public service headcount (as of March 31) and personnel spending — salaries and benefits — for the selected fiscal year. Headcount is from Treasury Board; personnel spending is from the Public Accounts standard objects.

Employees in FY 2019-20

300,450

federal public service headcount (as of March 31)

Personnel spending in FY 2019-20

$46.35B

salaries and benefits (standard object)

Average personnel cost

$154,266

per employee (salaries and benefits)

Headcount over time

Age

Employees by age band (as of March 31)

Type of Tenure

Employees by type of tenure (as of March 31)

Salary Distribution

Employees by salary range (as of March 31). This series covers the employment-equity population, a subset of the federal public service.

Source: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Headline and ministry totals use the Volume I consolidated (accrual) basis; department pages use the Volume II appropriations basis (where the line-level detail lives), so a department’s own total differs from its ministry row here. See the methodology for the allocation method and known differences.