National Defence
How National Defence spent its budget in fiscal year 2024-25, on a Volume II appropriations basis.
Department Spending
In FY 2024-25,
$35.37B
was spent by National Defence
In FY 2024-25,
6.5%
of federal spending was by National Defence
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are responsible for defending Canada, contributing to continental defence in cooperation with the United States, and participating in international operations and alliances such as NATO. The portfolio also includes the Communications Security Establishment, which provides signals intelligence and cybersecurity capabilities, along with independent bodies that review military grievances and complaints against military police.
In fiscal year 2024–25, National Defence recorded total spending of $35.37B, representing 6.5% of federal spending on this basis.
Spending is dominated by the Department of National Defence, with a much smaller share attributed to the Communications Security Establishment, and only minor amounts for the Military Grievances External Review Committee and the Military Police Complaints Commission. Among transfer payments, the largest categories include contributions in support of the Military Training and Cooperation Program, contributions to the NATO Military Budget under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program, contributions to the NATO Security Investment Program, contributions in support of the Capital Assistance Program, and contributions in support of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program.
How did National Defence spend its budget in 2024-25?
Spending by entity, FY 2024-25
Department of National Defence
Communications Security Establishment
Military Grievances External Review Committee
Military Police Complaints Commission
$34.25B
$1.11B
$8.4M
$5.8M
National Defence’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Line items
Complete appropriation (vote/allotment) and transfer-payment lines, in dollars. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Vote | Description | Total available | Used ▼ | Lapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $22,116,109,131 | $21,592,211,795 | $523,897,336 |
| Vote 5 | Capital expenditures | $8,962,488,084 | $8,761,988,873 | $200,499,211 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $1,870,597,742 | $1,856,027,442 | $14,570,300 |
| Vote 10 | Grants and contributions | $1,654,233,092 | $1,592,299,391 | $61,933,701 |
| Vote 1 | Program expenditures | $1,084,185,514 | $1,040,968,957 | $43,216,557 |
| Vote 15 | Payments in respect of the long-term disability and life insurance plan for members of the Canadian Forces | $446,727,532 | $446,727,531 | $1 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $67,846,271 | $67,836,552 | $9,719 |
| Vote 1 | Program expenditures | $8,220,517 | $7,464,848 | $755,669 |
| Vote 1 | Program expenditures | $5,575,857 | $5,184,069 | $391,788 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $938,345 | $938,345 | $0 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $592,599 | $592,599 | $0 |
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National Defence figures are on a Volume II appropriations basis and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
