National security is as much an economic issue as a military one—Canada’s Arctic presence, border modernization, and alliances all rely on a strong, productive economy and resilient tax base.
Canada’s climate record remains troubling, ranking 62nd of 67 countries in 2025 and “falling behind” for the fourth straight year. While resilience has improved slightly, the country remains highly vulnerable to wildfires, floods, and extreme weather.
Defence spending remains low at 1.37% of GDP—far below NATO’s 5% target. Meanwhile, Canada ranks 2nd globally on the National Cyber Security Index, but faces a cybersecurity talent shortage. Continued investment in infrastructure, training, and innovation is critical to maintaining leadership in the digital sphere.
Cybersecurity preparedness is essential to national security, economic resilience, and public trust in institutions. As digital systems become increasingly embedded in critical infrastructure, health systems, democratic processes, and everyday life, Canada’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats will be a key determinant of long-term stability and global competitiveness.
Canada’s most recent National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) ranking placed it 2nd globally with high scores across all core dimensions, including national strategy, incident response, and infrastructure protection.
Maintain a top 5 global ranking on the National Cyber Security Index while continuing to achieve 100% scores in all core areas of national cyber strategy, crisis response, and infrastructure protection.
Canada’s strong cybersecurity performance reflects sustained investment and effective coordination across government and industry. However, Public Safety Canada has identified labour market shortages in cybersecurity as a key risk to future readiness. Continued leadership will depend on innovation, workforce capacity, and response readiness as global threats evolve.
Defence spending signals Canada’s commitment to national security, sovereignty, and its international obligations, including NATO. It reflects Canada’s readiness to respond to evolving global threats, protect strategic regions like the Arctic, and contribute fairly to collective defence. Meeting the spending target also strengthens Canada’s influence with allies and supports domestic innovation, jobs, and industrial capacity.
Canada’s defence spending was 1.37% of GDP in 2024.
Achieve a sustained increase in defence spending as a share of GDP to meet or exceed the NATO benchmark of 5.0%. This target reflects Canada’s stated international commitments and its strategic interest in contributing to global and regional security.
Canada’s defence spending remained at 1.37% of GDP in 2024, significantly below the NATO target of 5.0%. While recent federal commitments suggest future increases, progress to date has been limited. Canada continues to face pressure from allies to enhance its defence contributions, particularly in light of rising global instability, cybersecurity threats, and the need for military modernization. Without sustained and transparent investment increases, Canada risks diminished influence in multilateral defence forums and reduced operational readiness at home.
This Index defines resilience as a country’s ability to withstand and recover from climate-related and systemic shocks. As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increase, strengthening institutional, social, and infrastructure resilience is essential to protecting public safety, reducing economic disruption, and ensuring long-term well-being across communities.
Canada ranked 11th out of 45 upper-income countries in the 2023 Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) Index, with a score of 68.5 out of 100.
Achieve a top 10 ranking in the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Index (ND-GAIN) Index of most resilient countries globally.
Canada improved from 14th to 11th place in the 20232 ND-GAIN Index, reflecting modest gains in readiness and adaptive capacity. While this upward movement is encouraging, Canada continues to face increasing vulnerability due to climate-related risks such as wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events. Gaps remain in infrastructure readiness, regional coordination, and long-term planning for high-risk communities.
Climate change presents a fundamental threat to Canada’s long-term economic prosperity, public health, and ecological sustainability. For example, in 2023 severe weather in Canada caused over $3.1B in insured damage, as climate change continues to exacerbate severe weather conditions such as wildfires and floods.
Effective action on emissions reduction, clean energy transition, and climate governance is essential to mitigate climate risks, protect vulnerable populations, and uphold Canada’s international commitments. Progress in this area enhances global credibility, economic competitiveness, and intergenerational well-being.
Canada ranked 62nd out of 67 countries in the 2024 Climate Change Performance Index, maintaining a “very low” performance rating.
Achieve a top 15 global ranking on the Climate Change Performance Index, with a “high” performance rating across all categories.
Canada remained among the bottom five countries in the 2024 Climate Change Performance Index, with no material improvement in ranking or performance category. The index continues to classify Canada as a “very low performer” across key dimensions, including GHG emissions, energy use, and national climate policy. Despite public commitments to net-zero goals, Canada’s emissions trajectory and implementation record remain misaligned with its international obligations and long-term targets.
High levels of freedom, including a strong democratic system that upholds the rule of law and protects individual rights, are foundational to Canada’s long-term prosperity. Democratic institutions enhance global reputation, support social cohesion, and contribute to Canada’s attractiveness as a place to live, work, and invest.
Canada ranked 5th in the 2024 Freedom in the World Index with a score of 97 out of 100.
Top 5 countries in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Index.
Canada maintained its 5th place global ranking in the 2024 Freedom in the World Index, with a score of 97 out of 100—slightly down from 98 in 2023. This reflects continued strength in civil liberties, political rights, and institutional accountability, even as global democratic conditions deteriorate. However, gaps persist in equitable access to justice, and rising digital threats—including misinformation, disinformation, and online hate—pose longer-term risks to democratic resilience if not addressed.
