Culture Satellite Account
The Culture Satellite Account (CSA) is an accounting framework created to better measure the economic importance of culture, arts, heritage and sport in the Canadian economy.
Video — Culture: Value in Our Lives, Value in Our Economy

Learn more about the importance of culture to the Canadian economy.
Video — Updating the Culture Satellite Account (CSA)

Learn more about Culture Satellite Account (CSA)
The most recent data publications can be found on the Statistics Canada website:
- International Trade of Culture and Sport Products for 2010-2018
- The Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators for 2010-2018
- Tourism Spending on Culture and Sport Products for 2010-2016
For further information on the concepts behind the CSA, please refer to the Conceptual Framework for Culture Statistics 2011, the Classification Guide for the Canadian Framework for Culture Statistics 2011 and Satellite Accounting in Canada.
The CSA is developed by Statistics Canada with the support of a diverse group of partners referred to as the Culture Statistics Strategy Consortium, which consists of:
- Canadian Heritage
- The Provincial/Territorial Ministries of Culture and/or Heritage
- Canada Council for the Arts
- Library and Archives Canada
- Telefilm Canada
- Cultural Human Resources Council
- Ontario Creates
- Ontario Arts Council
- Creative City Network of Canada and all participating municipalities
- British Columbia Alliance for Arts + Culture
- Canadian Crafts Federation
- Parks Canada
- Canadian Association of Performing Arts (CAPACOA)
If you have technical questions related to the concepts, methods or data quality of the CSA, please contact Statistics Canada by phone at 1-800-263-1136; or email General enquiries and comments.
For Media Relations please call 613-951-4636; or email Statistics Canada's media hotline.
If you have questions regarding the partnership behind the Culture Statistics Strategy, please contact the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Infographics on this page
International Trade of Culture and Sport Products for 2010-2018
- International Trade of Culture Products for 2010-2018
- International Trade of Sport Products for 2010-2018
The Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators for 2010-2018
- Provincial/Territorial Culture Totals for 2018
- Provincial/Territorial Sport Totals for 2018
- Culture Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018
- Sport Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018
Infographics on Tourism Spending on Culture and Sport Products for 2010-2016
International Trade of Culture ProductsFootnote 1 for 2010-2018

Description of the infographic: International Trade of Culture Products for 2010-2018, Canada
Image of a map of Canada with an arrow pointing in towards the map (representing culture imports) and an arrow pointing outwards from the map (representing culture exports).
Culture imports
In 2018, imports of culture products totaled $22.2 billion.Footnote 2
Year | Total culture imports (culture products) |
---|---|
2010 | $15.6 billion |
2012 | $16.7 billion |
2014 | $19.5 billion |
2016 | $19.9 billion |
2018 | $22.2 billion |
Canada imported the most culture products from the United States, China and Mexico.
Country | Culture imports in 2018 |
---|---|
United States | $14.3 billion |
China | $955.8 million |
Mexico | $726.7 million |
France | $548.5 million |
United Kingdom | $495.7 million |
The Crafts, Books, and Performing arts sub-domains contributed the most to culture imports.
Subdomain | Culture imports in 2018 |
---|---|
CraftsFootnote 3 | $5.6 billion |
Books | $2.4 billion |
Performing arts | $1.7 billion |
Film and video | $1.6 billion |
Multi | $1.6 billion |
Culture exports
In 2018, exports of Canadian culture products totaled $16.9 billion.Footnote 2
Year | Total culture exports (culture products) |
---|---|
2010 | $11.2 billion |
2012 | $11.5 billion |
2014 | $13.6 billion |
2016 | $15.9 billion |
2018 | $16.9 billion |
Canada exported the largest amount of culture products to the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
Country | Culture exports in 2018 |
---|---|
United States | $10.4 billion |
China | $1.1 billion |
United Kingdom | $621.6 million |
Germany | $467.5 million |
France | $392.8 million |
The Film and video, Crafts, and Performing arts sub-domains contributed the most to culture exports.
Subdomain | Culture exports in 2018 |
---|---|
Film and video | $4.2 billion |
CraftsFootnote 3 | $4.2 billion |
Performing arts | $1.1 billion |
Governance, funding and professional support | $1.0 billion |
Interactive media | $868.3 million |
International Trade of Sport Products for 2010-2018

Description of the infographic: Trade of Sport Products for 2010-2018, Canada
Image of a map of Canada with an arrow pointing in towards the map (representing sport imports) and an arrow pointing outwards from the map (representing sport exports).
Sport imports
In 2018, imports of sport productsFootnote 4 totaled $2.9 billion.
Year | Total sport imports (sport product) |
---|---|
2010 | $2.5 billion |
2012 | $2.7 billion |
2014 | $2.8 billion |
2016 | $2.6 billion |
2018 | $2.9 billion |
Canada imported the most sport products from the United States, Mexico and China.
Country | Sport imports in 2018 |
---|---|
United States | $1.6 billion |
Mexico | $184.8 million |
China | $104.9 million |
United Kingdom | $87.5 million |
France | $66.3 million |
The Organized sport sub-domain contributed the most to sport imports.
Subdomain | Sport imports in 2018 |
---|---|
Organized sport | $1.5 billion |
Governance, funding and professional support | $1.4 billion |
Education and training, sport | $89.8 million |
Sport Exports
In 2018, exports of Canadian sport productsFootnote 4 totaled $1.7 billion.
Year | Total sport exports (sport product) |
---|---|
2010 | $1.3 billion |
2012 | $1.3 billion |
2014 | $1.4 billion |
2016 | $1.5 billion |
2018 | $1.7 billion |
Canada exported the largest amount of sport products to the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
Country | Sport exports in 2018 |
---|---|
United States | $814.5 million |
China | $209.9 million |
United Kingdom | $77.3 million |
India | $66.1 million |
France | $60.1 million |
The Governance, funding and professional sport subdomain contributed the most to sport exports.
Subdomain | Sport exports in 2018 |
---|---|
Governance, funding and professional support | $861.0 million |
Organized sport | $647.6 million |
Education and training, sport | $228.5 million |
Provincial/Territorial Culture Totals for 2018

Description of the infographic: Provincial/Territorial Culture Totals for 2018
Image of a map of Canada with lines connecting each province/territory to individual boxes. Boxes contain the name of the province/territory and the statistical information relating to the specific jurisdiction it points to.
Culture GDP in 2018 - In thousands of dollars – Product perspective | Culture jobs in 2018 – Product perspective | |
---|---|---|
Canada | 56,059,566 | 655,157 |
Alberta | 5,303,087 | 54,439 |
British Columbia | 7,565,276 | 101,908 |
Manitoba | 1,524,180 | 21,253 |
New Brunswick | 572,690 | 7,525 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 451,378 | 4,948 |
Northwest Territories | 78,876 | 647 |
Nova Scotia | 942,730 | 13,116 |
Nunavut | 55,020 | 371 |
Ontario | 26,761,253 | 277,430 |
Prince Edward Island | 119,879 | 1,637 |
Quebec | 11,699,686 | 157,619 |
Saskatchewan | 925,297 | 13,566 |
Yukon | 59,683 | 693 |
Source : Statistics Canada, Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2018. Date: October 22, 2020
Provincial/Territorial Sport Totals for 2018

Description of the infographic: Provincial/Territorial Sport Totals for 2018
Image of a map of Canada with lines connecting each province/territory to individual boxes. Boxes contain the name of the province/territory and the statistical information relating to the specific jurisdiction it points to.
Sport GDP in 2018 - In thousands of dollars – Product perspective | Sport jobs in 2018 – Product perspective | |
---|---|---|
Canada | 5,854,192 | 95,130 |
Alberta | 787,140 | 12,779 |
British Columbia | 930,417 | 15,930 |
Manitoba | 252,130 | 3,861 |
New Brunswick | 75,376 | 1,173 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 66,164 | 927 |
Northwest Territories | 8,657 | 77 |
Nova Scotia | 134,125 | 2,455 |
Nunavut | 7,643 | 70 |
Ontario | 2,539,593 | 39,846 |
Prince Edward Island | 21,470 | 351 |
Quebec | 812,893 | 14,340 |
Saskatchewan | 211,392 | 3,235 |
Yukon | 6,847 | 83 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2018. Date: October 22, 2020
Culture Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018

Description of the infographic: Culture Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018
This infographic shows culture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job numbers by domain and subdomain for 2018.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Archives | 19,217 | 287 |
Libraries | 90,990 | 1,176 |
Culture heritage | 455,548 | 11,771 |
Natural heritage | 209,790 | 5,311 |
Total | 775,546 | 18,546 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Film and video | 4,275,782 | 71,027 |
Broadcasting | 9,136,805 | 41,901 |
Interactive media | 6,302,442 | 44,950 |
Total | 19,715,028 | 157,878 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Music publishing | 146,398 | 2,210 |
Sound recording | 491,016 | 6,775 |
Total | 637,414 | 8,986 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Books | 983,904 | 10,644 |
Periodicals | 925,348 | 10,268 |
Newspaper | 1,595,880 | 24,372 |
Other published works | 86,112 | 1,026 |
Collected information | 430,682 | 5,306 |
Multi | 4,430,352 | 59,158 |
Total | 8,452,278 | 110,773 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Original visual art | 191,104 | 2,471 |
Art reproductions | 44,272 | 973 |
Photography | 800,675 | 12,948 |
Crafts | 2,665,470 | 28,158 |
Advertising | 2,223,469 | 27,789 |
Architecture | 1,558,314 | 14,911 |
Design | 3,427,962 | 52,079 |
Total | 10,911,265 | 139,329 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Performing arts | 2,773,767 | 66,884 |
Festivals and celebrations | 170,274 | 4,264 |
Total | 2,944,041 | 71,148 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Education and training | 3,498,692 | 51,458 |
Governance, funding and professional support | 8,056,031 | 85,608 |
Multi | 1,069,270 | 11,432 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2018 Date: October 22, 2020
Sport Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018

Description of the infographic: Sport Gross Domestic Product and Jobs, Detailed Figures for 2018
This infographic shows sport Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job numbers by domain and subdomain for 2018.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – In thousands of dollars – Product Perspective | Jobs – Product Perspective | |
---|---|---|
Organized sport | 1, 950,651 | 43,712 |
Informal sport | 325,009 | 6,577 |
Education and training | 2,249,589 | 34,633 |
Governance, funding and professional support | 1,328,943 | 10,208 |
Total | 5,854,192 | 95,130 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2018. Date: October 22, 2020
Infographic on Tourism Spending on Culture ProductsFootnote 5 for 2010-2016

Description of the infographic on Tourism Spending on Culture Products for 2010-2016, Canada
This infographic compares the total amount of tourism spending on culture products by Canadian visitors in Canada to the total amount of tourism spending on culture products by international visitors to Canada.
Total tourism spending (2016): $1.7B
Canadian Visitors in Canada (Domestic tourism spending)
In 2016, tourism spending by Canadian visitors in Canada totaled $1.16 billion.
Year | Tourism spending by Canadian visitors in Canada (in billions) |
---|---|
2010 | $1.02 |
2011 | $1.04 |
2012 | $1.08 |
2013 | $1.08 |
2014 | $1.11 |
2015 | $1.15 |
2016 | $1.16 |
In 2016, the domain that generated the most spending among Canadian visitors was live performance, with a total of $378.8 million.
Live performance: $378.8M
Visual and applied arts: $289.3M
Written and published works: $278.8M
Audiovisual and interactive media: $197.8M
International visitors to Canada (Export tourism spending)
In 2016, tourism spending by international visitors to Canada totaled $536.1 million.
Year | Tourism spending by international visitors to Canada (in millions) |
---|---|
2010 | $454.5 |
2011 | $449.3 |
2012 | $459.2 |
2013 | $454.3 |
2014 | $460.9 |
2015 | $494.2 |
2016 | $536.1 |
In 2016, the domain that generated the most spending among international visitors was live performance, with a total of $219.9 million.
Live performance: $219.9M
Audiovisual and interactive media: $115.2M
Visual and applied arts: $111.9M
Written and published works: $81.0M
Infographic on Tourism Spending on Sport ProductsFootnote 6 for 2010-2016

Description of the infographic on Tourism Spending on Sport Products for 2010-2016, Canada
This infographic compares the total amount of tourism spending on sport products by Canadian visitors in Canada to the total amounts of tourism spending on sport products by international visitors to Canada.
Total tourism spending (2016): $915.7M
Canadian Visitors in Canada (Domestic tourism spending)
In 2016, tourism spending by Canadian visitors in Canada totaled $586.8 million.
Year | Tourism spending by Canadian visitors in Canada (in millions) |
---|---|
2010 | $544.3 |
2011 | $549.3 |
2012 | $565.4 |
2013 | $555.7 |
2014 | $563.8 |
2015 | $589.5 |
2016 | $586.8 |
In 2016, the domain that generated the most spending among Canadian visitors was organized sport, with a total of $306.8 million.
Organized sport: $306.8M
Governance, funding and professional support: $266.6M
International visitors to Canada (Export tourism spending)
In 2016, tourism spending by international visitors to Canada totaled $328.9 million.
Year | Tourism spending by international visitors to Canada (in millions) |
---|---|
2010 | $279.6 |
2011 | $276.9 |
2012 | $283.6 |
2013 | $279.4 |
2014 | $283.1 |
2015 | $302.5 |
2016 | $328.9 |
In 2016, the domain that generated the most spending among international visitors was organized sport, with a total of $171.0 million.
Organized sport: $171.0M
Governance, funding and professional support: $150.2M
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