Canada: internet ad revenue 2003-2021

In 2021, internet advertising revenue in Canada amounted to 12.32 billion Canadian dollars. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 28 percent and marks the highest internet ad revenue in Canada to date.

Canada’s thriving digital ad market

Canada is one of the leading digital ad markets worldwide. In line with rising internet penetration rates and the ever-expanding popularity of digital platforms throughout the country, marketers are spending more ad dollars on digital promotion than ever before. In 2020, internet-related advertising accounted for over 54 percent of advertising expenditure in Canada, and according to the latest estimates, digital ad spend in Canada will surpass 12 billion Canadian dollars by 2024.

What are the leading digital ad formats in Canada?

Search advertising is the leading digital ad format in Canada, accounting for almost 44 percent of total internet ad spend. Over the past few years, mobile has also become a major driver of advertising spending growth due to the visible shift away from desktop to mobile among Canadian internet users. As of 2020, mobile accounted for approximately 49 percent of overall internet ad expenditure. In view of the latest projections, Canada’s mobile advertising spending is set to reach 5.49 billion Canadian dollars by 2025, with search spearheading the rapid growth.