Value of $100 from 1916 to 1980
$100 in 1916 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $658.85 in 1980, an increase of $558.85 over 64 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.99% per year between 1916 and 1980, producing a cumulative price increase of 558.85%.
This means that prices in 1980 are 6.59 times as high as average prices since 1916, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1916 was 8.97%. The inflation rate in 1980 was 10.13%. The 1980 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 2.93% per year between 1980 and 2025.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 558.85% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.99% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $658.85 |
| Price difference $100 base | $558.85 |
| CPI in 1916 | 6.683 |
| CPI in 1980 | 44.033 |
| Inflation in 1916 | 8.97% |
| Inflation in 1980 | 10.13% |
| $100 in 1916 | $658.85 in 1980 |
Buying power of $100 in 1916
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $100 in 1916 (price index tracking began in 1914).
For example, if you started with $100, you would need to end with $658.85 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $100 is equivalent to $658.85 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Canadian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1916 dollars, the chart below shows how $100 is worth less over 64 years.
According to Statistics Canada, each of these CAD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1916 amounts in 1980 dollars, based on the 558.85% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1916 | $6.59 dollars in 1980 |
| $5 dollars in 1916 | $32.94 dollars in 1980 |
| $10 dollars in 1916 | $65.89 dollars in 1980 |
| $50 dollars in 1916 | $329.43 dollars in 1980 |
| $100 dollars in 1916 | $658.85 dollars in 1980 |
| $500 dollars in 1916 | $3,294.26 dollars in 1980 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1916 | $6,588.53 dollars in 1980 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1916 | $32,942.64 dollars in 1980 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1916 | $65,885.29 dollars in 1980 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1916 | $329,426.43 dollars in 1980 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1916 | $658,852.87 dollars in 1980 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1916 | $3,294,264.34 dollars in 1980 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1916 | $6,588,528.68 dollars in 1980 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $100, 1916 to 1980
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1916 and 1980:
CPI in 1980 CPI in 1916
×
1916 CAD value
=
1980 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 6.683333333 in the year 1916 and 44.03333333 in 1980:
44.033333336.683333333
×
$100
=
$658.85
$100 in 1916 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $658.85 in 1980.
To get the total inflation rate for the 64 years between 1916 and 1980, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1980 - CPI in 1916CPI in 1916
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (64 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
44.03333333 - 6.6833333336.683333333
×
100
=
559%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Canada's annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1914 and computed by Statistics Canada (StatCan).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “1916 dollars in 1980 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 4 May. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/1916-CAD-in-1980.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 558.85% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.99% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $658.85 |
| Price difference $100 base | $558.85 |
| CPI in 1916 | 6.683 |
| CPI in 1980 | 44.033 |
| Inflation in 1916 | 8.97% |
| Inflation in 1980 | 10.13% |
| $100 in 1916 | $658.85 in 1980 |
