Tax Burden (% of GDP) 2016

Tax Burden measures the proportion of GDP collected by governments as taxes, influencing economic freedom.

144 data points••Global Coverage•Tax revenue (% of GDP), World Bank (WB)•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Iceland flag
Iceland
37.095 %
2
Denmark flag
Denmark
33.49 %
3
Namibia flag
Namibia
29.673 %
4
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
29.286 %
5
Sweden flag
Sweden
28.377 %
6
China, Macao SAR flag
China, Macao SAR
27.841 %
7
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
27.265 %
8
Greece flag
Greece
27.035 %
9
Malta flag
Malta
26.249 %
10
Austria flag
Austria
25.822 %
11
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
25.289 %
12
Nauru flag
Nauru
25.244 %
13
Italy flag
Italy
25.083 %
14
South Africa flag
South Africa
24.828 %
15
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
24.591 %
16
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
24.352 %
17
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
23.91 %
18
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
23.843 %
19
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
23.768 %
20
Fiji flag
Fiji
23.535 %
21
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
23.516 %
22
Barbados flag
Barbados
23.384 %
23
France flag
France
23.146 %
24
Israel flag
Israel
23.115 %
25
Georgia flag
Georgia
23.042 %
26
Hungary flag
Hungary
23.004 %
27
Samoa flag
Samoa
22.971 %
28
Belgium flag
Belgium
22.901 %
29
Portugal flag
Portugal
22.617 %
30
Serbia flag
Serbia
22.444 %
31
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
22.346 %
32
Australia flag
Australia
22.188 %
33
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
22.163 %
34
Croatia flag
Croatia
21.904 %
35
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
21.732 %
36
Estonia flag
Estonia
21.677 %
37
Botswana flag
Botswana
21.63 %
38
Kiribati flag
Kiribati
21.524 %
39
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
21.397 %
40
Armenia flag
Armenia
21.277 %
41
Norway flag
Norway
21.254 %
42
Finland flag
Finland
20.987 %
43
Belize flag
Belize
20.644 %
44
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
20.333 %
45
Tonga flag
Tonga
20.257 %
46
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
20.077 %
47
Maldives flag
Maldives
19.976 %
48
Morocco flag
Morocco
19.867 %
49
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
19.714 %
50
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
19.661 %
51
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
19.63 %
52
Palau flag
Palau
19.489 %
53
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
19.145 %
54
Ireland flag
Ireland
18.649 %
55
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Saint Kitts and Nevis
18.354 %
56
Turkey flag
Turkey
18.328 %
57
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
18.013 %
58
Chile flag
Chile
17.469 %
59
Albania flag
Albania
17.403 %
60
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
17.382 %
61
Marshall Islands flag
Marshall Islands
17.358 %
62
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
17.355 %
63
Latvia flag
Latvia
17.232 %
64
Romania flag
Romania
17.109 %
65
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
17.1 %
66
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
16.951 %
67
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
16.949 %
68
Cabo Verde flag
Cabo Verde
16.725 %
69
San Marino flag
San Marino
16.69 %
70
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
16.43 %
71
Senegal flag
Senegal
16.371 %
72
Poland flag
Poland
16.209 %
73
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
16.166 %
74
Nepal flag
Nepal
16.144 %
75
Thailand flag
Thailand
16.1 %
76
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
15.458 %
77
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
15.088 %
78
Kenya flag
Kenya
14.966 %
79
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
14.581 %
80
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
14.542 %
81
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
14.52 %
82
Vanuatu flag
Vanuatu
14.437 %
83
Colombia flag
Colombia
14.385 %
84
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
14.139 %
85
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
14.134 %
86
Burundi flag
Burundi
14.003 %
87
Togo flag
Togo
13.867 %
88
Belarus flag
Belarus
13.788 %
89
Peru flag
Peru
13.788 %
90
Jordan flag
Jordan
13.716 %
91
Brazil flag
Brazil
13.71 %
92
Spain flag
Spain
13.684 %
93
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
13.551 %
94
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
13.525 %
95
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
13.511 %
96
Zambia flag
Zambia
13.353 %
97
South Korea flag
South Korea
13.278 %
98
Singapore flag
Singapore
13.238 %
99
Mexico flag
Mexico
13.124 %
100
Congo flag
Congo
13.089 %
101
Philippines flag
Philippines
13.087 %
102
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
13.012 %
103
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
12.949 %
104
Laos flag
Laos
12.943 %
105
Mali flag
Mali
12.897 %
106
Canada flag
Canada
12.497 %
107
Argentina flag
Argentina
12.097 %
108
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
11.886 %
109
Germany flag
Germany
11.834 %
110
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
11.823 %
111
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
11.652 %
112
Gabon flag
Gabon
11.468 %
113
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
11.46 %
114
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
11.423 %
115
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
11.39 %
116
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
11.351 %
117
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
11.175 %
118
India flag
India
11.148 %
119
Uganda flag
Uganda
11.12 %
120
Ghana flag
Ghana
11.058 %
121
United States flag
United States
10.855 %
122
Malawi flag
Malawi
10.639 %
123
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
10.422 %
124
Panama flag
Panama
10.056 %
125
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
9.924 %
126
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
9.559 %
127
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
9.503 %
128
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
9.26 %
129
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
9.245 %
130
Russia flag
Russia
9.183 %
131
China flag
China
8.946 %
132
Angola flag
Angola
8.45 %
133
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
8.087 %
134
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
7.65 %
135
Sudan flag
Sudan
7.39 %
136
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
7.317 %
137
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
7.176 %
138
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
6.808 %
139
Equatorial Guinea flag
Equatorial Guinea
6.384 %
140
Micronesia (Fed. States of) flag
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
6.1 %
141
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
3.172 %
142
Iraq flag
Iraq
2.078 %
143
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
0.809 %
144
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
0.041 %

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Iceland flagIceland
  2. #2Denmark flagDenmark
  3. #3Namibia flagNamibia
  4. #4Lesotho flagLesotho
  5. #5Sweden flagSweden
  6. #6China, Macao SAR flagChina, Macao SAR
  7. #7New Zealand flagNew Zealand
  8. #8Greece flagGreece
  9. #9Malta flagMalta
  10. #10Austria flagAustria

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #144United Arab Emirates flagUnited Arab Emirates
  2. #143Bahrain flagBahrain
  3. #142Iraq flagIraq
  4. #141Saudi Arabia flagSaudi Arabia
  5. #140Micronesia (Fed. States of) flagMicronesia (Fed. States of)
  6. #139Equatorial Guinea flagEquatorial Guinea
  7. #138Central African Republic flagCentral African Republic
  8. #137Myanmar flagMyanmar
  9. #136Bangladesh flagBangladesh
  10. #135Sudan flagSudan

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

In 2016, Iceland led the world with the highest Tax Burden (% of GDP) at 37.09%, while the United Arab Emirates recorded the lowest at merely 0.04%. The global range of tax burdens highlights significant disparities in how countries finance their governments. On average, the tax burden among the 144 countries with available data was 16.59%, providing a benchmark for evaluating national tax policies.

Determinants of High Tax Burdens

Countries with high tax burdens, such as Iceland (37.09%), Denmark (33.49%), and Namibia (29.67%), often exhibit robust welfare systems and extensive public services. In Iceland and Denmark, high tax revenues fund comprehensive social programs, including universal healthcare and education, which are pillars of their economies. Lesotho (29.29%) and Sweden (28.38%) also exemplify nations where higher taxes correlate with strong social safety nets. These countries balance high tax rates with high-quality public services, which can enhance economic stability and citizen satisfaction.

Minimal Tax Burdens and Their Implications

On the opposite end, countries like the United Arab Emirates (0.04%), Bahrain (0.81%), and Iraq (2.08%) maintain minimal tax burdens. The UAE and Bahrain benefit from substantial oil revenues, allowing them to sustain government functions without heavily taxing citizens. Saudi Arabia (3.17%) follows a similar model. Such low tax burdens can attract foreign investments and promote economic freedom, but they also pose challenges in diversifying the economy and managing fiscal sustainability in the face of fluctuating oil prices.

Year-Over-Year Changes in Tax Burden

In 2016, some countries experienced significant shifts in their tax burdens. Iceland saw the largest increase at +14.64% (65.2%), reflecting policy changes aimed at bolstering revenue. Similarly, Mauritius increased its tax burden by +8.74% (101.0%), likely in pursuit of economic reforms. Conversely, Timor-Leste experienced a dramatic decrease of -21.08% (-58.3%), possibly due to reductions in tax rates or changes in GDP composition. Equatorial Guinea and Botswana also saw notable declines, which could indicate economic contractions or shifts in tax policy.

Economic and Policy Drivers

The variation in tax burdens across countries often reflects underlying economic structures and policy decisions. Nations like China, Macao SAR (27.84%) and New Zealand (27.27%) have diversified economies with robust service sectors, allowing for a balanced approach to taxation. In contrast, countries with lower tax burdens often rely on natural resource revenues, as seen in the UAE and Equatorial Guinea. Policy decisions, such as tax reforms in Mauritius or fiscal adjustments in Lesotho, further illustrate how governments can strategically alter tax burdens to achieve economic goals.

In conclusion, the Tax Burden (% of GDP) in 2016 underscores the diverse strategies countries employ to finance public services and manage their economies. High tax burdens often correlate with well-developed welfare systems, while low burdens may indicate reliance on alternative revenue sources. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing economic policy and its implications for growth and development.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tax Burden (% of GDP) in 2016

Which country had the highest tax burden as a percentage of GDP in 2016?

Iceland had the highest tax burden in 2016, with 37.09% of its GDP collected as taxes.

Which country had the lowest tax burden as a percentage of GDP in 2016?

The United Arab Emirates had the lowest tax burden in 2016, with only 0.04% of its GDP collected as taxes.

What was the average tax burden as a percentage of GDP across all countries in 2016?

The average tax burden across all 144 countries in 2016 was 16.59% of GDP.

What was the median tax burden as a percentage of GDP in 2016?

The median tax burden in 2016 was 16.19% of GDP.

Which countries were in the top 3 for tax burden as a percentage of GDP in 2016?

The top 3 countries for tax burden in 2016 were Iceland with 37.09%, Denmark with 33.49%, and Namibia with 29.67% of GDP.

What was the tax burden range among the countries in 2016?

In 2016, the tax burden ranged from a high of 37.09% in Iceland to a low of 0.04% in the United Arab Emirates.

Insights by country

1

Republic of Moldova

In 2016, the Republic of Moldova had a tax burden of 16.4301183204667 % of GDP, ranking #70 out of 144 countries. This figure is relatively low compared to many European nations, where tax burdens often exceed 30%. The country's tax structure is influenced by its ongoing economic challenges and efforts to stimulate growth, which have led to a more favorable tax environment aimed at attracting investment and supporting small businesses.

2

Bahamas

In 2016, the Bahamas ranked #85 globally with a tax burden of 14.1340479509128 % of GDP. This figure is relatively low compared to many countries in the Caribbean, where tax burdens often exceed 20%. The Bahamas' tax structure is influenced by its status as a tourism-dependent economy, which relies on indirect taxation rather than direct taxes to attract foreign investment and visitors.

3

Zimbabwe

In 2016, Zimbabwe had a tax burden of 15.4582805565972 % of GDP, ranking #76 out of 144 countries. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating a relatively modest tax collection compared to many nations. Contributing factors include economic challenges such as hyperinflation and a shrinking formal economy, which have hindered the government's ability to generate revenue through taxation.

4

Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands ranked #61 globally with a Tax Burden of 17.3583439048563 % of GDP in 2016. This figure is relatively low compared to the global average, indicating a less intensive tax environment. The country's economic structure relies heavily on foreign aid and compact agreements with the United States, which influences its tax policies and revenue generation.

5

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka ranked #114 globally with a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 11.4234897676172 % in 2016. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating a relatively limited capacity for government revenue generation compared to many other nations.

The low tax burden can be attributed to a combination of factors including a narrow tax base and challenges in tax compliance, exacerbated by economic pressures and a focus on growth rather than revenue collection. Additionally, Sri Lanka's post-civil war recovery phase has influenced fiscal policies aimed at stimulating economic activity.

6

Bulgaria

Bulgaria ranked #44 globally in 2016 with a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 20.3330308112228 %. This figure is notably lower than the European Union average, indicating a relatively lighter tax load on its economy compared to many of its neighbors. Key drivers of this statistic include Bulgaria's flat tax rate policy, which has attracted foreign investment, and its ongoing efforts to maintain fiscal stability amidst economic reforms.

7

Myanmar

In 2016, Myanmar ranked #137 globally with a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 7.17585983640205 %. This figure is significantly lower than many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, reflecting a broader trend of limited tax revenue generation in the region. Contributing factors include a largely informal economy and ongoing challenges in governance and infrastructure that hinder effective tax collection.

8

North Macedonia

In 2016, North Macedonia had a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 16.9511578216024 %, ranking #66 out of 144 countries. This figure is relatively low compared to the European Union average, indicating a lighter tax load on its economy. The modest tax burden can be attributed to North Macedonia's efforts to attract foreign investment through competitive tax policies and a focus on economic growth in a transitioning market.

9

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic ranked #138 globally with a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 6.80758893701064 % in 2016. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting the country's challenges in revenue generation compared to more stable economies. Contributing factors include ongoing political instability, a lack of infrastructure, and a predominantly informal economy, which limit the government's ability to effectively collect taxes.

10

Malta

In 2016, Malta ranked #9 globally with a Tax Burden (% of GDP) of 26.2493786095596 %. This figure is notably higher than the European Union average, reflecting Malta's robust public services and social welfare commitments. Key drivers of this tax burden include Malta's strategic position as a financial services hub and its investment in infrastructure and education, which necessitate higher taxation to support these sectors.

Data Source

Tax revenue (% of GDP), World Bank (WB)

Taxes are compulsory, unrequited payments, in cash or in kind, made by institutional units to government units. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.

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Historical Data by Year

Explore Tax Burden (% of GDP) data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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