Tax Revenue (% of GDP) 2022

Tax revenue as a share of GDP by country. Compare how much governments collect in taxes relative to economic output, using World Bank data since 2001.

118 data points•Updated 9/22/2026•Global Coverage•Tax revenue (% of GDP), World Bank (WB)•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Nauru	35.203 % of GDP
2	Denmark	30.728 % of GDP
3	Lesotho	30.443 % of GDP
4	Norway	30.31 % of GDP
5	New Zealand	29.229 % of GDP
6	Sweden	28.171 % of GDP
7	Greece	27.517 % of GDP
8	Namibia	27.167 % of GDP
9	Luxembourg	26.709 % of GDP
10	United Kingdom	26.554 % of GDP
11	Austria	26.126 % of GDP
12	South Africa	26.02 % of GDP
13	Israel	25.003 % of GDP
14	Italy	24.606 % of GDP
15	France	24.55 % of GDP
16	Samoa	24.018 % of GDP
17	Netherlands	23.913 % of GDP
18	Serbia	23.893 % of GDP
19	Australia	23.561 % of GDP
20	Hungary	23.429 % of GDP
21	Portugal	23.173 % of GDP
22	Cyprus	23.03 % of GDP
23	Malta	22.978 % of GDP
24	Georgia	22.902 % of GDP
25	Belgium	22.67 % of GDP
26	Mozambique	22.661 % of GDP
27	Iceland	22.156 % of GDP
28	Solomon Islands	22.075 % of GDP
29	Morocco	22.059 % of GDP
30	Armenia	21.827 % of GDP
31	Bulgaria	21.726 % of GDP
32	Croatia	21.676 % of GDP
33	Timor-Leste	21.643 % of GDP
34	Lithuania	21.456 % of GDP
35	Chile	21.345 % of GDP
36	Finland	21.199 % of GDP
37	El Salvador	21.162 % of GDP
38	Estonia	21.099 % of GDP
39	Slovenia	21.031 % of GDP
40	Tonga	20.402 % of GDP
41	Kiribati	20.167 % of GDP
42	Nicaragua	19.861 % of GDP
43	Slovakia	19.85 % of GDP
44	Botswana	19.65 % of GDP
45	Kyrgyzstan	19.542 % of GDP
46	Bosnia and Herzegovina	19.091 % of GDP
47	Mauritius	19.038 % of GDP
48	Republic of Moldova	18.921 % of GDP
49	Senegal	18.592 % of GDP
50	Fiji	18.496 % of GDP
51	Uruguay	18.429 % of GDP
52	Czech Republic	18.149 % of GDP
53	Albania	18.061 % of GDP
54	Burkina Faso	17.861 % of GDP
55	San Marino	17.811 % of GDP
56	North Macedonia	17.688 % of GDP
57	Turkey	17.18 % of GDP
58	South Korea	17.159 % of GDP
59	Latvia	17.142 % of GDP
60	Poland	17.123 % of GDP
61	Zambia	16.802 % of GDP
62	Ireland	16.763 % of GDP
63	China, Macao SAR	16.748 % of GDP
64	Ukraine	16.692 % of GDP
65	Romania	16.456 % of GDP
66	Jordan	15.917 % of GDP
67	Mongolia	15.774 % of GDP
68	Bahamas	15.531 % of GDP
69	Spain	15.471 % of GDP
70	Azerbaijan	15.448 % of GDP
71	Colombia	15.263 % of GDP
72	Thailand	15.138 % of GDP
73	Papua New Guinea	14.77 % of GDP
74	Brazil	14.726 % of GDP
75	Philippines	14.619 % of GDP
76	Kenya	14.599 % of GDP
77	Vanuatu	14.402 % of GDP
78	Costa Rica	13.999 % of GDP
79	Dominican Republic	13.906 % of GDP
80	Canada	13.697 % of GDP
81	Andorra	13.62 % of GDP
82	Cambodia	13.519 % of GDP
83	Malawi	13.504 % of GDP
84	Togo	13.405 % of GDP
85	Mexico	13.404 % of GDP
86	Rwanda	13.251 % of GDP
87	Ecuador	13.089 % of GDP
88	Angola	13.028 % of GDP
89	United States	12.611 % of GDP
90	Uganda	12.55 % of GDP
91	Ghana	12.298 % of GDP
92	Laos	12.113 % of GDP
93	Kazakhstan	12.062 % of GDP
94	Guatemala	11.823 % of GDP
95	Côte d'Ivoire	11.818 % of GDP
96	Tanzania	11.793 % of GDP
97	Singapore	11.664 % of GDP
98	Malaysia	11.631 % of GDP
99	Uzbekistan	11.456 % of GDP
100	Germany	11.256 % of GDP
101	Belarus	11.234 % of GDP
102	Argentina	11.065 % of GDP
103	Russia	10.844 % of GDP
104	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	10.662 % of GDP
105	Tajikistan	10.344 % of GDP
106	Paraguay	10.294 % of GDP
107	Madagascar	9.231 % of GDP
108	Guinea-Bissau	8.713 % of GDP
109	Switzerland	8.676 % of GDP
110	Panama	8.599 % of GDP
111	China	7.518 % of GDP
112	Sri Lanka	7.277 % of GDP
113	Saudi Arabia	6.953 % of GDP
114	India	6.934 % of GDP
115	Equatorial Guinea	6.596 % of GDP
116	Ethiopia	4.497 % of GDP
117	Somalia	1.781 % of GDP
118	United Arab Emirates	0.569 % of GDP

↑Top 10 Countries

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

↓Bottom 10 Countries

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

Analysis & Context

In 2022, Nauru led the world in Tax Revenue (% of GDP) with a staggering 35.20%, while the global range spanned from 0.57% in the United Arab Emirates to Nauru's peak. The global average tax revenue as a share of GDP stood at 17.32%, providing a benchmark for comparison across the 118 countries analyzed.

High Tax Revenue: Policy and Economic Factors

Countries with high tax revenue relative to GDP often reflect robust tax collection systems and comprehensive welfare states. Denmark (30.73%) and Sweden (28.17%) exemplify this pattern, where extensive public services require substantial government funding. These nations have implemented progressive tax policies that effectively capture a significant portion of their economic output. Similarly, Lesotho (30.44%) and Norway (30.31%) demonstrate how smaller or resource-rich nations can achieve high tax revenues through targeted fiscal strategies and efficient tax administration.

Low Tax Revenue: Structural and Economic Challenges

Conversely, countries with minimal tax revenue percentages often face structural economic challenges or policy choices favoring low taxation. The United Arab Emirates (0.57%) and Saudi Arabia (6.95%) both rely heavily on oil revenues, allowing them to maintain low tax rates. In Somalia (1.78%) and Ethiopia (4.50%), limited administrative capacity and economic instability hinder effective tax collection. These nations often struggle with informal economies and insufficient infrastructure, impeding their ability to increase tax revenue as a share of GDP.

Year-over-Year Changes: Significant Movers

Analyzing year-over-year changes provides insight into shifting fiscal landscapes. Timor-Leste saw the most significant increase, with tax revenue rising by 6.56 percentage points to 43.5%. This is indicative of policy reforms or economic developments bolstering the country's fiscal capacity. Norway experienced a notable increase of 5.70 percentage points, likely due to changes in oil market dynamics or domestic policy adjustments. On the other hand, Nauru experienced a significant decrease of 11.85 percentage points, a 25.2% drop, possibly reflecting economic contractions or tax policy reversals.

Economic Implications and Policy Insights

The variation in tax revenue as a percentage of GDP highlights diverse economic strategies and challenges. High percentages in countries like New Zealand (29.23%) and Greece (27.52%) suggest successful tax compliance and enforcement, supporting comprehensive public services. In contrast, low percentages in countries such as India (6.93%) and China (7.52%) point to large informal sectors and recent economic reforms aimed at broadening the tax base. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for policymakers aiming to balance fiscal responsibility with economic growth and social welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tax Revenue (% of GDP) in 2022

Which country had the highest tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022?

Nauru had the highest tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022, with 35.2%.

Which country had the lowest tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022?

The United Arab Emirates had the lowest tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022, with 0.57%.

What was the average tax revenue as a percentage of GDP across all countries in 2022?

The average tax revenue as a percentage of GDP across all countries in 2022 was 17.32%.

What was the median tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022?

The median tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022 was 17.13%.

Which countries were in the top 3 for tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022?

The top 3 countries for tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022 were Nauru (35.2%), Denmark (30.73%), and Lesotho (30.44%).

Which countries were in the bottom 3 for tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022?

The bottom 3 countries for tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2022 were the United Arab Emirates (0.57%), Somalia (1.78%), and Ethiopia (4.5%).

Insights by country

Tanzania

Tanzania ranked #96 globally in 2022 for Tax Revenue (% of GDP) at 11.7926807934669 % of GDP. This figure is lower than the regional average for Sub-Saharan Africa, which often exceeds 15%. Contributing factors include a large informal economy and challenges in tax collection efficiency, which hinder the government's ability to raise revenue effectively.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua ranked #42 globally in 2022 with a tax revenue of 19.860638103575 % of GDP. This figure is notably higher than some regional neighbors, reflecting a commitment to increasing state revenue compared to countries with lower tax efforts. The increase in tax revenue can be attributed to recent policy reforms aimed at improving tax compliance and broadening the tax base, which are crucial for funding public services and infrastructure in a country with significant development needs.

Sweden

In 2022, Sweden achieved a global rank of #6 with a tax revenue of 28.1710469421456 % of GDP. This figure is significantly higher than the global average, reflecting Sweden's robust welfare state model, which prioritizes extensive public services. Key drivers of this high tax revenue include a strong economy, a high standard of living, and a progressive tax system that emphasizes equity and social welfare.

Italy

In 2022, Italy ranked #14 globally with a tax revenue of 24.6064132004012 % of GDP. This figure is notably higher than the average tax revenue percentage in the European Union, reflecting Italy's robust fiscal policies. Key drivers of this statistic include a large public sector and significant social welfare programs, which necessitate higher tax revenues to fund them effectively.

Angola

In 2022, Angola ranked #88 globally with a Tax Revenue (% of GDP) of 13.0275094295514 % of GDP. This figure is below the African average and significantly lower than top performers in the region, reflecting challenges in revenue collection. Key drivers of this statistic include Angola's reliance on oil exports, which can lead to volatility in tax revenues, and ongoing economic reforms aimed at diversifying the economy.

Laos

In 2022, Laos ranked #92 globally with a tax revenue of 12.1129327825423 % of GDP. This figure is notably lower than the regional average, reflecting challenges in tax collection compared to neighboring countries like Thailand, which has a significantly higher tax revenue to GDP ratio. Contributing factors include a large informal economy, limited administrative capacity, and ongoing efforts to enhance tax compliance and broaden the tax base.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates ranked #118 with a tax revenue of 0.568698431385193 % of GDP in 2022. This figure places the UAE at the bottom of the global rankings, reflecting a significant deviation from many countries that typically see tax revenues exceeding 20% of GDP. The low tax revenue is largely attributed to the country's economic model, which relies heavily on oil exports and a business-friendly environment with minimal taxation policies.

China

In 2022, China ranked #111 globally with a tax revenue of 7.51799464421188 % of GDP. This figure is notably lower than many of its regional neighbors, reflecting a broader trend of lower tax revenues in developing economies. Key factors influencing this statistic include China's focus on economic growth through investment and export-led strategies, which often prioritize business incentives over tax collection.

Andorra

In 2022, Andorra ranked #81 globally with a tax revenue of 13.6196203276331 % of GDP. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating a more favorable tax environment compared to many countries. The low tax revenue is largely attributed to Andorra's status as a tax haven, attracting businesses and individuals seeking to minimize their tax liabilities while maintaining a small population and limited economic diversification.

Mauritius

In 2022, Mauritius achieved a global rank of #47 with a Tax Revenue (% of GDP) of 19.0380322201383 % of GDP. This figure is above the global average, indicating a robust tax collection system compared to many countries. The country's stable political environment and strategic economic policies, including a diversified economy focused on tourism and financial services, contribute significantly to its tax revenue performance.

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

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