Higher over the period
Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 12.39 Percentage in 2015 to 13.71 Percentage in 2024 (+10.7%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 14.00 Percentage in 2021 and the low 12.39 Percentage in 2015.
What Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows
Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 13.71 Percentage in 2024, down 0.2% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for Canada provides a comprehensive overview of the country's tax collection efficiency relative to national economic output, serving as a key indicator of fiscal strength and government revenue generation.
A 11.5% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2021) and low (2015) is 1.61 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was +6.1% in 2020.
Ranks 18 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, Canada ranks 18 for 2024, behind Denmark (33.36 Percentage) and Sweden (27.23 Percentage). It accounts for 99.2% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Percentage.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Percentage | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13.71 | −0.2% |
| 2023 | 13.74 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 13.70 | −2.1% |
| 2021Peak | 14.00 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 13.52 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 12.74 | −2.4% |
| 2018 | 13.06 | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 12.61 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 12.50 | +0.9% |
| 2015 Trough | 12.39 | — |
Regional context
How Canada compares across countries
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024, Percentage. Canada is highlighted.
1Denmark33.36
2Sweden27.23
3UK26.89
4South Africa25.88
5Italy25.60
6Finland25.33
7Netherlands25.28
18Canada13.71
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP — – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
The data includes compulsory tax payments collected by the central government, such as taxes on income, profits and capital gains, payroll taxes, property taxes, taxes on goods and services (including VAT, GST, and excise duties), taxes on international trade, customs duties, and other taxes recorded under the IMF Government Finance Statistics (GFS) framework. The indicator is expressed as a percentage of GDP using standardized national accounts and government finance statistics.
The data excludes non-tax government revenue such as grants, fees, licenses, administrative charges, dividends from state-owned enterprises, and income from government assets. It also excludes fines, penalties, most social security contributions, refunds treated as negative revenue, and informal or unrecorded tax collections not captured in official government finance statistics. For many countries, the indicator reflects central government tax revenue only and may not include taxes collected by state, provincial, or local governments.
About this indicator
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP — – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
Measured as a Percentage, the dataset spans 2015–2024 and shows that tax revenue consistently remained above 12% of GDP, ranging from 12.39% in 2015 to a peak of 14.00% in 2021 before stabilizing at 13.71% in 2024. Following gradual growth from 12.39% in 2015 to 13.06% in 2018, the ratio eased slightly to 12.74% in 2019, increased sharply during 2020–2021, and remained relatively stable between 13.70% and 13.74% during 2022–2023.
The year-wise trend reflects Canada's resilient fiscal framework, supported by steady economic activity, effective tax administration, and post-pandemic revenue recovery. Higher tax revenue as a share of GDP indicates the government's strong capacity to generate domestic resources for financing healthcare, infrastructure, education, social protection, and other public services while maintaining fiscal sustainability.
The dataset serves as an important resource for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, and researchers analyzing fiscal performance, taxation efficiency, and macroeconomic conditions. It enables benchmarking against other developed and emerging economies, evaluating the impact of tax policy reforms, monitoring long-term fiscal trends, and forecasting future government revenue under changing economic conditions. The data also supports assessments of public finance resilience, economic competitiveness, and the relationship between taxation and economic growth.
Overall, the 2015–2024 dataset highlights Canada's stable tax revenue performance and strong fiscal capacity. It provides valuable insights for evidence-based policymaking, investment analysis, fiscal planning, and international comparisons while contributing to broader research on sustainable public finance, government revenue management, and long-term economic development.
- Indicator
- Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- North America
- Unit
- Percentage
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- BFSI
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- data.worldbank.org
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Frequently asked questions
What is Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
Definition – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
What was Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?
Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 13.71 Percentage in 2024, down 0.2% on 2023.
How has Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?
Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 12.39 Percentage in 2015 to 13.71 Percentage in 2024 (+10.7%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 14.00 Percentage in 2021 and the low 12.39 Percentage in 2015.
Which year had the highest and lowest Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
The highest value was 14.00 Percentage in 2021 and the lowest was 12.39 Percentage in 2015.
What does the Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP data include and exclude?
Included: The data includes compulsory tax payments collected by the central government, such as taxes on income, profits and capital gains, payroll taxes, property taxes, taxes on goods and services (including VAT, GST, and excise duties), taxes on international trade, customs duties, and other taxes recorded under the IMF Government Finance Statistics (GFS) framework. The indicator is expressed as a percentage of GDP using standardized national accounts and government finance statistics. Excluded: The data excludes non-tax government revenue such as grants, fees, licenses, administrative charges, dividends from state-owned enterprises, and income from government assets. It also excludes fines, penalties, most social security contributions, refunds treated as negative revenue, and informal or unrecorded tax collections not captured in official government finance statistics. For many countries, the indicator reflects central government tax revenue only and may not include taxes collected by state, provincial, or local governments.
Where does the Canada Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP data come from?
The series is sourced from data.worldbank.org (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Percentage.
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