Falling to a series low
China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 9.19 Percentage in 2015 to 7.02 Percentage in 2024 (−23.7%), an average of −3% a year. The series high was 9.25 Percentage in 2017 and the low 7.02 Percentage in 2024.
What China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows
China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 7.02 Percentage in 2024, down 8.1% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for China provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's tax collection performance relative to the size of its economy, offering valuable insights into fiscal capacity, government revenue generation, and macroeconomic trends. Measured as a Percentage, the dataset spans 2015–2024 and indicates a gradual decline in the tax-to-GDP ratio over the decade.
A 24.1% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2017) and low (2024) is 2.23 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was −8.1% in 2024.
Ranks 26 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, China ranks 26 for 2024, behind Denmark (33.36 Percentage) and Sweden (27.23 Percentage). It accounts for 50.8% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
China 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 Trough | 7.02 | −8.1% |
| 2023 | 7.64 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 7.52 | −3.6% |
| 2021 | 7.80 | −1.6% |
| 2020 | 7.92 | −4.9% |
| 2019 | 8.33 | −6.3% |
| 2018 | 8.89 | −3.9% |
| 2017Peak | 9.25 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 8.95 | −2.7% |
| 2015 | 9.19 | — |
Regional context
How China compares in East Asia & Pacific
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024, Percentage. China is highlighted.
1Thailand15.18
2Philippines14.37
3Singapore13.56
4South Korea13.29
5Malaysia12.43
6China7.02
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.
Tax revenue accounted for 9.19% of GDP in 2015, fluctuated around 9% through 2018, declined to 8.33% in 2019, continued falling to 7.92% in 2020, and reached 7.02% in 2024, the lowest level recorded during the period. Although there was a slight improvement from 7.52% in 2022 to 7.64% in 2023, the overall trend remained downward.
The year-wise pattern reflects the combined effects of evolving tax policies, economic restructuring, fiscal support measures, and changing domestic economic conditions. Despite the declining tax-to-GDP ratio, China continues to generate substantial government revenue due to the size of its economy while supporting infrastructure development, industrial modernization, technological innovation, and public services.
This dataset is an important resource for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, researchers, and international organizations evaluating fiscal sustainability, taxation efficiency, and macroeconomic performance. It supports benchmarking China against regional and global economies, assessing the impact of tax policy reforms, monitoring long-term fiscal trends, forecasting future government revenue, and analyzing the relationship between taxation, economic growth, and public expenditure. The data also contributes to research on public finance, fiscal resilience, economic transformation, and sustainable development.
Overall, the 2015–2024 dataset highlights China's evolving tax revenue performance relative to GDP, characterized by a gradual decline over the decade. It provides a reliable foundation for fiscal analysis, policy evaluation, investment planning, and long-term economic forecasting while supporting evidence-based decision-making in public finance and economic development.
- Indicator
- Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
- Country
- China
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- 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 China 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 China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?
China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 7.02 Percentage in 2024, down 8.1% on 2023.
How has China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?
China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 9.19 Percentage in 2015 to 7.02 Percentage in 2024 (−23.7%), an average of −3% a year. The series high was 9.25 Percentage in 2017 and the low 7.02 Percentage in 2024.
Which year had the highest and lowest China Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
The highest value was 9.25 Percentage in 2017 and the lowest was 7.02 Percentage in 2024.
What does the China 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 China 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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