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BFSIRegional Aggregate

Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDPin North America

– Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDPPercentage · 2015–2024

CanadaCanada: 13.7113.71U.S.U.S.: 10.7710.77
131211102015: 11.292016: 10.992017: 11.602018: 10.202019: 10.13Trough2020: 10.432021: 11.612022: 12.70Peak2023: 10.882024: 11.0220152017201920212024
Source: data.worldbank.orgLast updated: July 2026

What North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 11.02 Percentage in 2024, up 1.3% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for North America provides a comprehensive assessment of government tax revenue relative to the region's economic output, offering valuable insights into fiscal capacity, revenue mobilization, and public finance performance.

Trend

Lower over the period

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 11.29 Percentage in 2015 to 11.02 Percentage in 2024 (−2.3%), an average of −0.3% a year. The series high was 12.70 Percentage in 2022 and the low 10.13 Percentage in 2019.

Volatility

A 20.3% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2019) is 2.58 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was −14.3% in 2023.

Structure

Canada leads the region

Within North America, Canada has the highest value in 2024 at 13.71 Percentage, 124.4% of the regional total.

Country ranking

Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024

Percentage. Sort by any column, or search for a country.

North America average, 2024: 11.02 Percentage. Per-capita values are averages, not additive totals.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024.
Rank↕ Country↕ Share of top Percentage↕ vs 2023
1 Canada
13.71 −0.2%
2 U.S.
10.77 +1.4%

By region

Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by region

Percentage, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.

Full series

North America 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.

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP, 2015–2024, Percentage.
YearPercentageChange vs prior year
2024 11.02 +1.3%
2023 10.88 −14.3%
2022Peak 12.70 +9.4%
2021 11.61 +11.3%
2020 10.43 +3%
2019 Trough10.13 −0.7%
2018 10.20 −12.1%
2017 11.60 +5.5%
2016 10.99 −2.6%
2015 11.29 —

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.

Inclusions

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.

Exclusions

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 regional dataset covers 2015–2024 and indicates that North America's tax revenue averaged between 10.13% and 12.70% of GDP during the period. The regional ratio stood at 11.29% in 2015, declined to 10.13% in 2019, recovered steadily to 11.61% in 2021, reached a decade high of 12.70% in 2022, and moderated to 11.02% in 2024, reflecting changing economic conditions and fiscal policy developments across the region. The regional trend is primarily influenced by the United States, the largest economy in North America, where the tax-to-GDP ratio fluctuated between 9.88% and 12.61% over the decade, including a peak in 2022 before easing to 10.77% in 2024. Canada consistently recorded the region's highest tax revenue ratio among the major economies, maintaining levels above 12% throughout the period and reaching 14.00% in 2021 before stabilizing at 13.71% in 2024. Mexico, although not included in the regional aggregate presented here, also demonstrated strengthening tax collection over the decade, with its tax-to-GDP ratio rising from 12.35% in 2015 to 14.82% in 2024, reflecting continued improvements in domestic revenue mobilization. This dataset is an essential resource for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, researchers, and international organizations seeking to evaluate fiscal sustainability, taxation efficiency, and government revenue performance across North America. It supports regional and global benchmarking, assessment of tax policy effectiveness, analysis of long-term fiscal trends, and forecasting of government revenues. Additionally, the data contributes to studies on macroeconomic stability, public finance, fiscal resilience, and sustainable economic development by illustrating how taxation supports government expenditure, infrastructure investment, and long-term economic growth across the North American region.

Indicator
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
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 North America 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 North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 11.02 Percentage in 2024, up 1.3% on 2023.

How has North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?

North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 11.29 Percentage in 2015 to 11.02 Percentage in 2024 (−2.3%), an average of −0.3% a year. The series high was 12.70 Percentage in 2022 and the low 10.13 Percentage in 2019.

Which year had the highest and lowest North America Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?

The highest value was 12.70 Percentage in 2022 and the lowest was 10.13 Percentage in 2019.

What does the North America 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 North America 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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