Broadly stable
Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 27.51 Percentage in 2015 to 27.23 Percentage in 2024 (−1%), an average of −0.1% a year. The series high was 28.55 Percentage in 2017 and the low 27.01 Percentage in 2020.
What Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows
Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 27.23 Percentage in 2024, down 0.5% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for Sweden provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's tax collection performance relative to the size of its economy, highlighting the strength of its public finance system and fiscal capacity. Measured as a Percentage, the dataset covers 2015–2024 and shows consistently high tax revenue throughout the decade, ranging between 27.01% and 28.55% of GDP.
A 5.4% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2017) and low (2020) is 1.54 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was +3.7% in 2021.
Ranks 2 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, Sweden ranks 2 for 2024, behind Denmark (33.36 Percentage) and UK (26.89 Percentage). It accounts for 197% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
Sweden 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 | 27.23 | −0.5% |
| 2023 | 27.38 | −2.8% |
| 2022 | 28.17 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 28.01 | +3.7% |
| 2020 Trough | 27.01 | −2.5% |
| 2019 | 27.70 | −2.3% |
| 2018 | 28.34 | −0.7% |
| 2017Peak | 28.55 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 28.38 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 27.51 | — |
Regional context
How Sweden compares in Europe & Central Asia
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024, Percentage. Sweden is highlighted.
1Denmark33.36
2Sweden27.23
3UK26.89
4Italy25.60
5Finland25.33
6Netherlands25.28
7France22.78
8Turkey17.62
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 increased from 27.51% in 2015 to a decade high of 28.55% in 2017, remained above 28% through 2018, moderated to 27.01% in 2020, recovered to 28.17% in 2022, and eased slightly to 27.38% in 2023 and 27.23% in 2024.
The year-wise trend reflects Sweden's mature taxation system, efficient revenue administration, and stable fiscal framework. Although moderate fluctuations occurred during periods of changing economic conditions, the consistently elevated tax-to-GDP ratio demonstrates the government's strong capacity to finance healthcare, education, social welfare, environmental programs, and public infrastructure while maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability.
This dataset serves as an important indicator for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, researchers, and international organizations evaluating fiscal performance, taxation efficiency, and macroeconomic stability. It enables benchmarking Sweden against other advanced and emerging economies, assessing the effectiveness of tax policies, monitoring long-term fiscal trends, forecasting future government revenue, and examining the relationship between taxation, economic growth, and public expenditure. The data also supports research on public finance, fiscal resilience, government budgeting, and sustainable economic development.
Overall, the 2015–2024 dataset highlights Sweden's consistently strong tax revenue performance relative to GDP despite modest year-to-year fluctuations. It provides a reliable basis for fiscal analysis, policy formulation, economic forecasting, and international comparisons while demonstrating the country's enduring strength in public finance management.
- Indicator
- Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
- Country
- Sweden
- Region
- Europe & Central Asia
- 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 Sweden 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 Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?
Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 27.23 Percentage in 2024, down 0.5% on 2023.
How has Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?
Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 27.51 Percentage in 2015 to 27.23 Percentage in 2024 (−1%), an average of −0.1% a year. The series high was 28.55 Percentage in 2017 and the low 27.01 Percentage in 2020.
Which year had the highest and lowest Sweden Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
The highest value was 28.55 Percentage in 2017 and the lowest was 27.01 Percentage in 2020.
What does the Sweden 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 Sweden 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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