Lower over the period
U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 11.18 Percentage in 2015 to 10.77 Percentage in 2024 (−3.7%), an average of −0.4% a year. The series high was 12.61 Percentage in 2022 and the low 9.88 Percentage in 2019.
What U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows
U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 10.77 Percentage in 2024, up 1.4% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for the United States 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 public finance trends.
A 21.6% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2022) and low (2019) is 2.73 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was −15.8% in 2023.
Ranks 23 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, U.S. ranks 23 for 2024, behind Denmark (33.36 Percentage) and Sweden (27.23 Percentage). It accounts for 77.9% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
U.S. 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 | 10.77 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 10.62 | −15.8% |
| 2022Peak | 12.61 | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 11.39 | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 10.14 | +2.6% |
| 2019 Trough | 9.88 | −0.5% |
| 2018 | 9.93 | −13.7% |
| 2017 | 11.50 | +6% |
| 2016 | 10.85 | −2.9% |
| 2015 | 11.18 | — |
Regional context
How U.S. compares across countries
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024, Percentage. U.S. is highlighted.
1Denmark33.36
2Sweden27.23
3UK26.89
4South Africa25.88
5Italy25.60
6Finland25.33
7Netherlands25.28
23U.S.10.77
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 covers the period 2015–2024 and shows that tax revenue fluctuated between 9.88% and 12.61% of GDP. Tax revenue stood at 11.18% in 2015, declined to 9.88% in 2019, recovered to 11.39% in 2021, reached a decade high of 12.61% in 2022, and moderated to 10.77% in 2024. These year-wise movements reflect changes in economic activity, tax policy, employment, corporate earnings, and government fiscal measures implemented across different phases of the economic cycle.
The dataset serves as an important indicator of the government's ability to mobilize domestic revenue while supporting economic growth and financing public expenditure. Variations over the decade highlight the effects of economic expansion, pandemic-related fiscal interventions, and subsequent normalization of tax collections as economic conditions evolved. The sustained recovery following 2020 demonstrates the resilience of the U.S. tax system and its responsiveness to improving economic performance.
This dataset is valuable for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, researchers, and international organizations seeking to evaluate fiscal sustainability, compare revenue performance across economies, and monitor long-term taxation trends. It supports benchmarking against regional and global peers, assessing the effectiveness of tax reforms, forecasting future government revenues, and analyzing the relationship between taxation, GDP growth, and public spending. Additionally, the data contributes to studies on fiscal policy, macroeconomic stability, public sector financing, and economic competitiveness. Overall, the 2015–2024 dataset provides a reliable foundation for understanding the evolution of U.S. tax revenue relative to GDP and supports evidence-based decision-making in fiscal planning, economic analysis, and long-term policy development.
- Indicator
- Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
- Country
- U.S.
- 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?
U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 10.77 Percentage in 2024, up 1.4% on 2023.
How has U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?
U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 11.18 Percentage in 2015 to 10.77 Percentage in 2024 (−3.7%), an average of −0.4% a year. The series high was 12.61 Percentage in 2022 and the low 9.88 Percentage in 2019.
Which year had the highest and lowest U.S. Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
The highest value was 12.61 Percentage in 2022 and the lowest was 9.88 Percentage in 2019.
What does the U.S. 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 U.S. 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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