Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP was 25.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
25.5%
Change on year
down 1.3%
Rank
2nd
of 30 groups
All-time high
25.9%
in 2021
All-time low
20.6%
in 2003
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa, 2000–2023

01020302000201120232000: 21.22001: 21.92002: 212003: 20.62004: 21.92005: 23.12006: 24.82007: 25.22008: 24.82009: 22.52010: 22.72011: 23.12012: 242013: 24.32014: 252015: 25.52016: 24.92017: 252018: 24.92019: 252020: 23.62021: 25.92022: 25.82023: 25.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for tax revenue as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa is 25.5%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tax revenue as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa peaked at 25.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 2003.

Southern Africa ranks 2nd of 30 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP (%) in Southern Africa, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 21.2%
2001 21.9% +3.1%
2002 21.0% -3.9%
2003 20.6% -1.8%
2004 21.9% +6.0%
2005 23.1% +5.7%
2006 24.8% +7.4%
2007 25.2% +1.6%
2008 24.8% -1.6%
2009 22.5% -9.2%
2010 22.7% +0.5%
2011 23.1% +2.1%
2012 24.0% +3.9%
2013 24.3% +1.3%
2014 25.0% +2.8%
2015 25.5% +1.8%
2016 24.9% -2.3%
2017 25.0% +0.6%
2018 24.9% -0.3%
2019 25.0% +0.0%
2020 23.6% -5.3%
2021 25.9% +9.6%
2022 25.8% -0.2%
2023 25.5% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 22.7% 20.6% 25.2% 10
2010s 24.4% 22.7% 25.5% 10
2020s 25.2% 23.6% 25.9% 4

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 1 Naoero 44.3% compare
  2. 2 Lesotho 37.3% compare
  3. 3 Namibia 33.0% compare
  4. 4 Denmark 31.6% compare
  5. 5 New Zealand 30.7% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More economy & growth data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is tax revenue as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa?
Tax revenue as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa was 25.5% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest tax revenue as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 2021.
What is the lowest tax revenue as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 2003.
How does Southern Africa rank for tax revenue as a proportion of gdp?
Southern Africa ranks 2nd out of 30 groups with data for 2023.
Is tax revenue as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/tax-revenue-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Tax revenue as a proportion of GDP (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
194 places, 3,662 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed