Tax revenue as share of GDP in Malaysia
Malaysia: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 12.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Malaysia, 1980–2023
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 12.6% for tax revenue as share of gdp in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.0% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 21.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2020.
That places Malaysia 140th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.5% | — |
| 1981 | 20.8% | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 19.3% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 21.0% | +8.7% |
| 1984 | 19.7% | -6.3% |
| 1986 | 19.5% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 16.4% | -15.8% |
| 1988 | 16.8% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 17.1% | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 18.8% | +10.4% |
| 1991 | 19.8% | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 18.4% | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 17.7% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 18.3% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 17.9% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 17.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 18.1% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 15.4% | -15.3% |
| 1999 | 12.9% | -15.8% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 16.3% | +30.2% |
| 2002 | 16.0% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | -11.2% |
| 2004 | 14.0% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 13.7% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 14.3% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 15.4% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 15.1% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 14.6% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 11.2% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 12.6% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.1% | 16.4% | 21.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 17.5% | 12.9% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.3% | 12.5% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 11.9% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.6% | 10.9% | 12.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0309 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 366.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 96.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0369 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 438.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in Malaysia?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in Malaysia was 12.6% in 2023, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2020.
- How does Malaysia rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- Malaysia ranks 140th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions included.