Tax revenue as share of GDP in Nigeria
Nigeria: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 7.2% in 2007. ▲ Rising
Latest (2007)
7.2%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
171st
of 187 countries
All-time high
10.8%
in 2001
All-time low
4.7%
in 1994
Years of data
16
1992–2007
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Nigeria, 1992–2007
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 7.2% for tax revenue as share of gdp in 2007.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in Nigeria peaked at 10.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 1994.
Nigeria ranks 171st of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6.3% | — |
| 1993 | 5.7% | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -17.8% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | +19.3% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 7.1% | +27.5% |
| 1998 | 5.5% | -23.3% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | +10.4% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | +52.8% |
| 2001 | 10.8% | +16.8% |
| 2002 | 6.5% | -40.0% |
| 2003 | 8.1% | +24.7% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 9.5% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -14.2% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | -12.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 7.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.9%, 48% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 7.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.5%, 53% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.8% | 4.7% | 7.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 6.5% | 10.8% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 168 Congo 7.8% compare
- 169 Bangladesh 7.3% compare
- 170 Central African Republic 7.2% compare
- 172 Yemen 7.0% compare
- 173 Afghanistan 6.8% compare
- 174 Palestine, State of 6.6%
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in Nigeria?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in Nigeria was 7.2% in 2007, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 1994.
- How does Nigeria rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- Nigeria ranks 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2007.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.