Tax revenue as share of GDP in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 8.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
8.0%
Change on year
up 10.8%
World rank
167th
of 187 countries
All-time high
8.6%
in 2021
All-time low
1.1%
in 2011
Years of data
26
1994–2023
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Saudi Arabia, 1994–2023
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, tax revenue as share of gdp in Saudi Arabia stood at 8.0%.
The figure is up 10.8% on the previous year and up 584.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in Saudi Arabia peaked at 8.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2011.
That places Saudi Arabia 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.0% | — |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -12.4% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | +23.0% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | -12.2% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -13.9% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -10.1% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -9.4% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -9.4% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | +15.7% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | +13.2% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | +23.5% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | +101.0% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | +35.9% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +26.2% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | +23.3% |
| 2021 | 8.6% | +25.8% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | +10.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 8.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.8%, 27% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 8.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.0%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 6 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.1% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 6.9% | 8.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 164 Timor-Leste 8.7% compare
- 165 Comoros 8.2% compare
- 166 Niger 8.1% compare
- 168 Congo 7.8% compare
- 169 Bangladesh 7.3% compare
- 170 Central African Republic 7.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in Saudi Arabia?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in Saudi Arabia was 8.0% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2011.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 584.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions included.