Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 8.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 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
The most recent figure for tax revenue as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia is 8.0%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. GDP per capita 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% |
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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2249 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 7,766 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -32.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth -32.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.0971 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 3,354 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. gdp per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. gdp per capita?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes include direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.