Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services was 2.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan, 2003–2020
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2020, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan stood at 2.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.6% on the previous year and down 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan peaked at 4.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2003.
Afghanistan ranks 174th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0.1% | — |
| 2004 | 0.5% | +247.4% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | +207.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | +43.3% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | +16.9% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | -16.8% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | -15.7% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +154.8% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | +13.1% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -37.7% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -18.6% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 2.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.4%, 58% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 2.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.0%, 39% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +247.4% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2006 | +207.8% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| 2016 | +154.8% | 1.4% | 3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.1% | 2.2% | 7 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 30.79 million BoP, current US$ (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.7698 BoP, current US$ per person (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 20.60 million BoP, current US$ (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 58.83 % change on previous year (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0014 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.515 BoP, current US$ per person (2021)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 14.73 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan?
- Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Afghanistan was 2.0% in 2020, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2003.
- How does Afghanistan rank for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services?
- Afghanistan ranks 174th out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
- Is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total taxes on income (individual and corporate) vs. total taxes on goods and services (including VAT and sales taxes), as a share of GDP.