Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon
Lebanon: Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services was 2.5% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon, 1993–2021
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon stood at 2.5%.
The figure is down 27.4% on the previous year and down 70.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon peaked at 9.9% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1996.
That places Lebanon 170th out of 187 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2.1% | — |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +17.3% |
| 1995 | 2.0% | -18.9% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -65.6% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +48.5% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +346.6% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | +11.5% |
| 2002 | 8.3% | +78.9% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | +17.3% |
| 2004 | 9.9% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 9.7% | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 6.9% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -11.7% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -44.2% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -27.4% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 2.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.1%, 41% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 2.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.0%, 49% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +346.6% | 0.9% | 4.2% |
| 2002 | +78.9% | 4.6% | 8.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2.5% | 7 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 4.2% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 6.1% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More economy & growth data for Lebanon
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.87 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -0 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 390.72 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.015 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 67.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 181.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0709 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 317.35 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 21.14 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon?
- Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Lebanon was 2.5% in 2021, 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 9.9% in 2004.
- What is the lowest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1996.
- How does Lebanon rank for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services?
- Lebanon ranks 170th out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
- Is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.