Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America
United States of America: Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services was 3.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America, 1980–2023
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 taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America is 3.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America peaked at 4.6% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2023.
That places United States of America 145th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.3% | — |
| 1981 | 4.6% | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 4.4% | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 4.3% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 4.3% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 4.3% | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 4.5% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 4.5% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 4.2% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -4.9% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 3.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.3%, 38% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 142 Gambia 4.2% compare
- 143 Bangladesh 4.2% compare
- 144 Turkmenistan 4.0% compare
- 146 Timor-Leste 3.9% compare
- 147 Myanmar 3.9% compare
- 148 Philippines 3.8% compare
More economy & growth data for United States of America
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America?
- Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in United States of America was 3.9% in 2023, 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 1981.
- What is the lowest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2023.
- How does United States of America rank for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services?
- United States of America ranks 145th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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.