Taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of GDP was 14.9% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of GDP in South Africa, 1980–2022
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp in South Africa stood at 14.9%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 14.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 1981.
That places South Africa 12th out of 184 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.5% | — |
| 1981 | 10.5% | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 10.8% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 10.8% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 11.1% | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 12.2% | +10.2% |
| 1986 | 11.7% | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 12.0% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 12.2% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 12.8% | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 12.0% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 12.6% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 12.1% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 12.6% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 14.7% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 13.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 13.6% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 14.0% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 14.0% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 13.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 12.9% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | +13.7% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 14.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.7%, 2.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 14.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.7%, 3.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.3% | 10.5% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 11.8% | 12.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 12.9% | 11.8% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 12.4% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.9% | 14.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp in South Africa?
- Taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp in South Africa was 14.9% in 2022, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2022.
- What is the lowest taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 184 countries with data for 2022.
- Is taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations as share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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 incomes of individuals and corporations as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Tax revenue on incomes, profits and capital gains divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.