Iraq Tax Revenue to GDP

Central government tax revenue as a percentage of GDP.

Tax Revenue to GDP in Iraq decreased to 1.34 percent of GDP in 2019 from 1.98 percent of GDP in 2018.

1.3%
▼ −0.6 pp2019 · previous 2.0%Annual · percent of GDP · Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators

Iraq Tax Revenue to GDP — History

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Iraq Tax Revenue to GDP — analysis in simple words

Latest reading

Tax Revenue to GDP in Iraq decreased to 1.34 percent of GDP in 2019 from 1.98 percent of GDP in 2018.

Over the last three years it rose once and fell twice.

Recent trend

A year earlier (2018) it was 2.0%, so the latest figure is 0.6 percentage points lower.

Over the past five years the average was 1.9%, with a range from 1.3% to 2.7%. The latest value is below that five-year average.

Historical context

This data series starts in 2014 and has 6 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 33% of all of them.

The highest value on record is 2.7% (2017) and the lowest is 0.9% (2014). The long-run average is 1.7%.

Compared with other countries

Among 142 economies with recent data, Iraq ranks 141st from the top. The median across all these economies is 17.0%, so Iraq is below the typical country.

Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (9 economies with data) it ranks 8th; the regional median is 11.1%.

Statistics

Latest
1.3%2019
Previous
2.0%
5-year average
1.9%
Long-run average
1.7%since 2014
All-time high
2.7%2017
All-time low
0.9%2014
Observations
6Annual

Recent Data

PeriodValueChange
20191.3%▼ −0.6 pp
20182.0%▼ −0.7 pp
20172.7%▲ +0.6 pp
20162.1%▲ +0.8 pp
20151.3%▲ +0.4 pp
20140.9%

Tax Revenue to GDP — Iraq vs Peers

Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Iraq highlighted.

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More Iraq indicators

Understanding Tax Revenue to GDP — a simple guide

What it measures

Central government tax revenue as a percentage of GDP.

How it is calculated

Central government tax collections ÷ GDP × 100.

Simple example

12% means central taxes equal 12% of GDP.

▲ When it is high or rising

Strong tax collection capacity.

▼ When it is low or falling

Weaker collection or a large informal economy.

Why it matters for the economy and markets

The tax-to-GDP ratio indicates fiscal capacity and the efficiency of tax collection.

How to read it

It excludes state/local taxes in federal countries, so it can understate total taxation.

Data source

World Bank — World Development Indicators (series GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), annual data from 2014 to 2019. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.

How to use the chart

Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current tax revenue to gdp of Iraq?
Iraq tax revenue to gdp was 1.3% in 2019, compared with 2.0% in the previous period, according to World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the highest and lowest tax revenue to gdp of Iraq?
Since 2014, the highest reading was 2.7% (2017) and the lowest was 0.9% (2014).
What does tax revenue to gdp measure?
Central government tax revenue as a percentage of GDP.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.