Iraq Tax Revenue
Tax revenue as % of GDP GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
Iraq's tax revenue was 1.34% in 2019, ranked 3rd globally. This represents a 32.2% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2014–2019.
Overview
Iraq's tax revenue stood at 1.34% in 2019, a decline of +0.64% from 2018. Iraq ranked 3rd globally.
Iraq’s tax revenue as a percentage of GDP stood at 1.34 in 2019, ranking it third globally according to World Bank data, a decline from its all-time peak of 2.69 in 2017. The country’s tax-to-GDP ratio has shown volatility over the six-year coverage period, beginning at a trough of 0.91 in 2014 before nearly tripling within three years, only to fall again by 2019. This fluctuation reflects both instability in domestic revenue mobilization and heavy reliance on oil exports, which can distort fiscal policy and tax collection efficiency. In comparison, Bahrain recorded a tax revenue ratio of 2.88 in 2019, surpassing Iraq despite similar regional economic structures, while the United Arab Emirates reported 0.94, indicating divergent fiscal strategies among peer economies. The low and inconsistent tax base in Iraq suggests limited institutional capacity to collect non-oil revenues and high dependence on volatile hydrocarbon income. Absent structural reforms to broaden the tax base, strengthen revenue administration, and reduce reliance on oil, Iraq’s tax revenue trajectory is likely to remain unstable and susceptible to external commodity shocks.
Data & projection
| Year | Tax Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.34% | −0.64% | #3 |
| 2018 | 1.98% | −0.70% | #4 |
| 2017 | 2.69% | +0.61% | #4 |
| 2016 | 2.08% | +0.76% | #3 |
| 2015 | 1.32% | +0.41% | #3 |
| 2014 | 0.91% | – | #3 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw tax revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iraq's tax revenue was 1.34% in 2019. Ranked 3rd globally. This represents a 32.2% decrease from the previous year.
Iraq's tax revenue peaked at 2.69% in 2017.
The lowest tax revenue in Iraq was 0.91% in 2014.
Iraq ranks 3rd globally in tax revenue as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The tax revenue of Iraq in 2019 was 1.34%. This ranks 3rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_tax-revenue,
title = {Iraq Tax Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/tax-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}