Jamaica Tax Revenue
Tax revenue as % of GDP GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
Jamaica's tax revenue was 23.67% in 2020, ranked 122nd globally. This represents a 7.3% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1988–2020.
Overview
Jamaica's tax revenue stood at 23.67% in 2020, a decline of +1.85% from 2019. Jamaica ranked 122nd globally.
Jamaica’s tax revenue as a share of GDP has shown modest variation over the 33‑year span from 1988 to 2020, moving from 23.48 % in the earliest year to 23.67 % in the latest year, placing the country 122nd globally. The series reached its highest point in 2019 at 25.53 %, while the low of 19.91 % occurred in 1997, indicating that the recent level remains close to the long‑run average rather than a new peak. Compared with peers of similar ranking, South Africa recorded 23.26 % and the Netherlands 23.92 % in the same period, suggesting that Jamaica’s tax effort is broadly comparable to other middle‑income economies but lags behind the more tax‑intensive Netherlands. The persistence of a narrow band around the mid‑20s suggests limited fiscal space for major revenue expansion without structural reforms. Continued efforts to broaden the tax base and improve compliance could lift the ratio modestly, while any slowdown in economic growth would likely keep the trajectory flat.
Data & projection
| Year | Tax Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 23.67% | −1.85% | #122 |
| 2019 | 25.53% | +0.53% | #127 |
| 2018 | 24.99% | +0.39% | #124 |
| 2017 | 24.60% | +0.01% | #129 |
| 2016 | 24.59% | +1.06% | #130 |
| 2015 | 23.53% | −0.52% | #126 |
| 2014 | 24.05% | +0.04% | #122 |
| 2013 | 24.01% | −0.32% | #115 |
| 2012 | 24.33% | +0.97% | #116 |
| 2011 | 23.36% | −0.91% | #114 |
| 2010 | 24.28% | −0.68% | #114 |
| 2009 | 24.96% | +0.27% | #111 |
| 2008 | 24.68% | −0.10% | #102 |
| 2007 | 24.79% | +0.77% | #90 |
| 2006 | 24.01% | +0.80% | #87 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Jamaica matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw tax revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Jamaica's tax revenue was 23.67% in 2020. Ranked 122nd globally. This represents a 7.3% decrease from the previous year.
Jamaica's tax revenue peaked at 25.53% in 2019.
The lowest tax revenue in Jamaica was 19.91% in 1997.
Jamaica ranks 122nd globally in tax revenue as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The tax revenue of Jamaica in 2020 was 23.67%. This ranks 122nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_jamaica_tax-revenue,
title = {Jamaica Tax Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/jamaica/tax-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}