Myanmar Tax Revenue
Tax revenue as % of GDP GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
Myanmar's tax revenue was 6.02% in 2019, ranked 5th globally. This represents a 118.3% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1973–2019.
Overview
Myanmar's tax revenue stood at 6.02% in 2019, a rise of +3.26% from 2018. Myanmar ranked 5th globally.
Myanmar’s tax revenue as a share of GDP fell from 9.42 percent in 1973 to an all‑time trough of 2.00 percent in 2002, before rising modestly to 6.02 percent in 2019, placing the country fifth globally among the 41‑year series. The peak of 10.46 percent occurred in 1977, indicating that the early post‑independence fiscal structure was far more robust than the low point reached during the early 2000s, a period marked by political instability and limited tax administration capacity. By contrast, Saudi Arabia recorded 6.60 percent in the same year, while Bahrain’s figure stood at 2.88 percent, underscoring Myanmar’s relatively high collection rate among regional peers despite the long‑term decline. The modest recovery since the 2002 trough reflects gradual reforms and broadened tax bases, yet the gap to the 1977 peak remains sizable. Continued improvements in tax administration, diversification of the economy and enhanced compliance mechanisms could further lift the revenue ratio and sustain the upward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Tax Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6.02% | +3.26% | #5 |
| 2018 | 2.76% | −3.32% | #5 |
| 2017 | 6.08% | −1.10% | #8 |
| 2016 | 7.18% | +1.16% | #8 |
| 2015 | 6.01% | +0.17% | #7 |
| 2014 | 5.84% | +0.31% | #6 |
| 2013 | 5.53% | +1.01% | #4 |
| 2012 | 4.52% | +0.64% | #4 |
| 2005 | 3.88% | +0.61% | #2 |
| 2004 | 3.27% | +1.06% | #1 |
| 2003 | 2.21% | +0.21% | #1 |
| 2002 | 2.00% | −0.26% | #1 |
| 2001 | 2.26% | −0.71% | #1 |
| 2000 | 2.97% | +0.21% | #2 |
| 1999 | 2.75% | −0.77% | #2 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Myanmar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2009. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw tax revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Myanmar's tax revenue was 6.02% in 2019. Ranked 5th globally. This represents a 118.3% increase from the previous year.
Myanmar's tax revenue peaked at 10.46% in 1977.
The lowest tax revenue in Myanmar was 2.00% in 2002.
Myanmar ranks 5th 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 Myanmar in 2019 was 6.02%. This ranks 5th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_myanmar_tax-revenue,
title = {Myanmar Tax Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/myanmar/tax-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}