Trinidad and Tobago Tax Revenue
Tax revenue as % of GDP GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
Trinidad and Tobago's tax revenue was 16.76% in 2019, ranked 70th globally. This represents a 15.7% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1976–2019.
Overview
Trinidad and Tobago's tax revenue stood at 16.76% in 2019, a decline of +3.12% from 2018. Trinidad and Tobago ranked 70th globally.
Trinidad and Tobago’s tax revenue as a share of GDP fell dramatically from an early‑period high of 35.65 % in 1980 to a historic low of 16.76 % in 2019, placing the country 70th globally in that year. The 43‑year decline reflects a shift from a resource‑rich, oil‑driven fiscal structure toward a more diversified but less tax‑intensive economy, with revenue‑raising capacity eroding as oil royalties waned and informal employment expanded. Over the 25‑year coverage window, the average tax‑to‑GDP ratio hovered near the mid‑teens, closely matching peers such as Zambia (16.68 %) and Mongolia (16.85 %). The all‑time trough in 2019 underscores the vulnerability of a narrow tax base and limited progress in broadening fiscal measures. Strengthening administration, expanding value‑added tax coverage, and improving compliance could arrest the downward trajectory, while a resurgence in commodity prices or successful diversification reforms might lift the ratio in the medium term.
Data & projection
| Year | Tax Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 16.76% | −3.12% | #70 |
| 2018 | 19.88% | +1.47% | #92 |
| 2017 | 18.40% | −2.99% | #92 |
| 2016 | 21.40% | −3.31% | #105 |
| 2015 | 24.71% | −0.32% | #130 |
| 2014 | 25.03% | +0.77% | #129 |
| 2013 | 24.26% | −0.70% | #116 |
| 2012 | 24.96% | −0.68% | #120 |
| 2011 | 25.64% | −0.60% | #122 |
| 2010 | 26.24% | −0.58% | #121 |
| 2009 | 26.83% | −2.66% | #116 |
| 2008 | 29.49% | +3.49% | #113 |
| 2007 | 26.00% | −4.26% | #100 |
| 2006 | 30.26% | +3.88% | #105 |
| 2005 | 26.38% | +4.35% | #99 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Trinidad and Tobago matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2014. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw tax revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Trinidad and Tobago's tax revenue was 16.76% in 2019. Ranked 70th globally. This represents a 15.7% decrease from the previous year.
Trinidad and Tobago's tax revenue peaked at 35.65% in 1980.
The lowest tax revenue in Trinidad and Tobago was 16.76% in 2019.
Trinidad and Tobago ranks 70th 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 Trinidad and Tobago in 2019 was 16.76%. This ranks 70th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_trinidad-and-tobago_tax-revenue,
title = {Trinidad and Tobago Tax Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/trinidad-and-tobago/tax-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}