Denmark taxes most; oil states the least (opens the source in a new tab)
- Denmark collects 45.3% of GDP in tax, over twice the US’s 19.5%; India 18.1%.
- Seven of the top 10 are in Europe; oil-rich Libya (1.2%) and Kuwait (1.4%) are lowest.
- US federal spending is projected at 23.3% of GDP in 2026, against revenue of 17.5%.
- 45.3%
- Denmark, highest
- 19.5%
- United States
- 18.1%
- India
Why it matters A low tax take can mean bigger private bills, or bigger deficits.
Other side Tax share isn’t a quality score: oil wealth and weak collection both look ‘low’. What do citizens get for what they pay?