Tax to GDP ratios

The tax to GDP ratio in New Zealand was 33.2% in 2000 moving up to 36.6% in 2005 before declining to 31.5% in 2010 with a slight increase in 2011.  It was below the OECD average at both the beginning and end of the period but above it between 2004 and 2006.  The 2010 figure of 31.5% was 2 percentage points below the OECD measure of 33.8%.

Figure 1: Tax revenue as percentage of GDP 2000 to latest available data

Tax structures

The main observations for New Zealand are:

• Revenue from personal and corporate income taxes was 19.9% of GDP in 2000 and 16.8% in 2011.  The 2010 figure of 16.9% was well above the OECD average of 11.3%.

• There are no social security contributions or payroll taxes in New Zealand.

• The tax ratio for Taxes on goods and services increased from 11.5% in 2000 to 12.7% in 2011 and at 12.5% in 2010 was above the OECD average of 11.0%.

• Property tax revenues were 2.1% of GDP in 2010, 10% above the OECD average of 1.9%.

Figure 2: Tax revenue main headings as percentage of GDP, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2011 

• OECD averages are not available for 2011 as 5 OECD countries have not provided data for that year.
• More comparative information about OECD member countries is contained in the tables linked within the following webpages:
  • Tax revenue trends: tax ratios changes between 2007 and 2011
  • Tax revenue trends: tax ratios changes between 1965 and 2010
  • Tax structures: latest position (2010)
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