Tax to GDP ratios

The tax to GDP ratio in Ireland declined from 31.0% in 2000 to 27.6% in 2002 and then rose to a peak of 31.5% by 2006.  It subsequently declined to 27.6% in 2010 before rising slightly in 2011.   It was below the OECD average for the whole period and in 2010 it was fully 6 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 Ireland are:

• Revenue from personal and corporate income taxes fell from 13.1% of GDP in 2000 to 10.0% by 2010 when it was below the OECD average of 11.3%.

• The tax ratio for Social security contributions rose from 4.3% of GDP in 2000 to 5.8% in 2010 when it was well below the OECD average of 9.5%.

• The tax ratio for Taxes on goods and services fell from 11.6% of GDP in 2000 to 10.2% in 2010 when it was below the OECD average of 11.0%.

• Property tax revenues were 1.5% of GDP in 2010, below the OECD average of 1.9%.

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

• Ireland has not provided data for 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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