Tax to GDP ratios

The tax to GDP ratio in Italy declined from 42.0% in 2000 to 40.6% in 2005 before rising to 43.2% in 2007 and then declining slightly to 42.9% by 2011.  Italy is in the upper rank of OECD countries in respect to the ratio and with a measure of 42.9% of GDP in 2010, it was 9 percentage points above the OECD average of 33.8%.

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

Tax structures

The main observations for Italy are:

• Revenue from personal and corporate income taxes was 13.9% of GDP in 2000 and 13.8% in 2011.  In 2010, the measure was 14.1% of GDP, above the OECD average of 11.3%.

• The tax ratio for Social security contributions rose from 12.0% in 2000 to 13.4% in 2010 and 2011, well above the OECD average of 9.5%.

• The tax ratio for Taxes on goods and services was stable at 11-12% of GDP over the period and at 11.1% in 2010 was only slightly above the OECD average of 11.0%.

• Property tax revenues were 2.2% of GDP in 2010, more than 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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