The overall tax-to-GDP ratio, that is, the sum of taxes and net social contributions as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP), stood at 40.4% for the EU in 2024, which is up from 39.9% in 2023. In the euro area, the ratio of tax-to-GDP had also risen from 40.5% in 2023 to 40.9% in 2024.

In absolute terms, in 2024, revenue from taxes and social contributions grew by 387 billion euros in the EU as compared with 2023, to reach 7,281 euros.

This is based on data on taxation published by Eurostat today. This article presents some of the results of the more detailed article on Statistics explained on tax revenue statistics.

The highest tax to GDP ratios are in Denmark, France, and Belgium

The tax-to-GDP ratio has varied considerably between EU countries in 2024, with the highest shares of taxes and social contributions as a percentage of GDP being registered in Denmark (45.8%), France (45.3%), and Belgium (45.1%).

At the other end of the scale, it found Ireland (22.4%), Romania (28.8%), and Malta (29.3%) had the lowest ratios. 

Largest increases in tax-to-GDP ratios in Malnad, Latvia, and Slovenia

In 2024, compared with 2023, the tax-to-GDP rate has risen in 22 EU countries, with the largest increases occurring in Malta (from 26.7% in 2023 to 29.3% in 2024), Latvia (from 33.0% in 2023 up to 35.5% in 2024), and Slovenia (from 36.8% in 2023 up to 38.8% in 2024).

In contrast, there were reductions in the tax-to-GDP ratio in 5 EU countries, of between -0.5 and -0.1 percentage points.