The table depicts the amount of tax, expressed as a % of GDP, recorded in five countries from 1975 to 2005.
Overall, the amount of tax collected in the five countries had risen consistently throughout the years, with Sweden hitting an all-time high in tax collection. Remarkably, the figure for Turkey initially decreased in 1985 and then grew sharply in 2005.
In 1975, Sweden had the highest tax collection at 46%, followed by the USA at 25.1% and Korea, Japan and Turkey, all around 15%. Over the next 30 years, the figure for Sweden recorded a significant rise, reaching 70.1% in 2005. In comparison, the USA’s tax rate hovered around 27.4% in 2005, indicating a modest increase.
Regarding other countries, in 1975, the tax collection rate of Japan, Korea and Turkey ranged from 15.1% to 16.4%, which was a similar rate. 32.1% of Japan’s tax rate had been registered at 32.1%, 4% higher than that of Korea and Turkey in 2005, with 27.3% and 27.4%, respectively. However, during the period, Turkey saw a downward trajectory in 1985, which decreased from 16.4% to 15% and the increasing trend mentioned above in 2005, whereas the others experienced consistent growth.
