GlobalTaxBook

Highest VAT / GST countries

The highest standard VAT/GST rate among the countries in GlobalTaxBook is Hungary at 27%, followed by Finland (25.5%) and Sweden (25%). The top of the table is almost entirely European, where VAT is the main consumption tax. These are standard rates; reduced rates apply to many essentials. Not tax advice.

Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. Data as of June 2026.

VAT/GST rates ranked, highest first

#CountryStandard VAT/GSTTop income taxRegion
1Hungary27%15%Europe
2Finland25.5%52%Europe
3Sweden25%52%Europe
4Norway25%39.7%Europe
5Denmark25%57%Europe
6Croatia25%36%Europe
7Iceland24%31.35%Europe
8Greece24%44%Europe
9Estonia24%22%Europe
10Ireland23%40%Europe
11Portugal23%48%Europe
12Poland23%32%Europe
13Slovakia23%35%Europe
14Italy22%43%Europe
15Slovenia22%50%Europe
16Uruguay22%36%South America
17Spain21%47%Europe
18Netherlands21%49.5%Europe
19Belgium21%50%Europe
20Czech Republic21%23%Europe
21Latvia21%36%Europe
22Lithuania21%32%Europe
23Romania21%10%Europe
24Argentina21%35%South America
25United Kingdom20%45%Europe
26France20%45%Europe
27Austria20%55%Europe
28Bulgaria20%10%Europe
29Serbia20%20%Europe
30Ukraine20%18%Europe
31Turkey20%40%Europe
32Russia20%22%Europe
33Monaco20%0% (no personal income tax)Europe
34Isle of Man20%21%Europe
35Armenia20%20%Asia
36Morocco20%37%Africa
37Germany19%45%Europe
38Cyprus19%35%Europe
39Chile19%40%South America
40Colombia19%39%South America
41Malta18%35%Europe
42Israel18%50%Middle East
43India18%42.744%Asia
44Pakistan18%45%Asia
45Georgia18%20%Asia
46Tanzania18%30%Africa
47Peru18%30%South America
48Barbados17.5%28.5%Caribbean
49Luxembourg17%42%Europe
50Brazil17%27.5%South America
51Mexico16%35%North America
52Jordan16%30%Middle East
53Kazakhstan16%15%Asia
54Kenya16%35%Africa
55Saudi Arabia15%0% (no personal income tax)Middle East
56Bangladesh15%30%Asia
57New Zealand15%39%Oceania
58South Africa15%45%Africa
59Ghana15%35%Africa
60Mauritius15%20%Africa
61Egypt14%27.5%Africa
62China13%45%Asia
63Costa Rica13%25%North America
64Indonesia12%35%Asia
65Philippines12%35%Asia
66Puerto Rico11.5%33%Caribbean
67Lebanon11%25%Middle East
68Bahrain10%0% (no personal income tax)Middle East
69Japan10%45%Asia
70South Korea10%45%Asia
71Malaysia10%30%Asia
72Vietnam10%35%Asia
73Australia10%45%Oceania
74Paraguay10%10%South America
75Bahamas10%0% (no personal income tax)Caribbean
76Singapore9%24%Asia
77Switzerland8.1%11.5%Europe
78Liechtenstein8.1%22.4%Europe
79Nigeria7.5%25%Africa
80Thailand7%35%Asia
81Panama7%25%North America
82Canada5%33%North America
83Jersey5%20%Europe
84United Arab Emirates5%0% (no personal income tax)Middle East
85Oman5%5%Middle East
86Taiwan5%40%Asia
87Andorra4.5%10%Europe

Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. Data as of June 2026.

VAT is only part of the burden

A high VAT rate can sit alongside a low or high income tax — Hungary pairs the world's top VAT (27%) with a flat 15% income tax, for example. To see the full mix, read each country's page or compare the lowest-VAT and highest-income-tax rankings.

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest VAT?

Hungary has the highest standard VAT/GST rate in GlobalTaxBook at 27%, followed by Finland (25.5%) and Sweden (25%). High-VAT countries are concentrated in Europe, where VAT funds a large share of government revenue.

Why is VAT so high in Europe?

VAT is the European Union's main consumption tax and a major revenue source; EU rules set a minimum standard rate of 15%, and most members sit between 19% and 27%. The high rates fund extensive public services and partly offset income-tax thresholds.

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Last updated: 2026-06-20