In 2023, the untaxed shadow economy accounted for 19.3 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Russia's shadow economy is estimated to be worth about 13.1 percent of its GDP, while Nigeria's shadow economy represented 30 percent of its GDP.

The average for 2015 based on 158 countries was 27.78 percent. The highest value was in Zimbabwe: 67 percent and the lowest value was in Switzerland: 6.94 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2015. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This statistic shows the value of the underground economy in Canada from 2000 to 2013, as a proportion of gross domestic product. In 2013, the underground economy in Canada was valued at 2.4 percent of Canada's GDP.

In 2023, the shadow economy's value as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) was lower in high-income countries than in low-income countries. The shadow economy accounted for *** percent of GDP in high-income countries.

Lebanon: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 29.16 percent, an increase from 29.06 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Lebanon from 1991 to 2015 is 31.58 percent. The minimum value, 24.63 percent, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 36.68 percent was recorded in 1991.

Dominican Republic: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 27.97 percent, an increase from 27.6 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Dominican Republic from 1991 to 2015 is 32.37 percent. The minimum value, 27.6 percent, was reached in 2014 while the maximum of 35.85 percent was recorded in 1992.

Turkey: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 27.43 percent, a decline from 27.45 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1991 to 2015 is 31.38 percent. The minimum value, 27.33 percent, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 35.99 percent was recorded in 1991.

In 2023, the untaxed shadow economy accounted for 19.3 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). In Africa, Sierra Leone's shadow economy was the largest of the region and was estimated to be worth about 64.5 percent of its GDP, while Egypt's shadow economy represented 21 percent of its GDP.

For a long time, governments of all countries have attached great importance to the development of underground economic activities. The reason is that the characteristics of the underground economy are hidden and the information disclosure is not sufficient, which not only distorts the economic data indicators, but more importantly, the existence of the underground economy has led to the loss of a large amount of tax base, affecting the long-term economic development of the country. Whether raising the tax burden rate boosts the tax revenue or expand the scale of the underground economy. In this paper, we use Kuznet Tax Curve (KTC) method to analyze the relationship between GDP and TTR/DTR/ITR. We find that the tax base erosion rate of indirect tax is lower than that of direct tax. In addition, we explore the relationship among economic growth, tax rate and tax revenue and adopt SUR-OLS method and Threshold approach to estimate the response of economic growth on total tax revenue(TTR), direct tax revenue(DTR) and indirect tax revenue (ITR) in Taiwan from 1991-2020. Our empirical research shows that when DTR tax rates are between 12.59% and 13%, an increase in income leads to a decrease, not an increase, in DTR, leading to severe tax base erosion. That is, the relationship between GDP and DTR presents a N-shaped relationship. However, ITR does not exist any tax rate threshold effect. Obviously, with the increase of GDP, ITR also increases. This reflects that the difference of tax structure between direct tax and indirect tax plays a key role in the relationship between tax rate and tax base erosion.

The United Arab Emirates: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 24.26 percent, an increase from 22.02 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for the United Arab Emirates from 1991 to 2015 is 26.54 percent. The minimum value, 22.02 percent, was reached in 2014 while the maximum of 28.81 percent was recorded in 2006.

In 2023, the region comprising the United States and Canada had the lowest percentage of the shadow economy. Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, the shadow economy accounted for around ** percent of GDP, and in Southern Africa, it accounted for ** percent.

Papua New Guinea: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 35.16 percent, an increase from 23.25 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Papua New Guinea from 1991 to 2015 is 34.01 percent. The minimum value, 23.25 percent, was reached in 2014 while the maximum of 41.96 percent was recorded in 1991.

Jordan: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 15.16 percent, an increase from 14.2 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Jordan from 1991 to 2015 is 17.38 percent. The minimum value, 13.44 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 21.12 percent was recorded in 1991.

Ireland: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 9.58 percent, a decline from 9.93 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1991 to 2015 is 13.89 percent. The minimum value, 9.58 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 18.36 percent was recorded in 1991.

Bahrain: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 16.63 percent, a decline from 19.21 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Bahrain from 1991 to 2015 is 19.34 percent. The minimum value, 16.63 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 22.49 percent was recorded in 1991.

Fiji: Shadow economy, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2015 is 25.37 percent, a decline from 28.97 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 27.78 percent, based on data from 158 countries. Historically, the average for Fiji from 1991 to 2015 is 32.46 percent. The minimum value, 25.37 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 38.88 percent was recorded in 1991.

In 2023, the untaxed shadow economy accounted for 19.3 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). In Latin American. Bolivia's shadow economy was the largest of the region and was estimated to be worth about 32.1 percent of its GDP, while Mexico's shadow economy represented 18 percent of its GDP.

The share of the non-observed economy in creating GDP in Poland (including the hidden economy and illegal activity) amounted to *** percent in 2023, decreasing from the previous period. In that period, the share of illegal activity was *** percent.

The world's shadow economy has been shrinking. In 2000, it accounted for ** percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). By 2023, that figure had dropped to approximately **** percent.

In 2023, Morocco had the largest share of the shadow economy relative to its gross domestic product in North Africa, accounting for ** percent, followed by neighboring Algeria with **** percent. Egypt and Tunisia each reported a shadow economy share of **** percent. However, Egypt recorded the highest value of the shadow economy in the region that year. (Link: 1620644)