The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update

Technical Notes and Manuals, March 4, 2026

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The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update

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Bibliographic details

• Authors: Fayçal Sawadogo, Kiran Rimal, Maria Sarrabayrouse, Uzochukwu Alutu, Grace Ashley, Jia Chen
• Published: March 4, 2026
• Series: Technical Notes and Manuals
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229039314.005

Overview

• Title: The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update
• Authors: Fayçal Sawadogo, Kiran Rimal, Maria Sarrabayrouse, Uzochukwu Alutu, Grace Ashley, Jia Chen
• Date: March 4, 2026
• Purpose: Presents key updates and revenue development highlights of the 2026 version of the IMF's World Revenue Longitudinal Database (WoRLD), a comprehensive dataset tracking government revenue trends since the early 1980s using the classification of the Government Finance Statistics Manual.
• Intended users: Policymakers, researchers, and the public.

Key updates and coverage

• Country coverage: Data for 195 countries, including 191 IMF member countries.
• Time coverage: Extended to 2024.
• New country inclusions for 2026 publication: Aruba and Liechtenstein.
• Start of time series coverage: since the early 1980s (per dataset description).

Core features and data scope

• Classification framework: Government Finance Statistics Manual classification.
• Types of data and subject areas covered:
  • Economic and financial statistics
  • Expenditure
  • Government finance statistics
  • Public expenditure review
  • Revenue administration
  • Social security contributions
  • Tax allowances
  • Taxes
• Geographic and thematic keywords included: Africa, Asia and Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, Middle East, Middle East and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Hemisphere, World Revenue Longitudinal Database, IMF income group, IMF region, government finance statistics, IMF Library, nontax revenues, Public expenditure review, revenue development, Social security contributions, Tax allowances, tax revenues.

Use cases and access prompts

• Use cases:
  • Tracking evolution of the level and composition of revenues and tax revenues across countries and over time.
  • Comparative analysis across regions and IMF income groups.
  • Supporting revenue policy design, revenue administration reforms, and public expenditure reviews.
• Access channels noted on the page:
  • IMF eLibrary for full publication formats.
  • Options to download PDF, order print copy, and create citations.

Source: The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update, Technical Notes and Manuals No. 2026/005 (March 4, 2026).

Content in this bundle

• The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update
  • The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update (Markdown version)
  • The IMF’s World Revenue Longitudinal Database: 2026 Update (PDF)