ST · AfricaKR · Asia
São Tomé and Príncipe vs South Korea: tax rates compared
Between the two, South Korea's income tax rate (49.5%) tops São Tomé and Príncipe's (25%) by 24.5pp. The 200-country average is 28%: São Tomé and Príncipe sits below it, South Korea sits above it. São Tomé and Príncipe's figure is dated 2009-10-08 and South Korea's 2025-01-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Verified data covers four of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | ST | KR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 25% | 49.5% | KR +24.5 pplargest gap |
| Corporate Tax | 25% | 26.4% | KR +1.4 pp |
| VAT | 15% | 10% | ST +5 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 15% | 0% | ST +15 pp |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 25% | Source: Diário da República (official gazette), São Tomé e Príncipe — Lei n.º 11/2009, Código do Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares (IRS), Art. 66 · as of 2009-10-08 |
| South Korea | 49.5% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −24.5 pp | South Korea higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 25% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| South Korea | 26.4% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −1.4 pp | South Korea higher |
Between the two, South Korea's corporate tax rate (26.4%) tops São Tomé and Príncipe's (25%) by 1.4pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 15% | Source: Ministério do Planeamento, Finanças e Economia Azul (São Tomé e Príncipe) — Manual do IVA 2023 · as of 2023-06-01 |
| South Korea | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| Difference | +5 pp | São Tomé and Príncipe higher |
Between the two, São Tomé and Príncipe's VAT rate (15%) tops South Korea's (10%) by 5pp. The 181-country average is 15%: São Tomé and Príncipe matches the world average, South Korea sits below it. São Tomé and Príncipe's figure is dated 2023-06-01 and South Korea's 2026-06-04, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 15% | Source: Diário da República (official gazette), São Tomé e Príncipe — Lei n.º 11/2009, Código do Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares (IRS), Articles 27, 69 and 70 · as of 2009-10-08 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| Difference | +15 pp | São Tomé and Príncipe higher |
Between the two, São Tomé and Príncipe's capital gains tax rate (15%) tops South Korea's (0%) by 15pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: São Tomé and Príncipe sits above it, South Korea sits below it. São Tomé and Príncipe's figure is dated 2009-10-08 and South Korea's 2026-07-02, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Not covered for both countries yet: Crypto Tax, Wealth Tax.