ZA · AfricaSE · Europe
South Africa vs Sweden: tax rates compared
Between the two, Sweden's income tax rate (52.4%) tops South Africa's (45%) by 7.4pp. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. South Africa's figure is dated 2026-03-01 and Sweden's 2025-01-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Verified data covers six of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | ZA | SE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 45% | 52.4% | SE +7.4 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 27% | 20.6% | ZA +6.4 pp |
| VAT | 15% | 25% | SE +10 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 18% | 30% | SE +12 pplargest gap |
| Crypto Tax | 18% | 30% | SE +12 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 45% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01 |
| Sweden | 52.4% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −7.4 pp | Sweden higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 27% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Sweden | 20.6% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +6.4 pp | South Africa higher |
Between the two, South Africa's corporate tax rate (27%) tops Sweden's (20.6%) by 6.4pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: South Africa sits above it, Sweden sits below it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 15% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Sweden | 25% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Sweden (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-17 |
| Difference | −10 pp | Sweden higher |
Between the two, Sweden's VAT rate (25%) tops South Africa's (15%) by 10pp. The 181-country average is 15%: South Africa matches the world average, Sweden sits above it. South Africa's figure is dated 2026-05-29 and Sweden's 2025-12-17, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 18% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Sweden | 30% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Sweden (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-02-09 |
| Difference | −12 pp | Sweden higher |
Between the two, Sweden's capital gains tax rate (30%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 12pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 18% | Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Sweden | 30% | Source: Skatteverket — Kryptovalutor · as of 2026-06-24 |
| Difference | −12 pp | Sweden higher |
Between the two, Sweden's crypto tax rate (30%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 12pp. The 88-country average is 13%: both sit above it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Sweden | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Sweden (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-02-09 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
There's no gap here — South Africa and Sweden both post a wealth tax rate of 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.