Countries by Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, all products (%)
The Bahamas tops the 2022 global ranking for applied tariff rates with a simple mean of 26.31%, more than 500 times the rate recorded by Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, and Macao SAR, which each register at or near 0%. The 186-country dataset spans a range of 26.31 percentage points, from open-border territories to heavily protected markets. That spread reflects the wide variation in how countries structure import costs across all traded goods.
Ranking 2022
Values shown in %.
Analysis
This metric measures the simple mean applied tariff rate across all products subject to tariffs, expressed as a percentage. The World Bank defines it as follows: 'Simple mean applied tariff is the unweighted average of effectively applied rates for all products subject to tariffs calculated for all traded goods. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups. Effectively applied tariff rates' are used rather than bound rates, meaning the data reflect what importers actually pay. The indicator code is TM.TAX.MRCH.SM.AR.ZS, sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators for data year 2022. Coverage includes 186 countries, with 96.8% of entries drawn from data within the last seven years and 100% classified as official data. The dataset contains 13 extreme outliers at the 3-sigma threshold, and the value range spans 0.00% to 26.31%, a spread of approximately 999%.
The top of the ranking is dominated by small island economies and sub-Saharan African nations. The Bahamas ranks 1st at 26.31%, followed by the Cayman Islands at 22.79% (rank 2) and Bermuda at 22.29% (rank 3). Among larger economies, Equatorial Guinea ranks 4th at 19.97%, and Ethiopia ranks 11th at 18.49%. Several Central and West African nations cluster between ranks 5 and 12, including the Central African Republic (19.34%), Congo Rep. (19.20%), Cameroon (18.85%), Gabon (18.83%), and Chad (18.55%). Brazil is the highest-ranked major emerging economy at rank 24 with 13.29%, while India appears at rank 59 with 10.06%.
The middle of the ranking includes a broad mix of economies. The United States ranks 133rd at 2.72%, and China ranks 106th at 5.36%. A notable anomaly appears at ranks 144 through 169, where all 26 European Union member states in the dataset record an identical rate of 1.95%, reflecting their common external tariff. Canada ranks 173rd at 1.83%, just below Montenegro (1.88%, rank 171) and Seychelles (1.91%, rank 170). At the bottom, Albania ranks 180th at 0.57%, Georgia ranks 181st at 0.40%, and Brunei Darussalam ranks 182nd at 0.18%. Singapore ranks 183rd at 0.05%, while Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Sudan each record 0.00% and share rank 184.
This metric has notable limitations. As an unweighted simple mean, it does not account for trade volumes, so a high tariff on a rarely imported good carries the same weight as one on a heavily traded product. The metric also does not capture non-tariff barriers, quotas, or other trade restrictions that may significantly affect effective market access. Data consistency for the latest year (2022) covers only 76.9% of the 186 countries, meaning many values are carried forward from earlier years. Sudan's 0.00% rate at rank 184 may reflect data gaps rather than a confirmed policy position. The 13 extreme outliers identified at the 3-sigma level, primarily at the top of the ranking, should be interpreted with additional caution.
Methodology
Data are drawn from the World Bank World Development Indicators, indicator code TM.TAX.MRCH.SM.AR.ZS, for data year 2022. The metric is defined as: 'Simple mean applied tariff is the unweighted average of effectively applied rates for all products subject to tariffs calculated for all traded goods. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups. Effectively applied tariff rates' are used in place of bound rates. The ranking covers 186 countries, exceeding the 80-country coverage threshold. Of these, 96.8% have data from the last seven years, and 100% of datapoints are classified as official quality. The dataset identifies 13 extreme outliers at the 3-sigma threshold. The value range runs from 0.00% to 26.31%, a spread of approximately 999%. Average year-over-year change is 13.8%, well within the 50% volatility threshold. Data consistency for the reference year 2022 stands at 76.9%, meaning a portion of country values derive from prior years.