Latvia, Lithuania posted some of EU's lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in 2010

The overall tax-to-GDP ratio, which includes all taxes and social insurance payments, was 27.3% in Latvia in 2010, the third lowest across the European Union, according to the latest data from the EU's statistical office Eurostat.

In 2010, the lowest tax-to-GDP ratio was in Lithuania – 27.1%, followed by Romania – 27.2%, Latvia, Bulgaria – 27.4%, and Slovakia – 28.1%.

Estonia's overall tax-to-GDP ratio was 34.2%, being in the middle of the list.

The overall tax-to-GDP ratio in the EU27 was 38.4% in 2010, reducing 2% from 2000, when it stood at 40.4%.

The highest tax-to-GDP ratios were in Denmark – 47.6%, Sweden – 45,8%, Belgium – 43.9%.

Toomas Hõbemägibbnatchararipaev.ee