Top 10 African countries with the highest personal income tax rates

Personal income tax rate refers to the percentage of an individual’s income that is paid as tax to the government, this vary significantly across African countries. While some countries have a relatively low tax rate, others have a much higher rate.

High personal income tax can have a profound impact on workers, affecting their take-home pay, motivation, and overall well-being.

A high PIT rate reduces a worker’s take-home pay as a significant portion of their income is deducted as tax, workers are left with less money to spend on goods and services, save for retirement, or invest in their future.

For governments, PIT is a channel of income generation which is used to fund public goods and services, infrastructure, and social programs.

In Africa, foreign workers are also subject to PIT, but certain countries have adopted tax-friendly measures, including lower PIT rates or exemptions, to attract foreign talent and investment, promoting economic prosperity.

The calculation of personal income tax across countries is a complex process that is influenced by a multitude of factors.

According to Trading Economics, the following African countries have the highest Personal Income tax rates in the continent as at 2024.