Belgium vs Japan: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP

Belgium
3.3%
in 2023
Japan
3.4%
in 2023
Belgium rank
7th
Japan rank
6th

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP over time

  • Belgium
  • Japan
0123200020112023

How they compare

Japan currently reports 3.4% against 3.3% in Belgium, a difference of 0.1%.

That makes Japan's figure about 1.1 times Belgium's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Japan ahead.

Belgium ranks 7th and Japan ranks 6th of 121 countries.

Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Belgium Japan Difference Ahead
2000s 1.9% 3.1% 1.2% Japan
2010s 2.5% 3.2% 0.7% Japan
2020s 3.3% 3.3% 0.0% Japan

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp, Belgium or Japan?
Japan, at 3.4% against 3.3% in Belgium as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp between Belgium and Japan?
0.1%, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Japan?
24 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
How do Belgium and Japan rank globally for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Belgium ranks 7th and Japan ranks 6th of 121 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Belgium vs Japan: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/belgium/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
143 places, 2,753 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed