Eastern Asia vs Republic of Korea: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP

Eastern Asia
2.8%
in 2023
Republic of Korea
4.9%
in 2023
Eastern Asia rank
3rd
Republic of Korea rank
2nd

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP over time

  • Eastern Asia
  • Republic of Korea
012345200020112023

How they compare

Republic of Korea currently reports 4.9% against 2.8% in Eastern Asia, a difference of 2.1%.

That makes Republic of Korea's figure about 1.7 times Eastern Asia's.

Across all 24 years both countries report, Republic of Korea has been ahead every year.

Eastern Asia ranks 3rd and Republic of Korea ranks 2nd of 22 groups.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Eastern Asia Republic of Korea Difference Ahead
2000s 2.0% 2.5% 0.5% Republic of Korea
2010s 2.3% 3.8% 1.5% Republic of Korea
2020s 2.7% 4.7% 2.0% Republic of Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp, Eastern Asia or Republic of Korea?
Republic of Korea, at 4.9% against 2.8% in Eastern Asia as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp between Eastern Asia and Republic of Korea?
2.1%, with Republic of Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Eastern Asia and Republic of Korea?
24 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
How do Eastern Asia and Republic of Korea rank globally for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Eastern Asia ranks 3rd and Republic of Korea ranks 2nd of 22 groups.
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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Eastern Asia vs Republic of Korea: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/eastern-asia/republic-of-korea/

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About this data

Indicator
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%)
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