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

Japan
3.4%
in 2023
Sweden
3.6%
in 2023
Japan rank
6th
Sweden rank
4th

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP over time

  • Japan
  • Sweden
01234200020112023

How they compare

Sweden currently reports 3.6% against 3.4% in Japan, a difference of 0.2%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 22 shared years of data; in 2001 it was Sweden ahead.

Japan ranks 6th and Sweden ranks 4th of 121 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Japan Sweden Difference Ahead
2000s 3.1% 3.5% 0.3% Sweden
2010s 3.2% 3.3% 0.1% Sweden
2020s 3.3% 3.5% 0.2% Sweden

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp, Japan or Sweden?
Sweden, at 3.6% against 3.4% in Japan as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp between Japan and Sweden?
0.2%, with Sweden ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and Sweden?
22 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2023.
How do Japan and Sweden rank globally for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Japan ranks 6th and Sweden ranks 4th 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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Japan vs Sweden: 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/japan/sweden/

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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