Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and in South Africa
South Africa: Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and was 5,107 US dollars, PPP converted in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and in South Africa, 1983–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in US dollars, PPP converted.
Analysis
In 2023, gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and in South Africa stood at 5,107 US dollars, PPP converted.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and in South Africa peaked at 6,125 US dollars, PPP converted in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2,229 US dollars, PPP converted, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 30 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollars, PPP converted | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2,695 US dollars, PPP converted | — |
| 1985 | 2,897 US dollars, PPP converted | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 2,665 US dollars, PPP converted | -8.0% |
| 1989 | 2,635 US dollars, PPP converted | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 3,097 US dollars, PPP converted | +17.5% |
| 1993 | 2,229 US dollars, PPP converted | -28.0% |
| 1997 | 2,478 US dollars, PPP converted | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 3,327 US dollars, PPP converted | +34.2% |
| 2003 | 3,741 US dollars, PPP converted | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 4,202 US dollars, PPP converted | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 4,688 US dollars, PPP converted | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 5,161 US dollars, PPP converted | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 5,375 US dollars, PPP converted | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 5,630 US dollars, PPP converted | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 5,160 US dollars, PPP converted | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 4,700 US dollars, PPP converted | -8.9% |
| 2011 | 4,883 US dollars, PPP converted | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 5,014 US dollars, PPP converted | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 5,092 US dollars, PPP converted | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 5,526 US dollars, PPP converted | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 5,770 US dollars, PPP converted | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 5,955 US dollars, PPP converted | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 6,125 US dollars, PPP converted | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 5,595 US dollars, PPP converted | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 5,014 US dollars, PPP converted | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 4,627 US dollars, PPP converted | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 4,951 US dollars, PPP converted | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 5,041 US dollars, PPP converted | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 5,107 US dollars, PPP converted | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,723 US dollars, PPP converted | 2,635 US dollars, PPP converted | 2,897 US dollars, PPP converted | 4 |
| 1990s | 2,601 US dollars, PPP converted | 2,229 US dollars, PPP converted | 3,097 US dollars, PPP converted | 3 |
| 2000s | 4,661 US dollars, PPP converted | 3,327 US dollars, PPP converted | 5,630 US dollars, PPP converted | 8 |
| 2010s | 5,367 US dollars, PPP converted | 4,700 US dollars, PPP converted | 6,125 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,931 US dollars, PPP converted | 4,627 US dollars, PPP converted | 5,107 US dollars, PPP converted | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 19 Ireland 6,153 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 20 Greece 5,542 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 21 Hungary 5,269 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 23 Czechia 4,712 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 24 New Zealand 3,937 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 25 Romania 3,637 US dollars, PPP converted compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and in South Africa?
- Gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and in South Africa was 5,107 US dollars, PPP converted in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6,125 US dollars, PPP converted in 2017.
- What is the lowest gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,229 US dollars, PPP converted in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 30 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic expenditure on r&d by sector of performance and rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and socio-economic objectives — Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GERD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) by socio-economic objective (SEO), using the NABS 2007 classification i.e.: Exploration and exploitation of the Earth, Environment, Exploration and exploitation of space, Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures, Energy, Industrial production and technology, Health, Agriculture, Education, Culture, recreation, religion and mass media, Political and social systems, structures and processes, General advancement of knowledge, and Defence.