Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in China
China: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 2.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in China, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in China is 2.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in China peaked at 2.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2000.
That places China 13th out of 106 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 0.9% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +15.0% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2473 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 3,429 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.78 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 24,652 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 2.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.3564 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 4,941 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 1.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in China?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in China was 2.6% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2000.
- How does China rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- China ranks 13th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).