Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Denmark

Denmark: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 3.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.0%
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
10th
of 106 countries
All-time high
3.1%
in 2016
All-time low
2.2%
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Denmark, 2000–2023

01232000201120232000: 2.22001: 2.32002: 2.42003: 2.52004: 2.42005: 2.42006: 2.42007: 2.52008: 2.82009: 32010: 2.92011: 2.92012: 32013: 32014: 2.92015: 3.12016: 3.12017: 2.92018: 32019: 2.92020: 32021: 2.72022: 2.92023: 3

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Denmark recorded 3.0% for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Denmark peaked at 3.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2000.

Denmark ranks 10th of 106 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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 Denmark, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Denmark, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 2.2%
2001 2.3% +6.2%
2002 2.4% +5.0%
2003 2.5% +2.8%
2004 2.4% -3.7%
2005 2.4% -1.1%
2006 2.4% +0.5%
2007 2.5% +4.6%
2008 2.8% +10.0%
2009 3.0% +10.2%
2010 2.9% -4.2%
2011 2.9% +1.0%
2012 3.0% +1.4%
2013 3.0% -0.8%
2014 2.9% -1.6%
2015 3.1% +5.1%
2016 3.1% +1.2%
2017 2.9% -5.4%
2018 3.0% +1.5%
2019 2.9% -2.4%
2020 3.0% +2.0%
2021 2.7% -7.5%
2022 2.9% +4.5%
2023 3.0% +6.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.5% 2.2% 3.0% 10
2010s 3.0% 2.9% 3.1% 10
2020s 2.9% 2.7% 3.0% 4

Countries ranked near Denmark

  1. 7 Switzerland 3.2% compare
  2. 8 Germany 3.2% compare
  3. 9 Finland 3.1% compare
  4. 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  5. 12 Iceland 2.6% compare
  6. 13 China 2.6% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More economy & growth data for Denmark

All data for Denmark →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Denmark?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Denmark was 3.0% 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 Denmark?
The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2016.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Denmark?
The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2000.
How does Denmark rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Denmark ranks 10th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Denmark?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Denmark 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.

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Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Denmark. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/denmark/

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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
136 places, 2,602 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed