Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Estonia

Estonia: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
1.8%
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
22nd
of 121 countries
All-time high
2.3%
in 2011
All-time low
0.6%
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

0.511.522.52000201120232000: 0.6 %2001: 0.699 %2002: 0.712 %2003: 0.764 %2004: 0.846 %2005: 0.917 %2006: 1.1 %2007: 1.1 %2008: 1.3 %2009: 1.4 %2010: 1.6 %2011: 2.3 %2012: 2.1 %2013: 1.7 %2014: 1.4 %2015: 1.4 %2016: 1.2 %2017: 1.3 %2018: 1.4 %2019: 1.6 %2020: 1.7 %2021: 1.8 %2022: 1.8 %2023: 1.8 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

Estonia recorded 1.8% for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in 2023.

The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Estonia peaked at 2.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2000.

That places Estonia 22nd out of 121 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 Estonia, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Estonia, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 0.6%
2001 0.7% +16.5%
2002 0.7% +1.9%
2003 0.8% +7.4%
2004 0.8% +10.6%
2005 0.9% +8.4%
2006 1.1% +21.3%
2007 1.1% -4.8%
2008 1.3% +18.2%
2009 1.4% +11.6%
2010 1.6% +13.0%
2011 2.3% +45.4%
2012 2.1% -8.3%
2013 1.7% -19.2%
2014 1.4% -17.2%
2015 1.4% +2.4%
2016 1.2% -15.5%
2017 1.3% +2.7%
2018 1.4% +10.5%
2019 1.6% +15.0%
2020 1.7% +8.5%
2021 1.8% +1.5%
2022 1.8% +0.5%
2023 1.8% +4.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.9% 0.6% 1.4% 10
2010s 1.6% 1.2% 2.3% 10
2020s 1.8% 1.7% 1.8% 4

Countries ranked near Estonia

  1. 19 Slovenia 2.1% compare
  2. 20 Australia 1.9% compare
  3. 21 Norway 1.9% compare
  4. 23 Czechia 1.8% compare
  5. 24 Australia and New Zealand 1.8% compare
  6. 25 Singapore 1.8% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Estonia

All data for Estonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Estonia?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Estonia was 1.8% 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 Estonia?
The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 2011.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Estonia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2000.
How does Estonia rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Estonia ranks 22nd out of 121 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Estonia?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Estonia 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 Estonia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/estonia/

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About this data

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