Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Europe and Northern America
Europe and Northern America: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 2.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Europe and Northern America, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2023, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe and Northern America stood at 2.5%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe and Northern America peaked at 2.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2005.
Europe and Northern America ranks 4th of 22 groups on this measure, 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 Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.1% | — |
| 2001 | 2.1% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America
More economy & growth data for Europe and Northern America
- Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 533,759 (2024)
- Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person 1.9% (2025)
- Manufacturing value added (constant 2020 United States dollars) as a 11.5% (2025)
- Manufacturing value added (current United States dollars) as a 11.3% (2024)
- Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita 1.9% (2024)
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP 41.4% (2024)
- Annual GDP growth 2.1% (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP 1.0% (2024)
- Annual growth of exports of goods and services 1.4% (2024)
- Annual growth of imports of goods and services 2.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe and Northern America?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe and Northern America was 2.5% 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 Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2005.
- How does Europe and Northern America rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- Europe and Northern America ranks 4th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe and Northern America 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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