Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Europe

Europe: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 2.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
2.0%
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
6th
of 22 groups
All-time high
2.0%
in 2020
All-time low
1.7%
in 2005
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

00.511.522000201120232000: 1.7 %2001: 1.7 %2002: 1.8 %2003: 1.8 %2004: 1.7 %2005: 1.7 %2006: 1.7 %2007: 1.7 %2008: 1.7 %2009: 1.8 %2010: 1.8 %2011: 1.8 %2012: 1.8 %2013: 1.9 %2014: 1.9 %2015: 1.9 %2016: 1.9 %2017: 1.9 %2018: 1.9 %2019: 2 %2020: 2 %2021: 2 %2022: 2 %2023: 2 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe is 2.0%, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 6.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe peaked at 2.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2005.

That places Europe 6th out of 22 groups 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 Europe, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Europe, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 1.7%
2001 1.7% +1.3%
2002 1.8% +0.9%
2003 1.8% -0.5%
2004 1.7% -2.4%
2005 1.7% -0.9%
2006 1.7% +0.4%
2007 1.7% +0.5%
2008 1.7% +1.6%
2009 1.8% +5.6%
2010 1.8% -1.2%
2011 1.8% +0.2%
2012 1.8% +1.3%
2013 1.9% +0.8%
2014 1.9% +1.6%
2015 1.9% +1.4%
2016 1.9% +0.1%
2017 1.9% +1.3%
2018 1.9% +0.3%
2019 2.0% +1.2%
2020 2.0% +3.8%
2021 2.0% -3.7%
2022 2.0% -0.7%
2023 2.0% +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.7% 1.7% 1.8% 10
2010s 1.9% 1.8% 2.0% 10
2020s 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 4

Countries ranked near Europe

  1. 4 Sweden 3.6% compare
  2. 5 United States of America 3.4% compare
  3. 6 Japan 3.4% compare
  4. 7 Belgium 3.3% compare
  5. 8 Austria 3.3% compare
  6. 9 Switzerland 3.2% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Europe

All data for Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Europe was 2.0% 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 Europe?
The highest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2005.
How does Europe rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Europe ranks 6th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Europe 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 Europe. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/europe/

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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