Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Germany

Germany: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 3.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.2%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
8th
of 106 countries
All-time high
3.2%
in 2023
All-time low
2.4%
in 2001
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

01232000201120232000: 2.42001: 2.42002: 2.42003: 2.42004: 2.42005: 2.42006: 2.42007: 2.42008: 2.62009: 2.72010: 2.72011: 2.82012: 2.82013: 2.82014: 2.82015: 2.92016: 2.92017: 32018: 3.12019: 3.12020: 3.12021: 3.12022: 3.12023: 3.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Germany is 3.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Germany peaked at 3.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2001.

Germany ranks 8th 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 Germany, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Germany, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 2.4%
2001 2.4% -0.3%
2002 2.4% +1.2%
2003 2.4% +1.4%
2004 2.4% -1.6%
2005 2.4% -0.0%
2006 2.4% +1.2%
2007 2.4% -0.5%
2008 2.6% +6.3%
2009 2.7% +4.6%
2010 2.7% -0.5%
2011 2.8% +2.8%
2012 2.8% +2.7%
2013 2.8% -1.6%
2014 2.8% +1.5%
2015 2.9% +2.0%
2016 2.9% +0.2%
2017 3.0% +3.6%
2018 3.1% +2.1%
2019 3.1% +2.0%
2020 3.1% -0.7%
2021 3.1% -0.4%
2022 3.1% -0.2%
2023 3.2% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.5% 2.4% 2.7% 10
2010s 2.9% 2.7% 3.1% 10
2020s 3.1% 3.1% 3.2% 4

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 5 Belgium 3.3% compare
  2. 5 Viet Nam 0.4% compare
  3. 6 Austria 3.3% compare
  4. 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 0.4% compare
  5. 7 Switzerland 3.2% compare
  6. 9 Finland 3.1% compare
  7. 10 Denmark 3.0% compare
  8. 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More economy & growth data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Germany?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Germany was 3.2% 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 Germany?
The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2001.
How does Germany rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Germany ranks 8th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Germany 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 Germany. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/germany/

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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