Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Japan

Japan: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 3.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.4%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
4th
of 106 countries
All-time high
3.4%
in 2023
All-time low
2.9%
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

01232000201120232000: 2.92001: 2.92002: 32003: 32004: 32005: 3.12006: 3.22007: 3.32008: 3.32009: 3.22010: 3.12011: 3.22012: 3.22013: 3.32014: 3.42015: 3.22016: 3.12017: 3.22018: 3.22019: 3.22020: 3.32021: 3.32022: 3.42023: 3.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Japan recorded 3.4% for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Japan peaked at 3.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2000.

Japan ranks 4th 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 Japan, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Japan, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 2.9%
2001 2.9% +2.3%
2002 3.0% +1.4%
2003 3.0% +0.9%
2004 3.0% -0.4%
2005 3.1% +5.0%
2006 3.2% +3.1%
2007 3.3% +2.0%
2008 3.3% -0.0%
2009 3.2% -2.9%
2010 3.1% -2.8%
2011 3.2% +3.2%
2012 3.2% -1.0%
2013 3.3% +3.3%
2014 3.4% +2.7%
2015 3.2% -3.8%
2016 3.1% -4.1%
2017 3.2% +1.9%
2018 3.2% +1.7%
2019 3.2% -0.0%
2020 3.3% +1.5%
2021 3.3% +0.3%
2022 3.4% +3.9%
2023 3.4% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.1% 2.9% 3.3% 10
2010s 3.2% 3.1% 3.4% 10
2020s 3.3% 3.3% 3.4% 4

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 1 Israel 6.3% compare
  2. 1 Türkiye 1.4% compare
  3. 2 Republic of Korea 4.9% compare
  4. 3 Sweden 3.6% compare
  5. 5 Belgium 3.3% compare
  6. 5 Viet Nam 0.4% compare
  7. 6 Austria 3.3% compare
  8. 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 0.4% compare
  9. 7 Switzerland 3.2% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More economy & growth data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Japan?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Japan was 3.4% 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 Japan?
The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2023.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2000.
How does Japan rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Japan ranks 4th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Japan 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 Japan. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/japan/

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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