Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Malaysia

Malaysia: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.0% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
1.0%
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
44th
of 121 countries
All-time high
1.4%
in 2016
All-time low
0.5%
in 2000
Years of data
15
2000–2022

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Malaysia, 2000–2022

0.40.60.811.21.42000201120222000: 0.469 %2002: 0.653 %2004: 0.6 %2006: 0.611 %2008: 0.788 %2009: 1 %2010: 1 %2011: 1 %2012: 1.1 %2014: 1.3 %2015: 1.3 %2016: 1.4 %2018: 1 %2020: 0.951 %2022: 1 %

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 Malaysia is 1.0%, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 1.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2000.

That places Malaysia 44th out of 121 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Malaysia, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 0.5%
2002 0.7% +39.1%
2004 0.6% -8.1%
2006 0.6% +1.9%
2008 0.8% +29.0%
2009 1.0% +28.1%
2010 1.0% +2.6%
2011 1.0% -0.3%
2012 1.1% +5.7%
2014 1.3% +15.6%
2015 1.3% +1.3%
2016 1.4% +10.6%
2018 1.0% -26.5%
2020 1.0% -8.6%
2022 1.0% +6.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.7% 0.5% 1.0% 6
2010s 1.2% 1.0% 1.4% 7
2020s 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 2

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 41 Lithuania 1.0% compare
  2. 42 Slovakia 1.0% compare
  3. 43 Egypt 1.0% compare
  4. 45 Serbia 0.9% compare
  5. 46 Russian Federation 0.9% compare
  6. 46 Russian Federation 0.9% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malaysia?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malaysia was 1.0% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2016.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2000.
How does Malaysia rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Malaysia ranks 44th out of 121 countries with data for 2022.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. 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/malaysia/

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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