Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Malta

Malta: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
0.6%
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
50th
of 106 countries
All-time high
0.8%
in 2012
All-time low
0.2%
in 2003
Years of data
22
2002–2023

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Malta, 2002–2023

0.20.40.60.82002201220232002: 0.2512003: 0.2392004: 0.4892005: 0.532006: 0.5812007: 0.5472008: 0.5242009: 0.5052010: 0.5832011: 0.6552012: 0.7922013: 0.7262014: 0.6772015: 0.6992016: 0.542017: 0.5262018: 0.5462019: 0.5492020: 0.62021: 0.5972022: 0.5752023: 0.648

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malta is 0.6%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.8% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malta peaked at 0.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2003.

That places Malta 50th out of 106 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Malta, 2002 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2002 0.3%
2003 0.2% -4.9%
2004 0.5% +104.9%
2005 0.5% +8.4%
2006 0.6% +9.6%
2007 0.5% -5.9%
2008 0.5% -4.1%
2009 0.5% -3.6%
2010 0.6% +15.5%
2011 0.7% +12.2%
2012 0.8% +20.9%
2013 0.7% -8.3%
2014 0.7% -6.9%
2015 0.7% +3.4%
2016 0.5% -22.7%
2017 0.5% -2.7%
2018 0.5% +3.7%
2019 0.5% +0.5%
2020 0.6% +9.4%
2021 0.6% -0.5%
2022 0.6% -3.7%
2023 0.6% +12.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.5% 0.2% 0.6% 8
2010s 0.6% 0.5% 0.8% 10
2020s 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 4

Countries ranked near Malta

  1. 47 Uruguay 0.7% compare
  2. 48 Cyprus 0.7% compare
  3. 49 Morocco 0.7% compare
  4. 51 India 0.6% compare
  5. 52 Saudi Arabia 0.6% compare
  6. 53 South Africa 0.6% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More economy & growth data for Malta

All data for Malta →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malta?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Malta was 0.6% 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 Malta?
The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2012.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Malta?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2003.
How does Malta rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Malta ranks 50th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Malta?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malta 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 Malta. 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/malta/

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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