Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Northern Africa

Northern Africa: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
0.8%
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
13th
of 22 groups
All-time high
0.8%
in 2023
All-time low
0.3%
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

00.20.40.60.82000201120232000: 0.2912001: 0.32002: 0.3292003: 0.3072004: 0.3062005: 0.2992006: 0.3112007: 0.322008: 0.3342009: 0.4162010: 0.4232011: 0.4722012: 0.4752013: 0.5422014: 0.5412015: 0.592016: 0.5882017: 0.5752018: 0.5962019: 0.6572020: 0.7412021: 0.7282022: 0.7912023: 0.804

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2023, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern Africa stood at 0.8%. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 48.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern Africa peaked at 0.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2000.

That places Northern Africa 13th out of 22 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

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 Northern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Northern Africa, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 0.3%
2001 0.3% +3.2%
2002 0.3% +9.5%
2003 0.3% -6.7%
2004 0.3% -0.1%
2005 0.3% -2.4%
2006 0.3% +4.0%
2007 0.3% +2.7%
2008 0.3% +4.5%
2009 0.4% +24.5%
2010 0.4% +1.8%
2011 0.5% +11.4%
2012 0.5% +0.7%
2013 0.5% +14.1%
2014 0.5% -0.1%
2015 0.6% +9.1%
2016 0.6% -0.4%
2017 0.6% -2.2%
2018 0.6% +3.8%
2019 0.7% +10.1%
2020 0.7% +12.9%
2021 0.7% -1.7%
2022 0.8% +8.7%
2023 0.8% +1.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.3% 0.3% 0.4% 10
2010s 0.5% 0.4% 0.7% 10
2020s 0.8% 0.7% 0.8% 4

Countries ranked near Northern Africa

  1. 10 Germany 3.2% compare
  2. 11 Finland 3.1% compare
  3. 12 Denmark 3.0% compare
  4. 13 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  5. 13 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  6. 15 Iceland 2.6% compare
  7. 16 China 2.6% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Northern Africa

All data for Northern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern Africa?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern Africa was 0.8% 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 Northern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2023.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Northern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2000.
How does Northern Africa rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Northern Africa ranks 13th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Northern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 48.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Northern Africa 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 Northern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/northern-africa/

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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
143 places, 2,753 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed