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

Northern America: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 3.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.3%
Change on year
down 1.0%
Rank
2nd
of 22 groups
All-time high
3.3%
in 2022
All-time low
2.4%
in 2004
Years of data
24
2000–2023

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

01232000201120232000: 2.6 %2001: 2.6 %2002: 2.5 %2003: 2.5 %2004: 2.4 %2005: 2.5 %2006: 2.5 %2007: 2.6 %2008: 2.7 %2009: 2.7 %2010: 2.6 %2011: 2.7 %2012: 2.6 %2013: 2.6 %2014: 2.6 %2015: 2.7 %2016: 2.7 %2017: 2.8 %2018: 2.9 %2019: 3 %2020: 3.3 %2021: 3.3 %2022: 3.3 %2023: 3.3 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2023, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern America stood at 3.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern America peaked at 3.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2004.

Northern America ranks 2nd of 22 groups 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 Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Northern America, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 2.6%
2001 2.6% +1.1%
2002 2.5% -3.3%
2003 2.5% +0.1%
2004 2.4% -2.2%
2005 2.5% +0.5%
2006 2.5% +1.5%
2007 2.6% +2.4%
2008 2.7% +4.5%
2009 2.7% +1.8%
2010 2.6% -2.9%
2011 2.7% +0.7%
2012 2.6% -2.3%
2013 2.6% +0.6%
2014 2.6% +0.5%
2015 2.7% +2.4%
2016 2.7% +2.2%
2017 2.8% +1.4%
2018 2.9% +3.7%
2019 3.0% +5.0%
2020 3.3% +8.9%
2021 3.3% +1.0%
2022 3.3% +0.2%
2023 3.3% -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.5% 2.4% 2.7% 10
2010s 2.7% 2.6% 3.0% 10
2020s 3.3% 3.3% 3.3% 4

Countries ranked near Northern America

  1. 1 Israel 6.3% compare
  2. 2 Republic of Korea 4.9% compare
  3. 2 Korea 4.9% compare
  4. 4 Sweden 3.6% compare
  5. 5 United States of America 3.4% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Northern America

All data for Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern America?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Northern America was 3.3% 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 America?
The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 2022.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2004.
How does Northern America rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Northern America ranks 2nd out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Northern America 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 America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/northern-america/

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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