Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Singapore

Singapore: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
1.8%
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
25th
of 121 countries
All-time high
2.6%
in 2008
All-time low
1.8%
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

01232000201120222000: 1.8 %2001: 2 %2002: 2 %2003: 2 %2004: 2.1 %2005: 2.1 %2006: 2.1 %2007: 2.3 %2008: 2.6 %2009: 2.1 %2010: 1.9 %2011: 2.1 %2012: 1.9 %2013: 1.9 %2014: 2.1 %2015: 2.2 %2016: 2.1 %2017: 1.9 %2018: 1.8 %2019: 1.9 %2020: 2.2 %2021: 1.9 %2022: 1.8 %

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

Analysis

In 2022, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Singapore stood at 1.8%. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Singapore peaked at 2.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2022.

Singapore ranks 25th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Singapore, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 1.8%
2001 2.0% +10.6%
2002 2.0% +1.2%
2003 2.0% -1.8%
2004 2.1% +4.1%
2005 2.1% +3.3%
2006 2.1% -1.5%
2007 2.3% +9.6%
2008 2.6% +11.9%
2009 2.1% -18.1%
2010 1.9% -9.3%
2011 2.1% +7.3%
2012 1.9% -7.3%
2013 1.9% +0.1%
2014 2.1% +8.4%
2015 2.2% +4.4%
2016 2.1% -4.9%
2017 1.9% -8.3%
2018 1.8% -4.7%
2019 1.9% +4.4%
2020 2.2% +14.4%
2021 1.9% -10.3%
2022 1.8% -6.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.1% 1.8% 2.6% 10
2010s 2.0% 1.8% 2.2% 10
2020s 2.0% 1.8% 2.2% 3

Countries ranked near Singapore

  1. 22 Estonia 1.8% compare
  2. 23 Czechia 1.8% compare
  3. 24 Australia and New Zealand 1.8% compare
  4. 26 Canada 1.8% compare
  5. 27 Portugal 1.7% compare
  6. 28 Ireland 1.6% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Singapore

All data for Singapore →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Singapore?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Singapore was 1.8% 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 Singapore?
The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2008.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Singapore?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2022.
How does Singapore rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Singapore ranks 25th out of 121 countries with data for 2022.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Singapore?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Singapore 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 Singapore. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/singapore/

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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