Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Small island developing States (SIDS)

Small island developing States (SIDS): Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
0.6%
Change on year
down 3.8%
Rank
14th
of 22 groups
All-time high
1.1%
in 2008
All-time low
0.6%
in 2023
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Small island developing States (SIDS), 2000–2023

00.250.50.7512000201120232000: 0.806 %2001: 0.875 %2002: 0.893 %2003: 0.89 %2004: 0.94 %2005: 0.961 %2006: 0.923 %2007: 1 %2008: 1.1 %2009: 0.982 %2010: 0.948 %2011: 0.937 %2012: 0.919 %2013: 0.932 %2014: 0.975 %2015: 1 %2016: 0.949 %2017: 0.914 %2018: 0.923 %2019: 0.944 %2020: 1 %2021: 0.684 %2022: 0.664 %2023: 0.639 %

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 Small island developing States (SIDS) is 0.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 31.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Small island developing States (SIDS) peaked at 1.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2023.

That places Small island developing States (SIDS) 14th out of 22 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Small island developing States (SIDS), year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Small island developing States (SIDS), 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 0.8%
2001 0.9% +8.6%
2002 0.9% +2.0%
2003 0.9% -0.4%
2004 0.9% +5.6%
2005 1.0% +2.3%
2006 0.9% -4.0%
2007 1.0% +9.2%
2008 1.1% +10.7%
2009 1.0% -11.9%
2010 0.9% -3.5%
2011 0.9% -1.2%
2012 0.9% -1.9%
2013 0.9% +1.5%
2014 1.0% +4.5%
2015 1.0% +3.6%
2016 0.9% -6.1%
2017 0.9% -3.6%
2018 0.9% +0.9%
2019 0.9% +2.3%
2020 1.0% +10.1%
2021 0.7% -34.2%
2022 0.7% -2.8%
2023 0.6% -3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.9% 0.8% 1.1% 10
2010s 0.9% 0.9% 1.0% 10
2020s 0.8% 0.6% 1.0% 4

Countries ranked near Small island developing States (SIDS)

  1. 11 Finland 3.1% compare
  2. 12 Denmark 3.0% compare
  3. 13 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  4. 13 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  5. 15 Iceland 2.6% compare
  6. 16 China 2.6% compare
  7. 17 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 2.3% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Small island developing States (SIDS)

All data for Small island developing States (SIDS) →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Small island developing States (SIDS)?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Small island developing States (SIDS) 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 Small island developing States (SIDS)?
The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 2008.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Small island developing States (SIDS)?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2023.
How does Small island developing States (SIDS) rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Small island developing States (SIDS) ranks 14th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Small island developing States (SIDS)?
Over the last ten years it is down 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Small island developing States (SIDS) 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 Small island developing States (SIDS). 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/small-island-developing-states-sids/

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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