Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, 2001–2022
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 South Africa is 0.6%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 60th of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.6% | — |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -10.6% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in South Africa?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in South Africa was 0.6% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 121 countries with data for 2022.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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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