Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Spain
Spain: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Spain, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Spain is 1.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Spain peaked at 1.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2000.
That places Spain 30th out of 106 countries 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 0.9% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 1.0% | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More economy & growth data for Spain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 3,174 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 11.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.1958 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 7,561 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 6.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.1732 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 6,692 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 3.26 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Spain?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Spain was 1.5% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2000.
- How does Spain rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- Spain ranks 30th out of 106 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).