Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2023
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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 0.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 0.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2000.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 18th out of 22 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.3% | — |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita 384.35 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 7.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 398.55 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2144 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 358.68 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Sub-Saharan Africa was 0.4% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 18th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).