Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Western Asia

Western Asia: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
1.2%
Change on year
up 6.1%
Rank
9th
of 22 groups
All-time high
1.2%
in 2023
All-time low
0.7%
in 2006
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Western Asia, 2000–2023

00.250.50.7511.22000201120232000: 0.706 %2001: 0.734 %2002: 0.731 %2003: 0.712 %2004: 0.696 %2005: 0.703 %2006: 0.69 %2007: 0.731 %2008: 0.717 %2009: 0.74 %2010: 0.73 %2011: 0.746 %2012: 0.759 %2013: 0.755 %2014: 0.783 %2015: 0.876 %2016: 0.957 %2017: 0.981 %2018: 1 %2019: 1.1 %2020: 1.2 %2021: 1.1 %2022: 1.1 %2023: 1.2 %

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

Analysis

In 2023, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Western Asia stood at 1.2%. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 57.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Western Asia peaked at 1.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2006.

That places Western Asia 9th out of 22 groups 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 Western Asia, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Western Asia, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 0.7%
2001 0.7% +3.9%
2002 0.7% -0.4%
2003 0.7% -2.6%
2004 0.7% -2.3%
2005 0.7% +1.0%
2006 0.7% -1.9%
2007 0.7% +6.1%
2008 0.7% -1.9%
2009 0.7% +3.1%
2010 0.7% -1.3%
2011 0.7% +2.2%
2012 0.8% +1.7%
2013 0.8% -0.5%
2014 0.8% +3.7%
2015 0.9% +11.9%
2016 1.0% +9.3%
2017 1.0% +2.5%
2018 1.0% +2.5%
2019 1.1% +4.5%
2020 1.2% +9.7%
2021 1.1% -3.7%
2022 1.1% +0.7%
2023 1.2% +6.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 10
2010s 0.9% 0.7% 1.1% 10
2020s 1.1% 1.1% 1.2% 4

Countries ranked near Western Asia

  1. 6 Japan 3.4% compare
  2. 7 Belgium 3.3% compare
  3. 8 Austria 3.3% compare
  4. 9 Switzerland 3.2% compare
  5. 10 Germany 3.2% compare
  6. 11 Finland 3.1% compare
  7. 12 Denmark 3.0% compare

See the full ranking of 143 places →

More economy & growth data for Western Asia

All data for Western Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Western Asia?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Western Asia was 1.2% 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 Western Asia?
The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Western Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2006.
How does Western Asia rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Western Asia ranks 9th out of 22 groups with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Western Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 57.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Western Asia 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 Western Asia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/western-asia/

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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