Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in World
World: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 1.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.9%
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
7th
of 19 groups
All-time high
1.9%
in 2020
All-time low
1.5%
in 2004
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in World, 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 World is 1.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in World peaked at 1.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2004.
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 World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.5% | — |
| 2001 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
More economy & growth data for World
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.23 Percent per annum (2028)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2028)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2498 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 3,599 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 3.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.2248 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 3,238 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.633 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in World?
- Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in World was 1.9% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2004.
- How does World rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
- World ranks 7th out of 19 groups with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World 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).