Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) by country
Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.
Countries reporting
116
Highest
6.3%
Israel
Lowest
0.0%
Guatemala
Median
0.6%
Years covered
29
1996–2024
Data points
3,092
What the numbers show
Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) is currently reported for 116 countries. The highest value is 6.3% in Israel; the lowest is 0.0% in Guatemala.
The median across all reporting countries is 0.6%, and the mean is 1.0%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,042.
Over the past decade 74 countries rose and 42 fell. The largest increase was in Zambia (up 3,674.6%), and the largest decrease in Madagascar (down 89.5%).
Research and development expenditure: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel | 6.3% | 2023 | up 54.5% | rising |
| 2 | South Korea | 4.9% | 2023 | up 31.0% | rising |
| 3 | Sweden | 3.6% | 2023 | up 9.9% | flat |
| 4 | United States | 3.4% | 2023 | up 27.9% | rising |
| 5 | Japan | 3.4% | 2023 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 6 | Belgium | 3.3% | 2023 | up 41.0% | rising |
| 7 | Austria | 3.3% | 2023 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 8 | Switzerland | 3.2% | 2023 | up 12.1% | rising |
| 9 | Germany | 3.2% | 2023 | up 13.4% | rising |
| 10 | Finland | 3.1% | 2023 | down 5.8% | flat |
| 11 | Denmark | 3.0% | 2023 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 2.7% | 2023 | up 65.1% | rising |
| 13 | Iceland | 2.6% | 2023 | up 56.0% | flat |
| 14 | China | 2.6% | 2023 | up 31.3% | rising |
| 15 | Netherlands | 2.3% | 2023 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 16 | France | 2.2% | 2023 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 17 | Slovenia | 2.1% | 2023 | down 17.7% | rising |
| 18 | Australia | 1.9% | 2021 | down 16.9% | rising |
| 19 | Norway | 1.9% | 2023 | up 12.7% | rising |
| 20 | Estonia | 1.8% | 2023 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 21 | Czechia | 1.8% | 2023 | down 1.8% | rising |
| 22 | Singapore | 1.8% | 2022 | down 5.7% | rising |
| 23 | Canada | 1.8% | 2024 | up 4.4% | flat |
| 24 | Portugal | 1.7% | 2023 | up 28.1% | rising |
| 25 | Ireland | 1.6% | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 26 | Poland | 1.6% | 2023 | up 76.6% | rising |
| 27 | New Zealand | 1.5% | 2023 | up 34.3% | rising |
| 28 | United Arab Emirates | 1.5% | 2021 | up 216.3% | rising |
| 29 | Greece | 1.5% | 2023 | up 81.6% | rising |
| 30 | Spain | 1.5% | 2023 | up 17.7% | rising |
| 31 | Turkey | 1.4% | 2023 | up 75.1% | rising |
| 32 | Croatia | 1.4% | 2023 | up 75.1% | rising |
| 33 | Italy | 1.4% | 2023 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 34 | Hungary | 1.4% | 2023 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 35 | Brazil | 1.2% | 2023 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 36 | Hong Kong | 1.1% | 2024 | up 52.1% | rising |
| 37 | Luxembourg | 1.1% | 2023 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 38 | Lithuania | 1.0% | 2023 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 39 | Slovakia | 1.0% | 2023 | up 26.3% | rising |
| 40 | Egypt | 1.0% | 2024 | up 59.9% | volatile |
| 41 | Malaysia | 1.0% | 2022 | down 7.4% | rising |
| 42 | Serbia | 0.9% | 2024 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 43 | Russia | 0.9% | 2024 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 44 | Thailand | 0.9% | 2023 | up 112.0% | volatile |
| 45 | Latvia | 0.8% | 2023 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 46 | Kenya | 0.8% | 2024 | up 17.1% | rising |
| 47 | Bulgaria | 0.8% | 2023 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 48 | Tunisia | 0.7% | 2019 | up 5.7% | flat |
| 49 | Iran | 0.7% | 2021 | up 174.8% | rising |
| 50 | Uruguay | 0.7% | 2023 | up 141.1% | rising |
| 51 | Cyprus | 0.7% | 2023 | up 40.5% | rising |
| 52 | Morocco | 0.7% | 2010 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 53 | Malta | 0.6% | 2023 | down 10.8% | rising |
| 54 | India | 0.6% | 2020 | down 18.1% | falling |
| 55 | Saudi Arabia | 0.6% | 2024 | down 19.7% | volatile |
| 56 | South Africa | 0.6% | 2022 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 57 | Argentina | 0.6% | 2023 | down 2.8% | rising |
| 58 | Belarus | 0.6% | 2024 | up 16.2% | falling |
| 59 | Romania | 0.5% | 2023 | up 32.4% | flat |
| 60 | Palestine | 0.5% | 2013 | up 130.4% | rising |
| 61 | Algeria | 0.4% | 2024 | down 7.2% | rising |
| 62 | Cuba | 0.4% | 2024 | up 5.4% | falling |
| 62 | Ecuador | 0.4% | 2014 | up 629.8% | volatile |
| 64 | Uganda | 0.4% | 2023 | up 207.3% | rising |
| 65 | Vietnam | 0.4% | 2023 | up 38.5% | rising |
| 66 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 0.4% | 2015 | up 600.8% | volatile |
| 67 | Chile | 0.4% | 2022 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 68 | Oman | 0.4% | 2024 | up 109.7% | rising |
| 69 | North Macedonia | 0.4% | 2024 | down 27.7% | rising |
| 70 | Ukraine | 0.4% | 2024 | down 43.1% | falling |
| 71 | Montenegro | 0.4% | 2019 | down 68.3% | volatile |
| 72 | Costa Rica | 0.3% | 2023 | down 37.8% | rising |
| 73 | Venezuela | 0.3% | 2014 | up 78.3% | rising |
| 74 | Macao | 0.3% | 2024 | up 254.3% | volatile |
| 75 | Mozambique | 0.3% | 2015 | down 22.5% | falling |
| 76 | Colombia | 0.3% | 2020 | up 49.5% | rising |
| 77 | Armenia | 0.3% | 2024 | up 18.5% | falling |
| 78 | Indonesia | 0.3% | 2020 | up 236.9% | volatile |
| 79 | Zambia | 0.3% | 2008 | up 3,674.6% | volatile |
| 80 | Philippines | 0.3% | 2020 | up 153.4% | rising |
| 81 | Ethiopia | 0.3% | 2017 | up 60.6% | volatile |
| 82 | Georgia | 0.3% | 2024 | up 55.6% | falling |
| 83 | Mauritius | 0.3% | 2024 | up 47.3% | flat |
| 84 | Mexico | 0.3% | 2024 | down 39.5% | flat |
| 85 | Bermuda | 0.2% | 2020 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 86 | Sudan | 0.2% | 2005 | down 57.6% | falling |
| 87 | Moldova | 0.2% | 2024 | down 31.4% | falling |
| 88 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.2% | 2024 | down 16.7% | volatile |
| 89 | Burundi | 0.2% | 2018 | up 38.2% | rising |
| 90 | Azerbaijan | 0.2% | 2024 | down 1.0% | falling |
| 91 | Seychelles | 0.2% | 2016 | down 29.0% | falling |
| 92 | Panama | 0.2% | 2024 | up 65.1% | falling |
| 93 | Peru | 0.2% | 2023 | up 115.5% | rising |
| 94 | Pakistan | 0.2% | 2023 | down 37.4% | volatile |
| 95 | Kazakhstan | 0.2% | 2024 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 96 | Mali | 0.1% | 2023 | down 44.3% | falling |
| 97 | Paraguay | 0.1% | 2023 | up 97.1% | rising |
| 98 | Nicaragua | 0.1% | 2015 | up 207.5% | rising |
| 99 | Sri Lanka | 0.1% | 2022 | up 8.0% | falling |
| 100 | Burkina Faso | 0.1% | 2024 | down 46.9% | volatile |
| 101 | Uzbekistan | 0.1% | 2024 | down 32.1% | falling |
| 102 | El Salvador | 0.1% | 2023 | up 58.9% | rising |
| 103 | Lesotho | 0.1% | 2023 | up 653.2% | volatile |
| 104 | Turkmenistan | 0.1% | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 105 | Tajikistan | 0.1% | 2020 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 106 | Kuwait | 0.1% | 2024 | down 79.0% | volatile |
| 107 | Mongolia | 0.1% | 2022 | down 65.0% | falling |
| 108 | Bolivia | 0.1% | 2021 | down 59.8% | falling |
| 109 | Honduras | 0.1% | 2019 | up 44.3% | rising |
| 110 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.1% | 2024 | down 58.0% | falling |
| 111 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.1% | 2022 | up 21.3% | falling |
| 112 | Iraq | 0.0% | 2021 | up 17.1% | flat |
| 113 | United States Virgin Islands | 0.0% | 2007 | down 58.9% | falling |
| 114 | Myanmar | 0.0% | 2023 | down 28.3% | volatile |
| 115 | Madagascar | 0.0% | 2017 | down 89.5% | volatile |
| 116 | Guatemala | 0.0% | 2023 | down 84.4% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- North America 3.3%
- Post-demographic dividend 3.0%
- OECD members 2.9%
- High income 2.9%
- East Asia & Pacific 2.8%
- World 2.6%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 2.5%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 2.5%
- Euro area 2.3%
- European Union 2.3%
- Europe & Central Asia 2.1%
- Late-demographic dividend 2.1%
About this data
Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.