Research and development expenditure in India
India: Research and development expenditure was 0.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Research and development expenditure in India, 1996–2020
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2020, research and development expenditure in India stood at 0.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in India peaked at 0.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1996.
That places India 54th out of 116 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More science & technology data for India
- Scientific and technical journal articles 228,174 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.15 billion (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 35,306 (2021)
- Patent applications, residents 26,267 (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 3.15 per 100 people (2024)
- Researchers in R&D 259.26 per million people (2020)
- Technicians in R&D 73.06 per million people (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure in India?
- Research and development expenditure in India was 0.6% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest research and development expenditure recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1996.
- How does India rank for research and development expenditure?
- India ranks 54th out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
- Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Research and development expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.