R&D spending
shares of GDP · OBSERVED 2002–2024
Gross expenditure on research & development as a share of GDP.
- Nations ranked
- 144
- Highest
- 6.0%
- Lowest
- 0.0%
- Observed
- 2002–2024
Press any row — its specimen turns over on the readout ledge. No bests, no worsts: observations, ranked.
This table mixes vintages: each publisher carries a nation’s latest available year, so the observations here run from 2002 to 2024 — every row shows its own.
Press a row — the specimen turns over to its label. Bars are drawn to the highest value. Highest, not best: this page orders figures, it does not grade nations.
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank6.0% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank02 South Korea4.9% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank03 Sweden3.6% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank3.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank05 Japan3.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank06 Belgium3.3% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank07 Austria3.3% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank08 Switzerland3.2% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank09 Germany3.2% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank10 Finland3.1% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank11 Denmark3.0% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank2.7% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank13 Iceland2.6% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank14 China2.6% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank15 Netherlands2.3% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank16 France2.2% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank17 Slovenia2.1% 2023
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank18 Australia1.9% 2021
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank19 Norway1.9% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank20 Estonia1.8% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank21 Czechia1.8% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank22 Canada1.8% 2024
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank23 Portugal1.7% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank24 Ireland1.6% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank25 Poland1.6% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank26 New Zealand1.5% 2023
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank1.5% 2021
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank28 Greece1.5% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank29 Spain1.5% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank30 Türkiye1.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank31 Croatia1.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank32 Italy1.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank33 Hungary1.4% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank34 Brazil1.2% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank35 Luxembourg1.1% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank36 Lithuania1.0% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank37 Slovakia1.0% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank38 Egypt1.0% 2024
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank39 Malaysia1.0% 2022
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank40 Serbia0.9% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank41 Russia0.9% 2024
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank42 Thailand0.9% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank43 Latvia0.8% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank44 Kenya0.8% 2024
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank45 Bulgaria0.8% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank46 Rwanda0.8% 2023
- Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank47 Tunisia0.7% 2019
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank48 Iran0.7% 2021
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank49 Uruguay0.7% 2023
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank50 Jordan0.7% 2016
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank51 Cyprus0.7% 2023
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank52 Qatar0.7% 2021
- Observed 2010 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank53 Morocco0.7% 2010
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank54 Malta0.6% 2023
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank55 Namibia0.6% 2022
- Observed 2004 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank56 Greenland0.6% 2004
- Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank57 India0.6% 2020
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank58 Saudi Arabia0.6% 2024
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank59 South Africa0.6% 2022
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank60 Argentina0.6% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank61 Belarus0.6% 2024
- Observed 2009 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank62 Gabon0.6% 2009
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank63 Senegal0.6% 2015
- Observed 2013 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank64 Botswana0.6% 2013
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank65 Romania0.5% 2023
- Observed 2013 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank66 Tanzania0.5% 2013
- Observed 2013 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank67 Palestine0.5% 2013
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank68 Algeria0.4% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank69 Cuba0.4% 2024
- Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank69 Ecuador0.4% 2014
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank71 Uganda0.4% 2023
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank72 Puerto Rico0.4% 2015
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank73 Vietnam0.4% 2023
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank74 DR Congo0.4% 2015
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank75 Chile0.4% 2022
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank76 Oman0.4% 2024
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank77 Congo0.4% 2022
- Observed 2010 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank78 Ghana0.4% 2010
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank0.4% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank80 Ukraine0.4% 2024
- Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank81 Montenegro0.4% 2019
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank82 Costa Rica0.3% 2023
- Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank83 Venezuela0.3% 2014
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank84 Mozambique0.3% 2015
- Observed 2010 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank85 Nepal0.3% 2010
- Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank86 Colombia0.3% 2020
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank87 Armenia0.3% 2024
- Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank88 Nigeria0.3% 2019
- Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank89 Indonesia0.3% 2020
- Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank90 Zambia0.3% 2008
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank91 Eswatini0.3% 2015
- Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank92 Brunei0.3% 2018
- Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank93 Philippines0.3% 2020
- Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank94 Ethiopia0.3% 2017
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank95 Georgia0.3% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank96 Mauritius0.3% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank97 Mexico0.3% 2024
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank98 Chad0.2% 2016
- Observed 2005 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank99 Sudan0.2% 2005
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank100 Togo0.2% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank101 Moldova0.2% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank0.2% 2024
- Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank103 Burundi0.2% 2018
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank104 Azerbaijan0.2% 2024
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank105 Seychelles0.2% 2016
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank106 Albania0.2% 2022
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank107 Panama0.2% 2024
- Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank108 Malawi0.2% 2019
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank109 Peru0.2% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank110 Pakistan0.2% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank111 Kazakhstan0.2% 2024
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank112 Andorra0.2% 2022
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank113 Mali0.1% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank114 Paraguay0.1% 2023
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank115 Nicaragua0.1% 2015
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank116 Sri Lanka0.1% 2022
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank117 Burkina Faso0.1% 2024
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank118 Uzbekistan0.1% 2024
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank119 El Salvador0.1% 2023
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank120 Bhutan0.1% 2024
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank121 Lesotho0.1% 2023
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank122 Turkmenistan0.1% 2023
- Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank123 Tajikistan0.1% 2020
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank124 Kuwait0.1% 2024
- Observed 2015 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank125 Cambodia0.1% 2015
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank126 Mongolia0.1% 2022
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank127 Ivory Coast0.1% 2016
- Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank128 Gambia0.1% 2018
- Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank129 Cape Verde0.1% 2011
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank130 Bolivia0.1% 2021
- Observed 2002 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank131 Jamaica0.1% 2002
- Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank132 Honduras0.1% 2019
- Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank133 Kyrgyzstan0.1% 2024
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank0.1% 2022
- Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank135 Syria0.0% 2022
- Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank136 Iraq0.0% 2021
- Observed 2005 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank137 Monaco0.0% 2005
- Observed 2002 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank138 Laos0.0% 2002
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank139 Angola0.0% 2016
- Observed 2016 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank140 Papua New Guinea0.0% 2016
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank141 Myanmar0.0% 2023
- Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank142 Madagascar0.0% 2017
- Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank143 Mauritania0.0% 2018
- Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank144 Guatemala0.0% 2023
Not observed
42 nations publish no figure for this indicator in the sources below. Absence is a fact about the world’s statistical apparatus, not a zero — these nations hold their place as hatched gaps, and a gap has no underside to turn over.
- AfghanistanNOT OBSERVED
- AntarcticaNOT OBSERVED
Antarctica has no permanent population and no national government — it is administered under the Antarctic Treaty. No statistical agency compiles national indicators for it, so there is nothing here to report.
- BahamasNOT OBSERVED
- BangladeshNOT OBSERVED
- BelizeNOT OBSERVED
- BeninNOT OBSERVED
- CameroonNOT OBSERVED
- Central African RepublicNOT OBSERVED
- ComorosNOT OBSERVED
- DjiboutiNOT OBSERVED
- Dominican RepublicNOT OBSERVED
- Equatorial GuineaNOT OBSERVED
- EritreaNOT OBSERVED
- Falkland IslandsNOT OBSERVED
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, administered by the United Kingdom; sovereignty is disputed by Argentina. They are not a separate reporting entity in World Bank datasets.
- FijiNOT OBSERVED
- French Southern and Antarctic LandsNOT OBSERVED
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands have no permanent civilian population. They are administered from Réunion as an overseas territory of France and are not a separate reporting entity in international datasets.
- GuineaNOT OBSERVED
- Guinea-BissauNOT OBSERVED
- GuyanaNOT OBSERVED
- HaitiNOT OBSERVED
- KosovoNOT OBSERVED
- LebanonNOT OBSERVED
- LiberiaNOT OBSERVED
- LibyaNOT OBSERVED
- New CaledoniaNOT OBSERVED
- NigerNOT OBSERVED
- North KoreaNOT OBSERVED
- Northern CyprusNOT OBSERVED
Northern Cyprus is recognised as a state by Türkiye alone. It is not a member of the United Nations or the World Bank, and does not appear as a separate entity in the datasets these indicators are drawn from.
- San MarinoNOT OBSERVED
- São Tomé and PríncipeNOT OBSERVED
- Sierra LeoneNOT OBSERVED
- Solomon IslandsNOT OBSERVED
- SomaliaNOT OBSERVED
- SomalilandNOT OBSERVED
Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has not been recognised by the United Nations or any member state. Where its figures are collected at all, they are reported within Somalia's.
- South SudanNOT OBSERVED
- SurinameNOT OBSERVED
- TaiwanNOT OBSERVED
Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, and is excluded from the World Bank and UN series that supply most of this dossier. Its own statistical agencies publish extensively.
- Timor-LesteNOT OBSERVED
- VanuatuNOT OBSERVED
- Vatican CityNOT OBSERVED
Vatican City has a resident population of a few hundred and does not compile the economic and social series these indicators are drawn from.
- YemenNOT OBSERVED
- ZimbabweNOT OBSERVED