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Research and development spending by country, 2023 (% of GDP)

What businesses, governments, universities and non-profits together spend on research and development, as a share of GDP, for 104 countries and areas, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: World Bank, from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Key facts

  • World: 2.60% of GDP is spent on R&D (2023).
  • Highest: Israel (6.35%), Liechtenstein (6.01%) and South Korea (4.94%).
  • Lowest in the list: Guatemala (0.01%).
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104 rows

Research and development spending by country, 2023 (% of GDP). Select a column heading to sort.
1Israel6.352023
2Liechtenstein6.012023
3South Korea4.942023
4Sweden3.602023
5United States3.452023
6Japan3.442023
7Belgium3.272023
8Austria3.262023
9Switzerland3.222023
10Germany3.152023
11Finland3.092023
12Denmark3.052023
13United Kingdom2.682023
14Iceland2.642023
15China2.582023
16Netherlands2.272023
17France2.182023
18Slovenia2.132023
19Australia1.862021
20Norway1.852023
21Estonia1.842023
22Czechia1.832023
23Singapore1.812022
24Canada1.792024
25Portugal1.692023
26Ireland1.592023
27Poland1.562023
28New Zealand1.552023
29Greece1.492023
29Spain1.492023
29United Arab Emirates1.492021
32Türkiye1.422023
33Croatia1.392023
34Hungary1.382023
34Italy1.382023
36Brazil1.192023
37Hong Kong SAR China1.132024
38Luxembourg1.072023
39Lithuania1.052023
40Slovakia1.032023
41Egypt1.022024
42Malaysia1.012022
43Russia0.942024
43Serbia0.942024
43Thailand0.942023
46Latvia0.822023
47Kenya0.812024
48Bulgaria0.792023
49Rwanda0.782023
50Iran0.732021
51Uruguay0.702023
52Cyprus0.682023
52Qatar0.682021
54Malta0.652023
54Namibia0.652022
56Saudi Arabia0.642024
57South Africa0.612022
58Argentina0.602023
59Belarus0.592024
60Romania0.522023
61Algeria0.442024
61Cuba0.442024
61Uganda0.442023
64Vietnam0.412023
65Chile0.392022
65Oman0.392024
67Congo - Brazzaville0.382022
68North Macedonia0.372024
68Ukraine0.372024
70Costa Rica0.342023
71Macao SAR China0.312024
72Armenia0.292024
73Georgia0.262024
73Mauritius0.262024
75Mexico0.252024
76Moldova0.222024
76Togo0.222024
78Azerbaijan0.212024
78Bosnia & Herzegovina0.212024
80Albania0.202022
80Panama0.202024
82Bahrain0.192024
83Peru0.182023
84Andorra0.162022
84Kazakhstan0.162024
84Pakistan0.162023
87Mali0.152023
88Paraguay0.142023
89Sri Lanka0.112022
90Bhutan0.102024
90Burkina Faso0.102024
90El Salvador0.102023
90Uzbekistan0.102024
94Kuwait0.092024
94Lesotho0.092023
94Turkmenistan0.092023
97Mongolia0.082022
98Bolivia0.062021
99Kyrgyzstan0.052024
99Trinidad & Tobago0.052022
101Iraq0.042021
101Syria0.042022
103Myanmar (Burma)0.022023
104Guatemala0.012023

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators · Licence: CC BY 4.0 · Snapshot 2026-11-09

About this data

R&D covers basic research, applied research and experimental development. In the countries that spend the most, companies pay for most of it: chipmakers, carmakers and drug companies.

Many countries run R&D surveys only every few years, so each row shows the latest year reported within four years. Countries that have not reported are left out.

FAQ

Which country spends the most on R&D?

As a share of GDP, Israel, at 6.35% in 2023, followed by Liechtenstein (6.01%) and South Korea (4.94%).

How much does the world spend on R&D?

2.60% of world GDP in 2023.

What counts as R&D?

Creative, systematic work to increase knowledge and find new uses for it: basic research, applied research and experimental development, by firms, governments, universities and non-profits.

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