WORLD SIGNALMONITORSearch data/
217 REPORTING ECONOMIES · NORTH AMERICA / EUROPE / ASIA / AFRICA / OCEANIA / SOUTH AMERICAOfficial sources. Open methods. Trace every number.
← All visual stories
World Bank World Development Indicators · 2013–2023 · R&D expenditure (% of GDP)

Research spending: six country paths

Compare country levels and changes using the same years and one shared vertical scale across all six panels.

Research spending: six country pathsGross 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. Eleven annual positions; shared linear axis 0–3.5 R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Editorial country selection: United States, China, India, Germany, Brazil, South Africa. Prefer this stated comparison group; require at least two present observations per panel, then use reporting-code order for any remaining places. Missing observations break lines. No interpolation, smoothing, individual rescaling or indexed growth.WORLD SIGNAL MONITOR / VISUAL STORIESResearch spending: six country pathsSix economies · 2013–2023 · R&D expenditure (% of GDP)United States01.83.52013: 2.69591 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 2.70882 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 2.77328 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 2.83677 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 2.88315 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 2.98956 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 3.14297 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 3.41788 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2021: 3.4689 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2022: 3.48736 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2023: 3.44716 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023China01.83.52013: 1.96246 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 1.98475 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 2.01703 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 2.0595 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 2.07771 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 2.10232 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 2.20144 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 2.35712 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2021: 2.38165 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2022: 2.4945 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2023: 2.57729 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023India01.83.52013: 0.70642 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 0.70158 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 0.6931 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 0.66984 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 0.66603 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 0.66001 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 0.65942 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 0.64558 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023Germany01.83.52013: 2.78067 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 2.82218 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 2.87725 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 2.88393 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 2.9886 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 3.05057 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 3.11256 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 3.0897 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2021: 3.0786 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2022: 3.07096 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2023: 3.1539 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023Brazil01.83.52013: 1.19567 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 1.26971 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 1.28464 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 1.19584 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 1.1175 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 1.15016 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 1.15115 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 1.21907 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2021: 1.13371 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2022: 1.18873 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2023: 1.1938 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023South Africa01.83.52013: 0.6633 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2014: 0.70987 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2015: 0.73147 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2016: 0.74992 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2017: 0.76257 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2018: 0.68586 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2019: 0.61304 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2020: 0.60296 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2021: 0.6139 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)2022: 0.61479 R&D expenditure (% of GDP)20132023Same years and scale in every panel · Missing observations break lines · No smoothingSources: World Bank WDI2013–2023
Six economies · 2013–2023 · R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Every panel shares the same years and vertical scale; missing values break lines.

Swipe the diagram sideways to see all labels, or download the full image.

How to read this diagram

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. Eleven annual positions; shared linear axis 0–3.5 R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Editorial country selection: United States, China, India, Germany, Brazil, South Africa. Prefer this stated comparison group; require at least two present observations per panel, then use reporting-code order for any remaining places. Missing observations break lines. No interpolation, smoothing, individual rescaling or indexed growth.

84 of 155 retained reporting economies have values in 2023; coverage is not a complete world ranking. Highest does not imply best.

Gross domestic R&D expenditure as a share of GDP, not total research dollars. Survey coverage and national compilation methods vary; gaps remain missing.

Annual 2000–2025 selection. Source estimates and historical values may be revised; unavailable values remain missing.

Source notes and numeric strings remain unchanged in downloads. The latest retained reporting year can differ across datasets.

This is an editorial comparison group, not a world ranking. The table retains all annual positions, including missing data.

Explore the source dataset →

The data behind the picture

66 retained source observations · Reporting period 2013–2023 · Unit: R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Numeric strings below retain snapshot precision.

Research spending: six country paths · 2013–2023 · R&D expenditure (% of GDP)
Reporting economyMeasure / roleYearValueUnitGraphic selectionSource status / noteEvidence
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20132.69591R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6643&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20142.70882R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6642&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20152.77328R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6641&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20162.83677R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6640&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20172.88315R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6639&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20182.98956R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6638&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20193.14297R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6637&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20203.41788R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6636&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20213.4689R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6635&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20223.48736R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6634&field=value
United States USAResearch spendingvalue20233.44716R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=6633&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20131.96246R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2353&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20141.98475R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2352&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20152.01703R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2351&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20162.0595R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2350&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20172.07771R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2349&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20182.10232R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2348&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20192.20144R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2347&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20202.35712R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2346&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20212.38165R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2345&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20222.4945R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2344&field=value
China CHNResearch spendingvalue20232.57729R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=2343&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20130.70642R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3601&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20140.70158R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3600&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20150.6931R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3599&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20160.66984R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3598&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20170.66603R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3597&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20180.66001R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3596&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20190.65942R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3595&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue20200.64558R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3594&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue2021Not availableR&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedmissingSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3593&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue2022Not availableR&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedmissingSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3592&field=value
India INDResearch spendingvalue2023Not availableR&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedmissingSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3591&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20132.78067R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3185&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20142.82218R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3184&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20152.87725R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3183&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20162.88393R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3182&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20172.9886R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3181&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20183.05057R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3180&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20193.11256R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3179&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20203.0897R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3178&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20213.0786R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3177&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20223.07096R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3176&field=value
Germany DEUResearch spendingvalue20233.1539R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=3175&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20131.19567R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1963&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20141.26971R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1962&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20151.28464R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1961&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20161.19584R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1960&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20171.1175R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1959&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20181.15016R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1958&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20191.15115R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1957&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20201.21907R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1956&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20211.13371R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1955&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20221.18873R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1954&field=value
Brazil BRAResearch spendingvalue20231.1938R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=1953&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20130.6633R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5889&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20140.70987R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5888&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20150.73147R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5887&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20160.74992R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5886&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20170.76257R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5885&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20180.68586R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5884&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20190.61304R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5883&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20200.60296R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5882&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20210.6139R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5881&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue20220.61479R&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedpresentSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5880&field=value
South Africa ZAFResearch spendingvalue2023Not availableR&D expenditure (% of GDP)SelectedmissingSourcehttps://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/all/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?source=2&format=json&date=2000:2025&per_page=20000&footnote=y#record=5879&field=value

Sources and attribution

Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources/bulk, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), date accessed: 2025-03-26, date published: 2025-02 Distributed by World Bank WDI, GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS; accessed 2026-10-04T18:29:37.077Z. Adaptation by World Signals Monitor; no publisher endorsement is implied.

Research spending · R&D expenditure (% of GDP)

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.

Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources/bulk, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), date accessed: 2025-03-26, date published: 2025-02 Distributed by World Bank WDI, GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS; accessed 2026-10-04T18:29:37.077Z. Adaptation by World Signals Monitor; no publisher endorsement is implied. · Retrieved: 2026-10-11T02:25:54.602Z

Original source · Reuse terms

Original publisher data · Source reuse terms and attribution

Retrieved: 2026-10-11T02:25:54.602Z. Vintage: wdi-2026-10-08-0a6eb6ab25b7+release-aeeb6ddf-6cce-4970-a73b-0d9cd459923d.

Diagram and editorial selection by World Signal Monitor. Display labels may be rounded; calculations and downloads use the retained values.

Keep exploring

The scale of economic outputEconomic output per personWhere prices rose fastest

Choose a chart and download an image for your post.