United Kingdom—R&D Spending (% of GDP)
Category: TechnologySource: World Bank World Development IndicatorsGlobal Rank: #12 of 105
Latest Value
2.90%
2021
YoY Change
-1.4%
2020 → 2021
Global Rank
#12
of 105 countries
Maximum
2.94%
2020
Minimum
1.53%
2004
CAGR
+2.8%
22 years
Last
2.90%
Previous
2.94%
Highest
2.94%
Lowest
1.53%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.90% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.94% | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 2.67% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | +16.6% |
| 2017 | 2.33% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.32% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.28% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 2.26% | +39.7% |
| 2013 | 1.62% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.58% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 1.65% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 1.64% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 1.67% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 1.61% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.62% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.58% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.55% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 1.53% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 1.58% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 1.61% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 1.60% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 1.61% |
Top Countries — R&D Spending (% of GDP)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel | 6.02% | 2022 |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | 5.87% | 2019 |
| 3 | Korea, Rep. | 5.21% | 2022 |
| 4 | United States | 3.59% | 2022 |
| 5 | Sweden | 3.41% | 2022 |
| 6 | Belgium | 3.41% | 2022 |
| 7 | Japan | 3.41% | 2022 |
| 8 | Switzerland | 3.31% | 2021 |
| 9 | Austria | 3.20% | 2022 |
| 10 | Germany | 3.13% | 2022 |
About This Indicator
Definition
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.
Methodology
Data compiled by 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.
Source: World Bank - World Development IndicatorsView original source →