South Africa—R&D Spending (% of GDP)
Category: TechnologySource: World Bank World Development IndicatorsGlobal Rank: #57 of 105
Latest Value
0.62%
2022
YoY Change
+0.4%
2021 → 2022
Global Rank
#57
of 105 countries
Maximum
0.81%
2008
Minimum
0.60%
2020
CAGR
-0.2%
21 years
Last
0.62%
Previous
0.62%
Highest
0.81%
Lowest
0.60%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.62% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.62% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 0.60% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 0.61% | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 0.69% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 0.76% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 0.75% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 0.73% | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 0.71% | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 0.66% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.67% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 0.67% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 0.66% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 0.75% | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 0.81% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 0.79% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 0.80% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 0.77% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 0.73% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 0.68% | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 0.64% |
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 →