Sweden—R&D Spending (% of GDP)
Sweden's R&D spending (% of GDP) was 3.60% in 2023, ranking #4 out of 114 countries. This represents a +3.7% change from 2022. Over the past 22 years, the highest recorded value was 3.87% (2001) and the lowest was 3.12% (2014). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.60% | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 3.47% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 3.42% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.50% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 3.40% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 3.35% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.39% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 3.26% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.24% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 3.12% | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 3.28% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 3.25% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 3.21% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 3.19% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 3.41% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.49% | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 3.24% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.48% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 3.36% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.37% | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 3.58% | -7.5% |
| 2001 | 3.87% |
Top Countries — R&D Spending (% of GDP)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel | 6.35% | 2023 |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | 6.01% | 2023 |
| 3 | Korea, Rep. | 4.94% | 2023 |
| 4 | Sweden | 3.60% | 2023 |
| 5 | United States | 3.45% | 2023 |
| 6 | Japan | 3.44% | 2023 |
| 7 | Belgium | 3.27% | 2023 |
| 8 | Austria | 3.26% | 2023 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 3.22% | 2023 |
| 10 | Germany | 3.15% | 2023 |
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.
Unit
% of GDP