Australia vs Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Research and development expenditure

Australia
1.9%
in 2021
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
1.0%
in 2023
Australia rank
18th
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
20th

Research and development expenditure over time

  • Australia
  • Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
0.511.522.5199620092023

How they compare

Australia currently reports 1.9% against 1.0% in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), a difference of 0.9%.

That makes Australia's figure about 1.9 times Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)'s.

Across all 14 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.

Australia ranks 18th and Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th of 116 countries.

Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) Difference Ahead
1990s 1.6% 0.7% 0.9% Australia
2000s 1.9% 0.8% 1.2% Australia
2010s 2.1% 0.9% 1.2% Australia
2020s 1.9% 1.0% 0.9% Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure, Australia or Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Australia, at 1.9% against 1.0% in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) as of 2021.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure between Australia and Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
0.9%, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
14 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2021.
How do Australia and Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank globally for research and development expenditure?
Australia ranks 18th and Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th of 116 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Research and development expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Research and development expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/australia/europe-and-central-asia-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Research and development expenditure (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
147 places, 3,092 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

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.