Belgium vs Sweden: Research and development expenditure

Belgium
3.3%
in 2023
Sweden
3.6%
in 2023
Belgium rank
6th
Sweden rank
3rd

Research and development expenditure over time

  • Belgium
  • Sweden
01234199620092023

How they compare

Sweden currently reports 3.6% against 3.3% in Belgium, a difference of 0.3%.

That makes Sweden's figure about 1.1 times Belgium's.

Across all 24 years both countries report, Sweden has been ahead every year.

Belgium ranks 6th and Sweden ranks 3rd of 116 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Belgium Sweden Difference Ahead
1990s 1.9% 3.3% 1.5% Sweden
2000s 1.9% 3.5% 1.6% Sweden
2010s 2.5% 3.3% 0.8% Sweden
2020s 3.3% 3.5% 0.2% Sweden

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure, Belgium or Sweden?
Sweden, at 3.6% against 3.3% in Belgium as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure between Belgium and Sweden?
0.3%, with Sweden ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Sweden?
24 years are reported by both, from 1997 to 2023.
How do Belgium and Sweden rank globally for research and development expenditure?
Belgium ranks 6th and Sweden ranks 3rd 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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Belgium vs Sweden: Research and development expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/belgium/sweden/

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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.