Denmark vs Germany: Research and development expenditure

Denmark
3.0%
in 2023
Germany
3.2%
in 2023
Denmark rank
11th
Germany rank
9th

Research and development expenditure over time

  • Denmark
  • Germany
0123199620092023

How they compare

Germany currently reports 3.2% against 3.0% in Denmark, a difference of 0.2%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 28 shared years of data; in 1996 it was Germany ahead.

Denmark ranks 11th and Germany ranks 9th of 116 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Denmark averaged higher in 2 and Germany in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Denmark Germany Difference Ahead
1990s 2.0% 2.2% 0.3% Germany
2000s 2.5% 2.5% 0.0% Denmark
2010s 3.0% 2.9% 0.1% Denmark
2020s 2.9% 3.1% 0.2% Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure, Denmark or Germany?
Germany, at 3.2% against 3.0% in Denmark as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure between Denmark and Germany?
0.2%, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Denmark and Germany?
28 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2023.
How do Denmark and Germany rank globally for research and development expenditure?
Denmark ranks 11th and Germany ranks 9th 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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Denmark vs Germany: Research and development expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/denmark/germany/

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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.