European Union vs Republic of Korea: Research and development expenditure

European Union
2.3%
in 2023
Republic of Korea
4.9%
in 2023
European Union rank
10th
Republic of Korea rank
2nd

Research and development expenditure over time

  • European Union
  • Republic of Korea
2345199620092023

How they compare

Republic of Korea currently reports 4.9% against 2.3% in European Union, a difference of 2.6%.

That makes Republic of Korea's figure about 2.2 times European Union's.

Across all 28 years both countries report, Republic of Korea has been ahead every year.

European Union ranks 10th and Republic of Korea ranks 2nd of 31 groups.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade European Union Republic of Korea Difference Ahead
1990s 1.7% 2.1% 0.3% Republic of Korea
2000s 1.8% 2.5% 0.6% Republic of Korea
2010s 2.1% 3.8% 1.7% Republic of Korea
2020s 2.3% 4.7% 2.5% Republic of Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure, European Union or Republic of Korea?
Republic of Korea, at 4.9% against 2.3% in European Union as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure between European Union and Republic of Korea?
2.6%, with Republic of Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and Republic of Korea?
28 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2023.
How do European Union and Republic of Korea rank globally for research and development expenditure?
European Union ranks 10th and Republic of Korea ranks 2nd of 31 groups.
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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European Union vs Republic of Korea: Research and development expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/european-union/korea-rep/

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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.