Switzerland vs Upper middle income: Research and development expenditure

Switzerland
3.2%
in 2023
Upper middle income
2.0%
in 2023
Switzerland rank
8th
Upper middle income rank
11th

Research and development expenditure over time

  • Switzerland
  • Upper middle income
123199620092023

How they compare

Switzerland currently reports 3.2% against 2.0% in Upper middle income, a difference of 1.2%.

That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.6 times Upper middle income's.

Across all 9 years both countries report, Switzerland has been ahead every year.

Switzerland ranks 8th and Upper middle income ranks 11th of 116 countries.

Switzerland has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Switzerland Upper middle income Difference Ahead
2000s 2.5% 0.8% 1.7% Switzerland
2010s 3.0% 1.5% 1.6% Switzerland
2020s 3.2% 2.0% 1.3% Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research and development expenditure, Switzerland or Upper middle income?
Switzerland, at 3.2% against 2.0% in Upper middle income as of 2023.
What is the difference in research and development expenditure between Switzerland and Upper middle income?
1.2%, with Switzerland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and Upper middle income?
9 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
How do Switzerland and Upper middle income rank globally for research and development expenditure?
Switzerland ranks 8th and Upper middle income ranks 11th 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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Switzerland vs Upper middle income: Research and development expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/switzerland/upper-middle-income/

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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.