Finland vs Germany: Research & development spending as a share of GDP

Finland
3.1%
in 2023
Germany
3.2%
in 2023
Finland rank
10th
Germany rank
9th

Research & development spending as a share of GDP over time

  • Finland
  • Germany
01234199620092023

How they compare

Germany currently reports 3.2% against 3.1% in Finland, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 28 shared years of data; in 1996 it was Finland ahead.

Finland ranks 10th and Germany ranks 9th of 116 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Finland averaged higher in 3 and Germany in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Finland Germany Difference Ahead
1990s 2.7% 2.2% 0.5% Finland
2000s 3.4% 2.5% 0.9% Finland
2010s 3.1% 2.9% 0.2% Finland
2020s 3.0% 3.1% 0.1% Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research & development spending as a share of gdp, Finland or Germany?
Germany, at 3.2% against 3.1% in Finland as of 2023.
What is the difference in research & development spending as a share of gdp between Finland and Germany?
0.1%, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and Germany?
28 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2023.
How do Finland and Germany rank globally for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
Finland ranks 10th and Germany ranks 9th of 116 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Research & development spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Finland vs Germany: Research & development spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/research-spending-gdp/finland/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Research & development spending as a share of GDP
Unit
% of GDP
Source
UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
116 places, 2,375 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.