Spain vs Turkey: Research & development spending as a share of GDP

Spain
1.5%
in 2023
Turkey
1.4%
in 2023
Spain rank
30th
Turkey rank
31st

Research & development spending as a share of GDP over time

  • Spain
  • Turkey
0.250.50.7511.21.5199620092023

How they compare

Spain currently reports 1.5% against 1.4% in Turkey, a difference of 0.1%.

That makes Spain's figure about 1.1 times Turkey's.

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

Spain ranks 30th and Turkey ranks 31st of 116 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Spain Turkey Difference Ahead
1990s 0.8% 0.4% 0.4% Spain
2000s 1.1% 0.6% 0.5% Spain
2010s 1.3% 1.0% 0.3% Spain
2020s 1.4% 1.4% 0.0% Spain

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher research & development spending as a share of gdp, Spain or Turkey?
Spain, at 1.5% against 1.4% in Turkey as of 2023.
What is the difference in research & development spending as a share of gdp between Spain and Turkey?
0.1%, with Spain ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Spain and Turkey?
28 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2023.
How do Spain and Turkey rank globally for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
Spain ranks 30th and Turkey ranks 31st 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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Spain vs Turkey: 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/spain/turkiye/

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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.