Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) in Germany
Germany: Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) was 3.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure in Germany, 1996–2023
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research and development expenditure in Germany is 3.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in Germany peaked at 3.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1996.
Germany ranks 9th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) in Germany, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.1% | — |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +2.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 2.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4%, 2.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More science & technology data for Germany
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- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.15 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.31 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 109.20 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 301.63 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 3.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2024)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure in Germany?
- Research and development expenditure in Germany was 3.2% in 2023, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest research and development expenditure recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1996.
- How does Germany rank for research and development expenditure?
- Germany ranks 9th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Research and development expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.