Research and development expenditure in Germany

Germany: Research and development expenditure was 3.2% in 2023. β–² Rising

Latest (2023)
3.2%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
9th
of 116 countries
All-time high
3.2%
in 2023
All-time low
2.1%
in 1996
Years of data
28
1996–2023

Research and development expenditure in Germany, 1996–2023

01231996200920231996: 2.1 % of GDP1997: 2.2 % of GDP1998: 2.2 % of GDP1999: 2.3 % of GDP2000: 2.4 % of GDP2001: 2.4 % of GDP2002: 2.4 % of GDP2003: 2.4 % of GDP2004: 2.4 % of GDP2005: 2.4 % of GDP2006: 2.4 % of GDP2007: 2.4 % of GDP2008: 2.6 % of GDP2009: 2.7 % of GDP2010: 2.7 % of GDP2011: 2.8 % of GDP2012: 2.8 % of GDP2013: 2.8 % of GDP2014: 2.8 % of GDP2015: 2.9 % of GDP2016: 2.9 % of GDP2017: 3 % of GDP2018: 3.1 % of GDP2019: 3.1 % of GDP2020: 3.1 % of GDP2021: 3.1 % of GDP2022: 3.1 % of GDP2023: 3.2 % of GDP

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 6 Belgium 3.3% compare
  2. 7 Austria 3.3% compare
  3. 8 Switzerland 3.2% compare
  4. 10 Finland 3.1% compare
  5. 11 Denmark 3.0% compare
  6. 12 United Kingdom 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 147 places β†’

More science & technology data for Germany

All data for Germany β†’

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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Research and development expenditure in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/germany/

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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.