Research and development expenditure in Korea
Korea: Research and development expenditure was 4.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure in Korea, 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 Korea is 4.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in Korea peaked at 4.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1999.
That places Korea 2nd out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More science & technology data for Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 172.52 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.72 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 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 859.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure in Korea?
- Research and development expenditure in Korea was 4.9% 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 Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1999.
- How does Korea rank for research and development expenditure?
- Korea ranks 2nd out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Korea 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.