Research and development expenditure in Kuwait
Kuwait: Research and development expenditure was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Research and development expenditure in Kuwait, 1997–2024
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, research and development expenditure in Kuwait stood at 0.1%.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 79.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in Kuwait peaked at 0.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2018.
Kuwait ranks 106th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Research and development expenditure in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.2% | — |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -23.4% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -36.5% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +42.6% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -20.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -22.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +31.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +210.2% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +41.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -77.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -21.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | +192.5% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -55.0% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +19.2% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -6.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 6% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 0.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 14% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research and development expenditure in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +210.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2019 | +192.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More science & technology data for Kuwait
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 167.68 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.67 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 8.11 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 455.32 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.3956 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,395 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure in Kuwait?
- Research and development expenditure in Kuwait was 0.1% in 2024, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest research and development expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2018.
- How does Kuwait rank for research and development expenditure?
- Kuwait ranks 106th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.