Research and development expenditure in Netherlands

Netherlands: Research and development expenditure was 2.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
2.3%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
15th
of 116 countries
All-time high
2.3%
in 2023
All-time low
1.6%
in 2008
Years of data
28
1996–2023

Research and development expenditure in Netherlands, 1996–2023

00.511.522.51996200920231996: 1.8 % of GDP1997: 1.8 % of GDP1998: 1.7 % of GDP1999: 1.8 % of GDP2000: 1.8 % of GDP2001: 1.8 % of GDP2002: 1.7 % of GDP2003: 1.8 % of GDP2004: 1.8 % of GDP2005: 1.8 % of GDP2006: 1.7 % of GDP2007: 1.7 % of GDP2008: 1.6 % of GDP2009: 1.7 % of GDP2010: 1.7 % of GDP2011: 1.9 % of GDP2012: 1.9 % of GDP2013: 2.1 % of GDP2014: 2.2 % of GDP2015: 2.1 % of GDP2016: 2.1 % of GDP2017: 2.1 % of GDP2018: 2.1 % of GDP2019: 2.1 % of GDP2020: 2.3 % of GDP2021: 2.2 % of GDP2022: 2.2 % of GDP2023: 2.3 % of GDP

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2023, research and development expenditure in Netherlands stood at 2.3%. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in Netherlands peaked at 2.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2008.

That places Netherlands 15th out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.8% 1.7% 1.8% 4
2000s 1.7% 1.6% 1.8% 10
2010s 2.0% 1.7% 2.2% 10
2020s 2.2% 2.2% 2.3% 4

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 12 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
  2. 13 Iceland 2.6% compare
  3. 14 China 2.6% compare
  4. 16 France 2.2% compare
  5. 17 Slovenia 2.1% compare
  6. 18 Australia 1.9% compare

See the full ranking of 147 places →

More science & technology data for Netherlands

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure in Netherlands?
Research and development expenditure in Netherlands was 2.3% 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 Netherlands?
The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 2023.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2008.
How does Netherlands rank for research and development expenditure?
Netherlands ranks 15th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in Netherlands?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Netherlands 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 Netherlands. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/netherlands/

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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.