Research & development spending as a share of GDP in China
China: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 2.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in China, 1996–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research & development spending as a share of gdp in China is 2.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in China peaked at 2.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1996.
China ranks 14th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More science & technology data for China
- Scientific and technical journal articles 932,712 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.87 billion (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 131.75 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 131.75 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 159,019 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 91.6% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 1.43 million (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.6% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 1.04 billion users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 47.19 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in China?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in China was 2.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1996.
- How does China rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- China ranks 14th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Research & development spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.