Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Cuba
Cuba: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Cuba, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Cuba stood at 0.4%.
That represents a change of up 11.8% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Cuba peaked at 0.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2011.
That places Cuba 62nd out of 116 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More science & technology data for Cuba
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,217 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 8.01 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 72.93 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 72.93 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 86 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 70.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 21 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.4% (2024)
- Number of people using the Internet 7.52 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 3.08 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Cuba?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Cuba was 0.4% in 2024, 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2011.
- How does Cuba rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Cuba ranks 62nd out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cuba 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 — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.