Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Egypt
Egypt: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Egypt, 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 Egypt stood at 1.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Egypt peaked at 1.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1999.
That places Egypt 40th out of 116 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.2% | — |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +40.3% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +60.3% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | +22.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +25.5% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +12.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +15.7% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | +15.0% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | +11.8% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 1.0% | -1.5% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 1.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.2%, 6.2× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 1.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 1.6× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Egypt 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +60.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 7 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More science & technology data for Egypt
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 97.13 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.9713 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 113.19 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 106.81 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 22,854 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Egypt?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Egypt was 1.0% 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 1.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1999.
- How does Egypt rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Egypt ranks 40th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Egypt 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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About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.