Research & development spending as a share of GDP in El Salvador
El Salvador: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in El Salvador, 1998–2023
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 El Salvador is 0.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 29.2% on the previous year and up 58.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador peaked at 0.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2012.
That places El Salvador 102nd out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 99 Sri Lanka 0.1% compare
- 100 Burkina Faso 0.1% compare
- 101 Uzbekistan 0.1% compare
- 103 Lesotho 0.1% compare
- 104 Turkmenistan 0.1% compare
- 105 Tajikistan 0.1% compare
More science & technology data for El Salvador
- Scientific and technical journal articles 64.56 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 11.19 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 176.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 176.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 144 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 66.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 2 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.1% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 3.58 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 12.46 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in El Salvador was 0.1% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2017.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2012.
- How does El Salvador rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- El Salvador ranks 102nd out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.