Research & development spending as a share of GDP in France
France: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 2.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in France, 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
France recorded 2.2% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in France peaked at 2.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2007.
That places France 16th 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More science & technology data for France
- Scientific and technical journal articles 62,180 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 77.53 million (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 116.69 per 100 people (2023)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 116.69 per 100 people (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 1,373 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 88.7% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 13,386 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.2% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 21,189 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 56.90 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in France?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in France was 2.2% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2007.
- How does France rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- France ranks 16th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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.