Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Germany
Germany: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 3.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Germany, 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 Germany is 3.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Germany peaked at 3.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1996.
Germany ranks 9th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Germany, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.1% | — |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +2.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 2.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4%, 2.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More science & technology data for Germany
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.15 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.31 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 109.20 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 301.63 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 3.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 108,782 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0013 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Germany?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Germany was 3.2% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1996.
- How does Germany rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Germany ranks 9th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.
Download this data
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.