Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Hong Kong, 1998–2024
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 Hong Kong stood at 1.1%. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Hong Kong peaked at 1.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1998.
Hong Kong ranks 36th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More science & technology data for Hong Kong
- Mobile phone subscriptions 27.05 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 364.85 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 364.85 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 21,542 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 95.8% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 401 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.1% (2024)
- Number of people using the Internet 6.97 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 40.27 per 100 people (2024)
- Landline Internet subscriptions 2.99 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Hong Kong?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Hong Kong was 1.1% 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1998.
- How does Hong Kong rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Hong Kong ranks 36th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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 — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.