Research & development spending as a share of GDP in India
India: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in India, 1996–2020
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
India recorded 0.6% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2020.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in India peaked at 0.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1996.
India ranks 54th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 51 Cyprus 0.7% compare
- 52 Morocco 0.7% compare
- 55 Saudi Arabia 0.6% compare
- 56 South Africa 0.6% compare
- 57 Argentina 0.6% compare
More science & technology data for India
- Scientific and technical journal articles 228,174 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.15 billion (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 35,306 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 70.0% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 26,267 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2020)
- Number of people using the Internet 696.61 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 3.15 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in India?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in India was 0.6% in 2020, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1996.
- How does India rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- India ranks 54th out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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 — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.