Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Iran
Iran: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Iran, 2001–2021
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Iran stood at 0.7%.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and up 174.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Iran peaked at 0.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2013.
That places Iran 49th out of 116 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.5% | — |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +20.0% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -15.2% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +23.4% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | +15.6% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -57.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -19.8% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | +66.9% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +92.9% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -7.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 0.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 2.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Iran's 0.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 1.1× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 6 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More science & technology data for Iran
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 174.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.74 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 159.39 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 92.86 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 55,085 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Iran?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Iran was 0.7% in 2021, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2013.
- How does Iran rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Iran ranks 49th out of 116 countries with data for 2021.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 174.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.