Research & development spending as a share of GDP in South Korea
South Korea: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 4.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in South Korea, 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
South Korea recorded 4.9% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in South Korea peaked at 4.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1999.
South Korea ranks 2nd 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 51,753 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.9% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 186,245 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 4.9% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 50.59 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 47.8 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in South Korea?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in South Korea was 4.9% 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1999.
- How does South Korea rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- South Korea ranks 2nd out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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.