Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait
Kuwait: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 0.1% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 79.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait peaked at 0.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2018.
That places Kuwait 106th out of 116 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.2% | — |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -23.4% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -36.5% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +42.6% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -20.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -22.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +31.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +210.2% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +41.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -77.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -21.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | +192.5% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -55.0% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +19.2% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -6.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 6% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 0.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 14% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +210.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2019 | +192.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More science & technology data for Kuwait
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 167.68 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.67 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 8.11 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 455.32 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.3956 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,395 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait was 0.1% 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2018.
- How does Kuwait rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Kuwait ranks 106th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.