Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Malaysia
Malaysia: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.0% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Malaysia, 1996–2022
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research & development spending as a share of gdp in Malaysia is 1.0%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 1.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1996.
Malaysia ranks 41st of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More science & technology data for Malaysia
- Scientific and technical journal articles 23,691 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 49.66 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 139.66 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 139.66 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 6,651 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 98.0% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 883 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.0% (2022)
- Number of people using the Internet 33.17 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 13.55 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Malaysia?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Malaysia was 1.0% in 2022, 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1996.
- How does Malaysia rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Malaysia ranks 41st out of 116 countries with data for 2022.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.